In a significant legal victory, Wayne Barrow, the former manager of the Notorious B.I.G., has successfully won a court ruling against Faith Evans, the widow of the late rapper. This decision comes as part of a larger ongoing dispute regarding proceeds from the sale of a stake in Biggie’s music catalog and intellectual property assets.
A Delaware Chancery Court judge ruled in favor of Barrow, asserting that Evans had no legal grounds to withhold payments owed to a trust established by Voletta Wallace, Biggie’s mother. Following Voletta’s passing in February 2025, Evans rejected the trust’s requests for payment, despite her co-ownership of Notorious B.I.G. LLC, the entity managing Biggie’s catalog. The company had entered a lucrative 50-50 partnership with Primary Wave shortly before Voletta’s death.
Under the operating agreement for Notorious B.I.G. LLC, both Voletta and Evans had agreed to transfer half of their rights to Biggie’s children, Ty’anna Wallace and Christopher Jordan “CJ” Wallace, leaving them each entitled to 25 percent of the distributions. The judge’s ruling confirms Barrow’s right to claim Voletta’s share of the proceeds from the recent deal with Primary Wave, which reportedly valued Biggie’s estate at approximately $200 million.
In her ruling, Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick noted that Evans appeared to be responding out of anger following Voletta’s decision to amend her trust shortly before her death, which removed CJ as a co-trustee. The judge emphasized that the LLC agreement clearly permitted the transfer of membership units to the trust, entitling Barrow to Voletta’s share of the proceeds.
While Barrow celebrates this legal win, a separate lawsuit filed by CJ in Pennsylvania challenges Barrow’s authority as trustee and executor of Voletta’s estate. This lawsuit claims that Barrow improperly influenced Voletta’s decisions regarding her estate shortly before her death. As this case remains pending, Barrow’s attorney expressed confidence in the outcome, reaffirming the legitimacy of Barrow’s role in managing Biggie’s legacy.
This legal conflict highlights the complex dynamics within Biggie’s estate and the ongoing efforts to secure the financial interests of his family and collaborators. As the legacy of the Notorious B.I.G. continues to thrive, fans and stakeholders alike remain invested in the outcome of these proceedings.
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