What happened between Notorious B.I.G. and Faith Evans? Actress breaks silence on ex mother-in-law Voletta Wallace’s death

Faith Evans was married to Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace for a few years before the rapper died.

The R&B singer-actress married Biggie Smalls in August 1994 after meeting him for the first time at a Bad Boy photoshoot in June. They shared a son, but problems during their marriage resulted in estrangement. The Life After Death rapper addressed the issues during a 1996 interview, saying,

“Maybe she won’t admit it, but I will… We should have got to know each other and then got married.”

The reason behind their separation was Biggie Smalls’ reported infidelity. It was also reported that The Notorious B.I.G. was in a relationship with Lil' Kim while still being married to Faith.

In 1996, Tupac Shakur dropped his diss track, Hit 'Em Up, targeting Biggie. In one of the verses, he claimed to have had an alleged affair with Faith Evans. It worsened her relations with The Notorious B.I.G.

Biggie was shot dead in March 1997 after he attended a party in Los Angeles. Evans, who had separated from the rapper early that year, also visited the same event. Recounting an interaction with The Notorious B.I.G.’s associate, she said during a 2019 episode of her TV One’s Uncensored special,

“He made sure he sent Cease over to where me and my friends were. He [Cease] said that B.I.G. said what’s up to me and I told him to tell him [B.I.G.] the same.”

After hearing about the drive-by shooting that happened hours after the party, Evans rushed to the hospital, where she found out about Biggie’s death.

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Faith Evans pens a heartfelt message for Voletta Wallace, The Notorious B.I.G.’s mother

Voletta Wallace died at her Pennsylvania home in February 2025. Monroe County Coroner confirmed the news of her passing to the Associated Press. The 78-year-old was reportedly in hospice care and died because of natural causes.

Faith Evans recently penned a Facebook post to pay tribute to her former mother-in-law. She wrote,

“Although words cannot truly capture the incredible impact you have had on all of us, I will always remember your strength, effortless grace and your commitment to protecting BIG's legacy.”

Evans continued,

“May your spirit live on in the lives you've touched and your wisdom continue to be a lesson to us all. Take your well deserved rest Ms. Wallace with BIG once again by your side -- until we meet again.”

The 51-year-old singer-actress had previously spoken about Biggie on his 25th death anniversary. She told the magazine,

“Although we were separated, we had a 5-month-old baby. And it was obviously so unexpected. We didn't know or expect that to happen. We definitely felt like, 'OK, come back home,' just because of all the little weird things that were being whispered and things that happened prior to his death.”

She fondly recalled the dynamics she shared with The Notorious B.I.G.

“Despite whatever, even after B.I.G. and I separated, even after he had a girlfriend or I found out about this one or that one, he always still depended on me for something or another, trust me. Even up until his passing, to be quite honest. He knew he could — he knew he could depend on me.”

Faith Evans confessed during the conversation that she “remembers B.I.G. every day.” During the interview, the actress also talked about how their son CJ (Christopher Wallace Jr.) shares certain mannerisms with his late father.

Faith Evans had also paid a tribute to Biggie in 1997 with her song I'll Be Missing You with Sean "Diddy" Combs.