It's been a little over a week since Biggie Day, the day that honors the life and legacy of Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, and the late rapper's name is at the center of a lawsuit. It's being reported that Faith Evans, Biggie's widow, and his mother Voletta Wallace are suing a company called Yes. Snowboards for using the rapper's image without permission. After Biggie was murdered on March 9, 1997, Evans and Wallace founded Notorious B.I.G., LLC, to help manage intellectual rights related to the rapper, including his name, image, and likeness.
Over the years there have been a number of companies that have used Biggie in campaigns, in fashion, or for accessories, but they've all had to go through the legal process of obtaining permission from Notorious B.I.G., LLC. However, Evans and Wallace state in their lawsuit that Yes. has created a product, a snowboard, with the rapper's image without going through the proper channels.
The suit explains, “At a time where fame and popularity for musicians comes and goes on an accelerated time scale, it is hard to quantify the power – both emotional and financial – of a musician whose brand and persona are still appreciated, recognized, and replicated more than two decades after his death.”
The product in question is one from a series called "Greats x Chi," a partnership between Yes. and photographer Chi Modu. The series features other rappers, all who are no longer with us, including Tupac Shakur, Eric "Eazy-E" Wright, and Russell "Ol' Dirty Bastard" Jones. Modu is a longtime hip hop photographer who, according to Yes.'s site, worked for The Source and photographed the likes of Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J, and Biggie, who stood for the photographer in front of the Twin Towers.
Evans and Wallace are seeking an injunction against the company, along with all profits they made off the products and unspecified damages, according to The Blast. While the website has taken down the photo of the snowboard with the image of Biggie, it still is available for purchase under the dropdown menu.
