New York, NY — The hip-hop world came together to pay their final respects to Voletta Wallace, the beloved mother of rap legend The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace), during a heartfelt funeral service held on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in New York City — the same place Biggie’s own funeral was held nearly 30 years ago.
The intimate service had a strict guest list, with notable names in attendance including:
- Ma$e
- Lil Kim
- Faith Evans (Biggie’s former wife and mother of his son)
- JAY-Z’s mother Gloria Carter
- Diddy’s son Christian “King” Combs
- Ms. Wallace’s grandchildren, Christopher and T’yanna
A public viewing was also held the day before, on Tuesday, March 11, allowing fans and members of the community to honor the woman who played a vital role in keeping Biggie’s legacy alive.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, her family shared:
“This will be an opportunity for all of us to honor the matriarch who helped preserve Biggie’s legacy, inspiring generations of hip-hop and music fans around the world.”
Voletta Wallace passed away last month at the age of 78 due to natural causes while under hospice care at her home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Her family issued a statement saying:
“We suffered a tremendous loss. Our mother, our matriarch, the woman who devoted her life to preserving Biggie’s legacy, has passed away. Please give our family time to grieve this monumental loss.”
After Biggie’s tragic death in 1997, Ms. Wallace took over his estate and music rights, continuing to protect and build his legacy. That legacy is reportedly valued at over $100 million, with parts of the estate possibly being sold.
