Voletta Wallace, the devoted mother of the legendary rapper The Notorious B.I.G., passed away on Friday morning at the age of 78.

Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac confirmed her passing to The Associated Press, stating that she died of natural causes at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, after receiving hospice care.

A representative for The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate has not yet issued a statement regarding her death.

The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, was one of hip-hop’s most influential figures. He was tragically shot and killed at the age of 24 in Los Angeles in 1997, a case that remains unsolved.

Voletta Wallace was a steadfast protector of her son’s legacy. Initially, she dismissed his music as "noise," but after his death, she came to appreciate his artistry. In a 2017 interview with AP, she recalled her emotional journey of finally listening to his music, describing it as a deeply therapeutic experience.

“I cried so much that day just listening to the music,” she said. “I rested my head on the stereo and just cried like a baby. And that was therapy for me. I realized what a talented young man he was—his words, his voice, everything.”

In 2021, Wallace served as an executive producer on the Netflix documentary Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell. She reflected on her unexpected public role, admitting that she was a deeply private person who had been thrust into the spotlight after her son’s death.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, Ready to Die (1994), sold over six million copies as of 2018, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, featuring hits like Big Poppa and Juicy. His posthumous album, Life After Death (1997), released just two weeks after his murder, surpassed 11 million copies in sales, producing iconic tracks such as Mo Money Mo Problems and Hypnotize.

News of Wallace’s passing was first reported by TMZ.