Voletta Wallace, Notorious B.I.G.’s mom, dies at 78

A Sad Departure

The affectionate mother of the notorious Christopher Wallace, whose stage name was Notorious B.I.G., died on Tuesday, May 30, almost 28 years since her son’s tragic and abrupt death. Voletta Wallace was 78 years old, which sorrowfully reminds many fans of how much time has passed since the sad death of the legendary rapper. In addition, her passing marks the end of an important time in hip-hop history, as well as the mother who has unconditionally backed her child’s legacy. Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac reported that Wallace died of natural causes in hospice at her residence in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Yanac gave an official statement, condoling that her end was peaceful. At the same time, those around her have shown appreciation for the people who have carefully taken care of her in her final days.

After the tragic loss of The Notorious B.I.G., Voletta Wallace tirelessly stood up for her son’s honor and vowed that it was a matter of pride. Just 27 years of age The Notorious B.I.G. was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in the streets of Los Angeles after attending the Peterson Automotive Museum. In spite of a series of inquiries into the event, the situation has remained unresolved giving rise to an endless feeling of sorrow. Nevertheless, she displayed an admirable refusal to quit searching for the truth by stressing her determination to keep him alive and respect his memory.

Never Losing Hope

“As long as I have life there’s hope,” Voletta Wallace said in an interview in March 2021, highlighting her unbreakable optimism in the face of tragedy. She went on to declare, “I’ll never give up. And I hope when I’m not in this world anymore, my friends and family will carry on the fight. There is always hope.” As a result, these words manifest her unbending conviction that the ultimate justice for her son was still subject to achievement, even decades after he was taken from her.

At the time of that interview, she was promoting the Netflix documentary _Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell_, where she contributed with her own thoughts and recollections. She had, moreover, for a long time been primarily responsible for the quality of her son’s musical production letting his music, image, and legacy being managed perfectly. Also, she further kept his name alive by writing a memoir and making numerous public appearances to share her perspective. It is worth noting that she was interpreted by Angela Bassett, the Academy Award-winning actress, in the 2009 film _Notorious_, a paramount motion picture that got mixed criticism as it showed a dramatized aspect of Biggie’s lifetime and professional career.

She was not a fan of rap but she agreed that there are some parts of her son’s songs that could be enjoyable especially when the explicit language is taken out. Her confession proofs she has been in the middle of praise and condemnation from explicit song lyrics of Biggie, which kept her mood in a dilemma. She explained that, due to her unconditional attachment to her parental role, she only wished to capture the happy moments and was afraid to meet an opponent that would do damage on her beloved memories of her son.

Confronting Harsh Labels

Voletta Wallace recalled reading a magazine piece where a journalist suggested that people should not be surprised by Biggie’s success if they “give a bum from the ghetto a million dollars.” She felt deeply wounded by these words, pointing out that she never raised her son to be a “bum” or a drug dealer. Furthermore, such negative portrayals propelled her to dive more deeply into his music, determined to sort through the misconceptions and truly understand the breadth of his artistry. By listening attentively to his songs and asking countless questions, she discovered sides of Biggie’s creativity and intelligence that she had never fully appreciated before.

She admitted to crying “like a baby” when she heard certain verses, because what she recognized was the voice of a deeply thoughtful person. Essentially, her afterthoughts magnified how vital adversity had been in altering her public’s view of her son and how dedicated to his dignity and music she was. Voletta Wallace held a sweet memory of taking her son, Christopher, on trip tours to her native Jamaica during his early years. These journeys enabled Christopher to share time in a natural habitat with his extended family members; in fact, the ambiance of the island is quite invigorating and it gives lots of energy.

Hence, this cultural background later influenced his musical style with many styles of Caribbean music, offering him various sounds and rhythms. She pointed out that these voyages were extremely entertaining for him. They were, therefore, the main contributing factors to his liking for creative arts from the first stages of his life. She reiterated that one of the exciting things that he found out about such activities was that reggae to him was a magical kind of music that he could experience in a place like the United States.

Enthralled by Family Musicians

Furthermore, she recalled that her brothers Dave and Lou, both musicians, captivated young Christopher’s attention whenever he was in Jamaica. Voletta Wallace vividly described him watching in awe as Lou tried to teach him basic guitar chords, while Dave performed as the singer. During these impromptu jam sessions, the group would often fill the air with reggae tunes. Although she did not join in on this musical ritual, Wallace observed them enjoying themselves on the veranda or perched on a rock outside, lost in rhythms and melodies. Over time, Christopher looked forward to these gatherings because they allowed him to explore new musical possibilities that were unlike anything he experienced at home.

In addition, as Christopher grew older, Dave occasionally took him to a small club in the district where local musicians performed. This exposure delighted him even more, and he absorbed everything he witnessed. Wallace recalled how thrilled Christopher was by these outings, mentioning that the warm Jamaican nights, combined with the pulsating energy of live performances, gave him a memorable introduction to the world of music. Although he was not necessarily aware of rap at the time, the musical foundation he encountered during these visits added richness to his later artistry.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Honor

Besides reggae, Christopher’s ears were also introduced to country music in his childhood, according to Wallace. She noted that country songs often played on the radio, so he became accustomed to hearing a wide array of genres. This early blend of sounds offered him another perspective, giving him an even broader musical background. However, according to her, the fact that he had exposure to both reggae and country music made him become more open-minded, which in turn had a surprising impact on his creative development.

Wallace express her quite huge joy when her son, the famous artist Notorious B.I.G., was included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. In a recent interview for Rolling Stone magazine, she told the reporters that it was, in fact, the most significant thing for her as a mother to see her son being included along with legendary figures of the music world. She described him as a young man who even though he was lost too soon, still managed to reach extraordinary goals. Wallace noted that it was an enormous honor and she feels deeply happy that the talent of her son is acclaimed at such a high level.

She openly admitted experiencing a mix of emotions regarding this accomplishment, partly because Christopher himself could not witness the ceremony. On the other hand, the mother made clear how happy she was seeing her son’s name mentioned among the greatest music’s finest. Wallace considered this achievement an affirmation of his unique contributions to the world of hip-hop and beyond. Finally, she believed that even though he was gone, his soul lived on through the awards and the increasing love all over the globe.