Wayne Barrow Wins Legal Battle With Faith Evans Over Biggie Catalog

Wayne Barrow, the former manager of the late Notorious B.I.G., has secured a legal victory against the rapper’s widow, R&B singer Faith Evans, in a Delaware Chancery Court battle over proceeds from a music catalog stake sale, according to court documents cited by Rolling Stone. McCormick resolves the first of two active lawsuits concerning company payouts from a landmark partnership with Primary Wave.

The Delaware Chancery Court Ruling on Notorious B.I.G. LLC

The legal dispute centers on Notorious B.I.G. LLC, an entity formed by the late rapper’s mother, Voletta Wallace, and his widow, Faith Evans, to manage intellectual property assets. In March 2025, the company entered into a 50-50 partnership with Primary Wave. Under the operating agreement, Voletta and Evans each transferred half of their distribution rights to Biggie’s children, Ty’anna Wallace and Christopher Jordan “CJ” Wallace, leaving Voletta, Evans, Ty’anna, and CJ each entitled to a 25 percent share.

Following Voletta Wallace’s death in February 2025 at age 78, Faith Evans rejected requests for payment from a trust established by Voletta. Wayne Barrow serves as the sole trustee of that trust and the executor of Voletta’s estate. According to court filings, Evans withheld distributions after Voletta amended her trust weeks before her death to remove CJ—her grandson and Faith Evans’ son—as a co-trustee. Chancellor McCormick noted in her 16-page opinion that Evans appeared angered by the decision regarding her son and took the position that the LLC agreement barred transferring membership units to the trust.

Ruling against the widow, Chancellor McCormick determined that Voletta’s trustee is entitled to any and all rights and obligations held by Voletta under the company agreement. Jay W. Freiberg, an attorney representing Barrow, told Rolling Stone that the decision brings total vindication in a dispute that should not have happened. “Mama Wallace wanted Wayne to steward the legacy of the Notorious B.I.G. after she was gone, and he now will be able to do that,” Freiberg said.

Parallel Litigation and Long-Term Legacy Management

While the Delaware ruling secures the trust’s right to Voletta’s 25 percent share—which will ultimately be distributed to the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation—broader legal hurdles remain. On February 20, 2026, CJ Wallace filed a separate lawsuit in Pennsylvania challenging Barrow’s underlying authority as trustee and executor, alleging Barrow improperly influenced Voletta to place him in those roles shortly before her death. Attorneys for Barrow characterized the Pennsylvania complaint as an unsuccessful attempt to halt the Delaware proceedings.

Legal representation for Evans and CJ Wallace did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the Delaware decision. As the Pennsylvania litigation remains in its early stages, Barrow’s legal team maintains that the primary objective is fulfilling Voletta Wallace’s expressed wishes for the stewardship of her son’s enduring cultural footprint.