Tributes from the late rappers’ fans are pouring in on social media
BIGGIE Smalls’ mom has died at 72 after dedicating the last three decades of her life to honoring her son’s legacy after his 1997 murder.
Voletta Wallace died in hospice care at her home in Pennsylvania on Friday morning.
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Voletta Wallace attending the premiere of Notorious, her son’s biopic, at AMC Lincoln Square in January 2009 in New York CityCredit: Getty
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The Notorious BIG in New York City in November 1994Credit: Getty
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Voletta Wallace and her only son, Christopher Wallace, known as the Notorious BIGCredit: Instagram/volettawallace
The rapper’s mom died of natural causes, according to TMZ.
Voletta was known for carrying on the legacy of the Notorious BIG, her only son, after he was murdered in 1997.
She helped pass his million-dollar estate down to his family, including his daughter, T’yanna Wallace.
A lifelong advocate for her son and devout Jehovah’s Witness, Wallace described herself as “Protecting the Legacy of my son Christopher Wallace. Grandmother, Avid Gardener and a faithful servant of God,” in her bio on X.
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The devoted mom’s Instagram account was mostly dedicated to her late son’s achievements.
BIG, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles at just 24 years old.
The murder was never solved.
In an album released after his death, Voletta paid tribute to her son in an outro track of her speaking called Ms. Wallace.
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“If I could sum up Christopher in one word the word would be generous,” the mom said.
“The thing that my son loved most about life was the fact that he was in a position to help, position to share.”
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She thanked her son’s supporters in the recording, which was released in 1999.
Biggie fans are now paying tribute to the mom on social media.
“RIP to a legend that birthed a legend,” one wrote on X.
“We thank you for blessing us with a legend,” another wrote.
A third added, “Reunited with her only child.”
VOLETTA’S LIFE WITH BIGGIE
Voletta emigrated to the US from Jamaica when she was just a teenager.
She met Biggie’s dad, Selwyn, when she was working as a secretary and studying to be a nurse.
After Selwyn left when Christopher was just three, Voletta brought up the rapper as a strict single mom in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
She worked as a preschool teacher throughout her son’s childhood.
BIGGIE’S RISE
When he was 22 years old, Biggie was the first artist to sign with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records in 1993.
He skyrocketed to fame with his debut album Ready to Die in 1994.
Biggie is widely considered one of the best rappers of all time.
Now, a mural honoring the rapper is painted in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood where he was raised.
‘EXTREMELY PROUD’
In 2020, Voletta celebrated Biggie’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
“As a mother, I’m extremely proud of his accomplishments,” she told Billboard at the time.
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“You know, I still see such a young man at a young age, and sadly, he’s not here to witness all this.
“But it’s an astute honor, and as a mother, I’m just elated for that.”
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Voletta Wallace attends Lincoln Center Hosts an Orchestral Tribute to The Notorious BIG at Lincoln Center in New York City in June 2022
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Voletta Wallace during Notorious BIG Duets’ The Final Chapter album release party on December 20, 2005, in New York CityCredit: Get
