Voletta Wallace, the mother of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. who worked to elevate his short-lived but influential career to hip-hop greatness, has died. She was 78. "We suffered a tremendous loss today.

Voletta Wallace, the dedicated mother of the late great rapper The Notorious B.I.G., died Friday morning at 78.

She played the rapper music as a child, stood by his side during his meteoric career and navigated the legal and artistic questions that arose after his killing.