The estate of The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, has filed a lawsuit against multiple retailers for allegedly selling unauthorized prints of the late rapper. The lawsuit, filed on February 4, 2025, names Target, Home Depot, Nordstrom, and Bed Bath & Beyond as defendants. Photographer Barron Claiborne, who took the iconic “King of New York” photograph, is also a plaintiff in the case.
Notorious B.I.G. Estate Takes Legal Action
According to the complaint, iCanvas created and distributed prints of Wallace’s likeness without permission. The estate accuses the retailers of profiting from these unauthorized images. The lawsuit states, “Defendants specifically chose to use Mr. Wallace’s persona, name, image, likeness … in an attempt to capitalize on their fame and extraordinary financial value.”
The image at the center of the lawsuit is the famous “King of New York” photo, which features Wallace wearing a plastic gold crown against a red backdrop. Claiborne took the photo in March 1997, just days before Wallace was tragically killed. The image has since become one of the most recognized representations of the rapper’s legacy. In 2020, the original print sold for $595,000 at a Sotheby’s auction.
The lawsuit alleges that iCanvas sold these prints for over eight years without authorization. While Target, Home Depot, and Nordstrom removed the items from their shelves in 2023 after being notified, Bed Bath & Beyond and iCanvas allegedly continued selling them. The legal filing describes iCanvas’ actions as showing a “complete disregard for celebrities’ personality rights, lack of respect for artists’ efforts, and disdain for intellectual property law.”
The estate argues that Wallace’s name and likeness remain highly valuable and widely recognized, even among those born after his passing. The lawsuit emphasizes the importance of protecting the rapper’s legacy, stating, “Mr. Wallace’s fan base has continued to expand since his passing.”
Beyond The Notorious B.I.G., iCanvas has also been accused of selling unauthorized prints of other major artists, including Prince, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, and Beyoncé. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how estates protect the images of late musicians and cultural icons.