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 the rapper’s mother, Voletta Wallace, before her death last year. The ruling resolves a lawsuit brought by Wayne Barrow, Biggie’s former manager, who runs the trust.
The dispute centered on whether the trust had inherited Wallace’s 25% share of estate profits. Much of the money at issue came from a 2025 catalog agreement with Primary Wave, which acquired a stake in the rapper’s copyrights and likeness rights. The judge had sided with Barrow in August, and the latest ruling sets the amount Evans must pay.
The decision could end the case between Barrow and Evans if it is not overturned on appeal. It does not resolve a separate lawsuit filed by Biggie’s son, CJ, who alleges that Barrow manipulated Wallace into giving him full control of her estate. Barrow has denied the allegations and said Evans engineered the lawsuit; her lawyers have denied that claim. The case is still in its early stages.
Other music-law cases highlighted this week include the quick resolution of a lawsuit against My Chemical Romance. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders had sued over the band’s use of look-alike uniforms, and the case ended after the group promised not to use them in future shows. Later court filings said that avoiding the uniforms had already been the band’s plan.
A copyright lawsuit accusing Drake of taking the chorus of his hit “Janice STFU” was dropped two weeks after it was filed. Drake’s team had accused the plaintiff of fabricating evidence. Elsewhere, a judge ruled that Universal Music Group can continue pursuing its effort to recover what it calls the first known Beatles recording from the estate of a former Abbey Road sound engineer.
Sources: Billboard.