Notorious B.I.G. Estate Ruling, My Chemical Romance Case, Drake Lawsuit & More Music Law News

A judge has ordered Faith Evans to distribute $14 million in profits from The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate to a trust established by his late mother, Voletta Wallace. The ruling settles a dispute over whether the trust inherited Wallace’s 25 per cent share of estate profits, including money connected to a major catalogue deal, but wider legal disputes over the estate continue.

The case was brought by former manager Wayne Barrow, who runs the trust. A separate lawsuit by Biggie’s son, CJ, alleges Barrow manipulated Wallace into giving him control of her estate; Barrow denies this, and the case is at an early stage. The article also notes other music-law developments, including the rapid dismissal of a copyright suit against Drake and the end of a case against My Chemical Romance after the band agreed not to use look-alike cheerleader uniforms.