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Biggie’s Manager Wins Court Order Requiring Faith Evans to Share Primary Wave Catalog Money
A Delaware court has ruled that Wayne Barrow, the former manager of hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G., is the rightful successor to the late Voletta Wallace's share of her son's music portfolio. The judge sided with Barrow against Faith Evans, Biggie's widow, who had resisted recognizing his ownership stake in their shared control of the rapper's intellectual property. The ruling compels Evans to grant Barrow access to proceeds from a major Primary Wave catalog deal valued at approximately $100 million.
Voletta Wallace named Barrow as executor of her estate and trustee of her interests in Notorious B.I.G. LLC before her death in February 2025. Evans contested the transfer, arguing the company's bylaws required her consent for any ownership change. However, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick determined Evans' legal position was fundamentally flawed and that Barrow holds clear rights to both a significant membership stake and distribution rights from the catalog. The dispute continues through separate channels, as Biggie's son has filed a Pennsylvania lawsuit questioning whether Barrow improperly influenced his mother's decisions.
In short
- Delaware judge rules Barrow (Biggie's ex-manager) legally inherits late mother Voletta Wallace's 50% stake in the rapper's music catalog
- Evans must grant Barrow access to approximately $100 million Primary Wave deal proceeds; his portion funds a memorial foundation
- Son CJ has separate pending lawsuit challenging whether Barrow improperly influenced mother's estate before her death
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Voletta Wallace explicitly named Barrow as executor and trustee of her interests in Notorious B.I.G. LLC before her death, making her testamentary intentions clear and unambiguous. The Delaware court found his legal position sound, determining that the company bylaws do not override the estate's inherited stake, thereby honouring the deceased's documented wishes regarding how her valuable assets should be managed.
The case against
Evans maintains that the company's bylaws explicitly require her consent for any ownership changes, a contractual safeguard designed to protect all members' governance interests in the partnership. She and others have raised credible concerns about potential undue influence, given Barrow's substantial financial stake in the outcome and his long-standing relationship with the family—concerns that appear legitimate given that Biggie's own son has separately questioned whether his mother's decisions were improperly influenced.
Explained simply
Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie, was a hugely influential American rapper who was killed in 1997. His music rights and related business interests are managed through a company, and the income from those rights can be shared among people with a stake in the business.
Wayne Barrow was Biggie’s manager, while Faith Evans is his widow and Voletta Wallace was his mother. Wallace named Barrow to take over her interests in the company, but Evans disputed whether that transfer could happen without her consent.
The disagreement matters because the rights generate money, including proceeds from a major catalogue deal with music company Primary Wave. Biggie’s son has also brought a separate case questioning how Barrow came to receive Wallace’s interests.