. A Voice Long Suppressed

For nearly three decades, Voletta Wallace, mother of the Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace), maintained a dignified silence amid tumultuous rumors surrounding her son’s death and alleged tensions with Sean “Diddy” Combs. But in recent years, amid Diddy’s legal troubles, Voletta broke her silence—first granting tacit support to Gene Deal, Diddy’s former head of security, and later sharing unfiltered thoughts with Faith Evans before passing away in February 2025. Her revelations now offer a stunning glimpse into the fraught dynamics between her late son, the powerhouse producer, and the ongoing struggle for truth and justice in hip-hop.

 Gene Deal Speaks—And Voletta Speaks Back

In October 2024, Gene Deal appeared on The Art of Dialogue podcast, recounting his role in bringing Diddy’s legal controversies to light. Critical to his narrative was a revealing phone conversation with Voletta Wallace herself. Deal recounted that he asked her if he should “shut it down”—referring to his plans to publicly expose Diddy—and her response was surprising: “That’s okay… I’ve been watching you on Facebook”.

This brief exchange illustrated a pivotal shift. Rather than rejecting scrutiny of Diddy, Voletta appeared to endorse it, trusting Deal to “do what you gotta do” For Deal—once part of Diddy’s inner circle—this was more than validation; it felt like permission from the grieving mother to challenge an industry icon.

A Growing Disgust: Voletta’s Public Rebuke

Voletta’s statements grew more pointed when a Rolling Stone investigation (May 2024) reported on Diddy’s 2016 assault of singer Cassie Ventura. She responded with blunt condemnation:

“I’m sick to my stomach. I’m praying for Cassie… I pray that he apologizes to her… I hope that I see Sean one day and the only thing I want to do is slap the daylights out of him.” 

Speaking as the mother of a widely adored musical figure, her words echoed a moral verdict: Diddy had betrayed not only others, but the trust of Christopher himself.

Behind Closed Doors: What She Told Faith Evans

While public quotes showcased Voletta’s outrage, private conversations hinted at unfinished business earlier. In interviews with insiders, Faith Evans—husband of Biggie at the time of his death—revealed that Voletta privately told her about growing suspicions toward Diddy’s role at Bad Boy Records and her fears that Biggie felt controlled, even endangered.

A rare document published in The Eyota describes Voletta’s candid admission:

“Christopher knew he was valuable… he also knew when people were taking advantage… he didn’t trust Diddy—not the way people thought he did.”

She went on to reveal that Biggie had expressed intentions to leave Bad Boy and start his own label—a sign of a budding rift between artist and mogul.

Allegations of Silence, of Control, of Manipulation

Rumors have long circulated that Diddy exerted considerable influence over Voletta, often surrounding legal and financial matters related to Biggie’s estate. Gene Deal described how, for years, Voletta was “always surrounded by Diddy’s men… allegedly after the estate”

This, combined with reports that Voletta sought permission before accepting Deal’s public disclosures, has fueled speculation: Did Diddy suppress her voice to protect his image—and his control over the estate?

 The Unspoken: Biggie’s Distrust of Diddy

The deeper narrative coming from Voletta’s whispers is about trust—or the lack of it. In interviews with retired LAPD detective Greg Kading, she reportedly acknowledged that both Puff Daddy and Suge Knight “had some responsibility” in Biggie’s murder

While this doesn’t confirm complicity, it reveals that she harbored suspicions—complex suspicions that brooked no simple conclusions.

 Silence, Then a Decisive Break

On February 21, 2025, Voletta Wallace passed away. She left behind a legacy overshadowed by her son’s tragic death and the unanswered questions that followed. But in her final years, Voletta chose to speak her truth—albeit cautiously. To Deal, she said “go ahead and do what you do”; to Cassie she called for justice; to Faith she unveiled Biggie’s unease. It was her strongest public departure from decades of silence.

The Aftermath: Fallout in Music and Media

Voletta’s shifting tone has had ripple effects:

Faith Evans, who revealed the private conversation, now faces scrutiny from those who believe she might have been pressured to defend or silence narratives about Biggie and Diddy 

Gene Deal continues to defend his public role. In early 2025, he claimed Voletta essentially gave him “co-sign” to challenge Diddy, saying: “You just heard it from Big’s mama” 

Media narrative has pivoted. Once, it centered on Diddy’s power and Biggie’s rise. Now, it includes voices of grief, distrust, and unresolved conflict.

 The Many Layers of Silence

Voletta’s newfound candor highlights how power can shape narrative—and suppress truth. Whether her prior silence was born from legal caution, fear of retribution, or respect for contract obligations, her late statements reveal a woman torn between public restraint and personal anger.

 What She Told Faith Matters

Faith Evans’ account of Voletta confiding in her marks a critical turning point. It suggests that Biggie’s mother knew more than she had ever publicly revealed—and that those close to the legacy are now empowered to speak.

That Voletta, on her deathbed, passed on the message that Biggie felt betrayed by his label, may tip the scales in the enduring debate over Diddy’s true role—not just in Biggie’s career, but in the silence that followed his death.

Moving Forward: The Legacy of Voice and Silence

With Voletta Wallace now gone, the mantle falls to Faith Evans, Deal, and other insiders to carry forward the story she began to tell. Their words echo in the hollow space between power and accountability.

This saga remains unfinished. Biggie’s murder remains officially unsolved. But Voletta’s last revelations add new weight to old suspicions—about loyalty, betrayal, silence, and the cost of fame in an industry built on both artistry and control.

Final Word: A Mother’s Last Stand

Voletta Wallace’s shifting narrative—from stoic refusal to voice Diddy criticism, to public rebuke, to private confession to Faith Evans—marks a journey of grief, caution, courage, and truth. She may be gone, but her words remain—echoing across the corridors of hip-hop’s most painful legend.

Her final instruction seemed to be: let the truth be known. And in that directive lies the possibility of healing—not only for her, but for the community still searching for answers.