Angela Bassett

Actress ANGELA BASSETT has landed the role of slain rapper NOTORIOUS B.I.G.'s mother, a portrayal of Voletta Wallace, in the upcoming biopic. Bassett says she jumped at the chance to be a part of the project after taking a look at the script, which she insists does a "wonderful job of bringing his life to the page."She adds, "It's flashbacks, starting at the funeral, through the eyes of different characters in his life."The role comes less than a month after Bassett was honored with the 2,358th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles.Notorious B.I.G., real name Christopher Wallace, was gunned down after a Vibe magazine party in Los Angeles in 1997.Newcomer Jamal Woolard will play the rapper in the new film.