A Delaware judge ruled on Friday, August 7, that Wayne Barrow, the estate trustee for late hip-hop legend The Notorious B.I.G.‘s mother, legally secured a 50% stake in the rapper’s intellectual property assets. Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick decided in favor of Barrow in his ongoing legal battle against the late rapper’s widow, Faith Evans, granting full access to profits from a lucrative music catalog deal.
Court Rules in Favor of Estate Trustee Wayne Barrow
The legal dispute centers around the management of the estate belonging to Christopher Wallace, globally known as The Notorious B.I.G. Before her passing in February 2025 at the age of 78, Voletta Wallace legally named her longtime manager Wayne Barrow as the successor to her 50% stake in the entity known as Notorious B.I.G. LLC. Following the ruling, Faith Evans—who controls the remaining half of the portfolio—must grant Barrow access to Voletta’s 25% cut of the profits originating from a landmark Primary Wave catalog deal.
The Primary Wave Catalog Deal and Financial Stakes
The lucrative catalog agreement, valued at $100 million by the Wall Street Journal, involves Primary Wave acquiring a significant stake in Biggie’s music catalog alongside key name, image, and likeness rights. Per the final wishes outlined in Voletta Wallace‘s will, Barrow will distribute her share of the Primary Wave funds directly to the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation. The remaining proceeds from the transaction are designated to be split evenly among Biggie’s children, CJ and Ty’anna Wallace, alongside Faith Evans.
Legal Arguments and Future Litigation
Barrow’s attorney, Jay Freiberg, characterized the recent court decision as a complete vindication against the withholding of funds. Conversely, Faith Evans previously countersued, arguing that the LLC’s bylaws did not permit Voletta to transfer ownership without mutual consent. While Chancellor McCormick rejected Evans’ legal position, noting that the partnership itself flouted advice given in the late rapper’s posthumously released album Life After Death, additional legal hurdles remain. Biggie’s son CJ maintains a separate pending lawsuit in Pennsylvania, alleging that Barrow improperly influenced Voletta’s estate arrangements prior to her death.
