The estate of the Notorious B.I.G. has entered into a major partnership with Primary Wave Music, covering the late rapper’s music publishing, recordings, and his name, image, and likeness. This deal marks the beginning of a new business collaboration between the estate and Primary Wave.
The agreement was finalized shortly after the passing of B.I.G.’s mother, Voletta Wallace, last month. Sources confirm that she played a significant role in the negotiations before her death.
While the financial details of the deal were not disclosed, the Wall Street Journal reports that Primary Wave now holds a 50% stake in the estate, which is valued at $200 million. The deal also highlights the rapper’s publishing history. Before his death, B.I.G. had a publishing agreement with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records, which granted him a 50% interest in his songwriting catalog. In the early 2000s, Voletta Wallace successfully negotiated to increase the estate’s share to 85%, and in 2020, the estate acquired the remaining 15%. Additionally, in 2023, the estate expanded its rights over B.I.G.’s sound recordings through negotiations with Bad Boy and Warner Music Group.
A statement from the estate and Primary Wave emphasized their shared goal to continue B.I.G.’s legacy, saying, “We aim to keep the legacy of the Notorious B.I.G. alive through innovative and impactful efforts.”
Though B.I.G. was tragically murdered at just 24 years old, his impact on the music world remains undeniable. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, his two albums—Ready to Die (1994) and Life After Death—are considered classics. The first album featured a mix of hard-hitting street rap and commercially successful tracks like “Juicy,” while his second album, released posthumously, included hits like “Hypnotize.” Though several posthumous albums have been released, none have matched the quality of his initial two records.
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