in FACTS, 1990s

Afeni Shakur and Voletta Wallace, Tupac and Biggie’s moms, met for the first time at the 1999 VMAs

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On the night of September 9, 1999, while presenting the Best Rap Video award at the MTV Video Music Awards, Will Smith introduced Afeni Shakur and Voletta Wallace, Tupac and Biggie’s moms, for the first time ever. Roughly three years after the tragic deaths of their sons, the two grieving mothers hugged on the Metropolitan Opera House stage and honored the legacies of their sons.

Will Smith—also known as—the Fresh Prince, started the introduction by incorporating the title of his 1988 hit song with DJ Jazzy Jeff “Parents Just Don’t Understand”—the first video to win Best Rap Video at the 1989 VMAs “I’d like to introduce to you two parents who definitely seem to understand.” 

Tupac's mom, Afeni Shakur, and Biggie's mom, Voletta Wallace, met for the first time at the 1999 VMAs
Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

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