Farewell to a Hip-Hop Matriarch: Voletta Wallace Passes Away at 78
The hip-hop world is mourning the loss of a true matriarch. Voletta Wallace, mother of the legendary Notorious B.I.G., has passed away at the age of 78. The Monroe County Coroner, Thomas Yanac, confirmed that Wallace took her final breath at home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday morning. She had been in hospice care and succumbed to natural causes.
A fierce, resilient woman, Wallace was more than just Biggie’s mother—she was a pillar of strength who raised Christopher Wallace as a single mother in Brooklyn after his father abandoned the family in 1974. A Jamaican immigrant and dedicated school teacher, she instilled values of hard work and perseverance in her son, who would go on to become one of the most iconic rappers of all time.
A Legacy Rooted in Pain and Power
Wallace’s journey has been marked by unimaginable tragedy. Her son, known to the world as The Notorious B.I.G., was gunned down on March 9, 1997, in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He had just left a Soul Train Awards afterparty when his green Chevy Suburban was sprayed with bullets on Wilshire Boulevard. His murder remains one of the most infamous unsolved cases in music history.
The tragedy unfolded just months after Tupac Shakur’s killing, further igniting the already volatile East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry. Biggie, a protégé of Sean “Diddy” Combs, was often entangled in speculation about the feud. While Diddy consistently denied any involvement in Tupac’s murder, the rumors never fully faded. In 2023, former Los Angeles gang leader Duane “Keefe D” Davis was arrested and charged with Tupac’s murder. His trial, initially set for 2025, has now been postponed to 2026.
Despite Tupac’s case inching toward justice, Biggie’s murder remains a mystery with no arrests to this day—something Wallace always found difficult to accept.
A Mother’s Mission to Keep Biggie’s Name Alive
In the wake of their sons’ tragic deaths, Wallace and Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, turned pain into unity. The two women famously took the stage at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, embracing in front of the world in a moment of solidarity that transcended the feuds that once divided their sons.
“In keeping with both our sons’ memories and contributions to the arts, we stand united as mothers preserving their legacies,” Shakur said on stage. Wallace followed, declaring, “The fact that we are even standing here shows what the power of faith, friends, family, loved ones, and fans can do to bring us all closer.”
Throughout the years, Wallace remained deeply committed to honoring Biggie’s memory, working tirelessly to keep his name and legacy alive. In a 2017 interview, she expressed frustration that her son’s killer had never been caught. “It still hurts that nothing has been done,” she admitted.
The End of an Era, but the Legacy Lives On
With her passing, hip-hop has lost a mother figure who represented resilience, love, and an unwavering commitment to truth. Voletta Wallace was more than Biggie’s mom—she was a guardian of his legacy and a symbol of strength for all those who have endured loss.
As the world says goodbye, her impact remains undeniable. Through her, the memory of The Notorious B.I.G. will continue to live on, forever etched in the heart of hip-hop culture.
Rest in power, Voletta Wallace.
