Podcast Summary: THROWBACK INTERVIEW: Voletta Wallace The Notorious B.I.G.'s Mother

Podcast Information

• Title: The Breakfast Club
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Description: The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
• Episode: THROWBACK INTERVIEW: Voletta Wallace The Notorious B.I.G.'s Mother
• Release Date: February 21, 2025

Introduction and Context

In this poignant throwback episode of The Breakfast Club, hosts DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God engage in a heartfelt conversation with Voletta Wallace, the mother of the legendary rapper Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. The episode delves deep into Biggie's enduring legacy, his recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the personal reflections of his family members.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

The episode centers around the significant event of The Notorious B.I.G.'s induction into the 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. DJ Envy highlights the excitement surrounding the induction:

DJ Envy [02:57]: "It's a very special thing happening this weekend. The 2020 Rock and Roll hall of Fame inductions and the late, great Christopher Wallace. The Notorious B.I.G. will be inducted into the 2020 Rock and Roll hall of Fame."

Voletta Wallace expresses her mixed emotions regarding the honor:

Voletta Wallace [03:15]: "As a mother, of course, I'm very, very happy about it. I'm elated about it. I'm thrilled. I'm only sorry he's not here."

Personal Reflections and Feelings

Valletta shares her pride and sorrow over Biggie's posthumous recognition, noting the absence of many honorary figures:

Voletta Wallace [05:06]: "A very proud mother. Very proud mother. Sad. Sometimes when I see things, it brought tears to my eyes. Once again, as I said, he's not here to see these things."

Wayne Barrow, a close family friend, echoes these sentiments while acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the induction:

Wayne Barrow [03:52]: "It's a kind of one of those bittersweet things... I think it's extremely well deserved. And I'm thankful to the Rock and Roll hall of Fame for, you know, saying, acknowledging him for his music and his art."

Unreleased Music and Legacy

The conversation shifts to the discovery of an unreleased Biggie freestyle by Pepsi, leading to discussions about other hidden recordings:

Charlamagne Tha God [06:41]: "Now with Pepsi, just released an unreleased freestyle from Big. Are there other unreleased records and verses that you guys might know of or something like that?"

Voletta and Wayne discuss the challenges in preserving and accessing Biggie's unreleased material:

Wayne Barrow [07:01]: "People are holding on to some of those jewels. We just got to get a hold of it... it sounds so choppy, you know what I'm saying? It's not digitized or anything along those lines. So it is the actual RAW file."

Personal Stories and Anecdotes

Valletta shares touching and humorous stories that highlight Biggie's generosity and personality:

Voletta Wallace [10:49]: "They're always loving ones, you know, and they always spoke about his generosity, his kindness, his patience... He did this for me. He did that for me. Things that I never knew. Did you know that? He bought me that chair in the barbershop?"

Wayne adds his own anecdotes, showcasing Biggie's humor and larger-than-life character:

Wayne Barrow [12:34]: "Remember being in a dice game with him one day in the hallway of daddy's house?... He was so mad. And when he lost, he was mad. But at the end of the day, he had this big heart, took care of everybody."

Impact on Hip Hop Culture

The discussion broadens to Biggie's influence on hip hop and the culture at large. Wayne reflects on what Biggie could have achieved had he lived:

Wayne Barrow [10:30]: "He would have elevated the culture, hip hop in general. He just had a way of bringing the best out of people... he was so in tune with everything around him and always ahead of the curve."

Valletta echoes the sentiment, expressing pride in her son's contributions and legacy:

Voletta Wallace [05:06]: "He's being acknowledged in so many entities, so many avenues. I never knew that my son was that... I really, really do appreciate it."

Healing and Acceptance

The conversation delves into the emotional journey of healing after Biggie's untimely death. Valletta shares her struggle with accepting the circumstances of his passing:

Voletta Wallace [28:39]: "It was hard... Murder is wrong. Badness is wrong. I cannot accept that. But the fact that he's not here, I have accepted that."

Wayne discusses his own path to healing, emphasizing acceptance and moving forward:

Wayne Barrow [27:36]: "Healing for me is fortifying oneself... I'm content. I'm balanced in my life."

Family and Legacy

The episode concludes with reflections on family, legacy, and the enduring impact of Biggie's life and music. Valletta speaks about her ongoing connection with her son's memory:

Voletta Wallace [30:25]: "I have accepted the fact that his children are here. I love them dearly. But the fact that he's not here to see them grow... it's hard for me to accept what happened to him."

Wayne emphasizes the importance of legacy and continuing Biggie's positive influence:

Wayne Barrow [26:48]: "Baron's a good guy... He's always been that guy... thinking about things from the estate standpoint or from the family standpoint."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• DJ Envy [02:57]: "The Notorious B.I.G. will be inducted into the 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."
• Voletta Wallace [03:15]: "I'm very, very happy about it. I'm elated about it. I'm thrilled."
• Wayne Barrow [07:01]: "It's the actual RAW file."
• Voletta Wallace [10:49]: "He bought me that chair in the barbershop."
• Wayne Barrow [10:30]: "He would have elevated the culture, hip hop in general."
• Voletta Wallace [28:39]: "Murder is wrong. Badness is wrong. I cannot accept that."
• Wayne Barrow [27:36]: "I'm content. I'm balanced in my life."

Conclusion

This episode of The Breakfast Club offers an intimate glimpse into the life and legacy of The Notorious B.I.G. through the eyes of his mother, Voletta Wallace, and close family friend, Wayne Barrow. Their candid reflections provide listeners with a deeper understanding of Biggie's impact on music, his personal relationships, and the enduring emotional journey of his family. The heartfelt discussions underscore the profound influence Biggie continues to wield in the world of hip hop and beyond.