Voletta Wallace, mother of legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G., has passed away at age 78 in hospice care due to natural causes, as confirmed by Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac.

A former preschool teacher, Wallace dedicated her life to preserving her son's legacy following his tragic murder in a drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997. Christopher "Biggie" Wallace was only 24 years old at the time of his death.

Her notable contributions to hip-hop culture include:

• Accepting the MTV Video Music Award for Biggie's "Life After Death" album
• Joining forces with Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, to promote unity among fans
• Establishing the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation to support mothers who lost children at young ages
• Contributing to the 2021 film "City of Lies," which investigated alleged police coverups in Biggie's murder case

In her final public statement to Rolling Stone in May, Wallace addressed Sean "Diddy" Combs' ongoing legal troubles regarding sexual assault allegations, expressing disappointment in her son's former collaborator: "I hope that I see Sean one day, and the only thing I want to do is slap the daylights out of him... I didn't want to believe all the awful things, but I'm so ashamed and embarrassed."

Wallace's lasting impact on hip-hop culture and her tireless efforts to preserve her son's memory have left an indelible mark on the music industry. Her work supporting other grieving mothers and commitment to seeking justice for her son's unsolved murder exemplifies her dedication to creating positive change from personal tragedy.

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