It’s a big swing for William Morris Endeavor, the management agency which has struck a deal with the family of the late record producer and rapper Notorious B.I.G.

WME continues to expand its celebrity estate business as part of its WME Legends group, and has teamed up the mother of the late rapper, Voletta Wallace.

Born Christopher Wallace, B.I.G. also was known as Biggie Smalls, Biggie, the Black Frank White and Big Poppa. 

He was killed at the age of 24 in 1997 in Los Angeles but his Grammy-winning recordings maintain a strong hold on music culture.

Films and documentaries on his life include Fox Searchlight’s Notorious and Saban Films’ City of Lies, starring Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker and produced by Voletta Wallace and B.I.G’s former manager Wayne Barrow.

In the mid-’90s, the Notorious B.I.G. was the top-selling male solo artist and rapper on U.S. pop and R&B charts. 

As 1980s and 1990s music began to see a renaissance over the past several years, B.I.G.’s legacy has been rediscovered and kept alive with posthumous releases such as Life After Death, Born Again and Duets: The Final Chapter.

The releases, according to Hollywood Reporter, have resulted in more than 28 million RIAA-certified albums sold and 5 billion music streams worldwide.

WME has found a solid niche in the marquee estate representation plan

This management deal with the songwriter, singer and record producer’s estate is only the latest big name among the WME roster of estates, including those for Andy Kaufman, Eartha Kitt, Peter Tosh, the CBGB brand and Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation.

WME also services the estate needs and promotion of Agatha Christie, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Donna Summer, August Wilson, Isaac Asimov, Edward Albee, Abe Burrows and Terrence McNally.

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