Posts Tagged ‘Legal’

Damon Dash’s duplex loft #3A/4A at The Atalanta, 25 N. Moore Street is up for a foreclosure auction tomorrow at 1 PM is not so much a real estate story as a general business story:

• Guy buys loft in 2004 for $3.875mm;
• Guy refinances loft in 2006 for $7.3mm;
• Guy has falling out with Jay Z, and business falls to pieces;
• Guy stops paying mortgage (about $78,000/mo) and common charges (about $2,300/mo), so bank files lis pendens (August 2008) and condo files lien (January 2009);
• nothing gets better (or resolved), so the bank secures a judgment March 1, 2010 for $8,960,752, and schedules an auction for July 28.

Ya know, if you wanna put a good twist on his constant convictions, at least he has something to rap about for the next like, two decades. Here’s what TMZ has to say about the newest stint in jail:

TMZ has learned X’s jail stint all stems from a 2002 reckless driving conviction. Turns out, DMX was placed on probation after he plead no contest to the crime … but has since violated his probation … and has been ordered to serve 90 days in a city jail facility.

Kanye. Don’t be stealing lyrics now. It was reported this morning that Mr. West is officially being sued over the similarities in his song. “Stronger,”  to another rapper’s (Vince P) lyrics. Vince P claims he gave Kanye’s  business partner, John Monopoly, a copyrighted track, labeled “Stronger,” about 7 months prior to the release of Kanye’s version.

The lawsuit asks that the defendants be stopped from reproducing, selling, distributing and publicly performing the song.  It asks the court to order West, as well as other defendants Roc-A-Fella Records LLC and UMG Recordings Inc., to destroy all copies of the record. It also asks that the defendants give up all profits from the record. Damages sought weren’t specified.

Unfortunately, the first question that will probably be asked is ‘Why didn’t you file this when the song dropped in 2007?’ And it’s not like the guy didn’t hear this song being played EVERYWHERE.

Check out the legal documents HERE.

Via Billboard.biz

Playboy Enterprises is reportedly suing Drake over the sampling of a track on “Best I Ever Had.”

According to Rap Radar, the lawsuit accuses Drake, Cash Money Records and Universal Music Group of Copyright Infringement.

The song which the lawsuit claims is sampled at the beginning of the Drake track is “Fallin’ In Love,” by Hamilton, Joe Frank and Dennison/Reynolds, which is identified as being the property of Playboy Music, Inc. and Playboy Enterprises.

Via TMZ

Platinum-selling rapper Fat Joe was detained by police in Madison, Wisconsin last night — after a 33-year-old woman told cops that Joe and his entourage sexually assaulted her inside a Cadillac limo.

According to the Madison PD, the woman claims the incident went down after the rapper — real name Joseph Cartagena — performed at a concert at The Orpheum Theater last night.

Cops say the woman claims, “shortly after the concert had concluded … [the woman] found herself inside of a Cadillac Limousine
with Joseph Cartagena and other male subjects all with the destination of a hotel located on Madison’s west side.”

Cops tell TMZ Fat Joe was detained for questioning — but he was not arrested. He was released this morning — sometime before 7 AM.

So far, no arrests have been made and police tell us the investigation is ongoing.

Police are investigating a possible link between hip-hop star Fabolous and the murder of an upstart rapper near a Queens nightclub, the Daily News has learned.

NYPD detectives aren’t sure what role, if any, the Brooklyn rapper might have played in the March killing, but a surveillance video shows Fabolous leaving Club Amazura seconds before a mystery gunman blasted Greg (G-Baby) Brown in the back.

“[Fabolous] is about to get in the car as the shooting goes down,” said a police source who watched the video.

Police and G-Baby’s relatives say the rappers – both from Bedford-Stuyvesant – had a longstanding beef, though a source said they’d put it behind them.

“My son was going to talk to Fab in a car, and he got shot three times,” grieving mother Roxanne Brown said. “I don’t know what’s going on. I just want to know who killed my son.”

Speaking of Mr. Rager, the guy was apparently arrested last night here in NYC. Haven’t been around a computer to be aware of this but I’ll let MTV News do the talking:

Kanye West protégé Kid Cudi was arrested on Friday (June 11) in New York and charged with felony criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance after authorities were called to respond to a disturbance involving the rapper and an unidentified woman.

A spokesman for the New York Police Department confirmed to MTV News that Cudi was arrested in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood on Friday. The spokesman, however, declined to provide additional information regarding the controlled substance found on the rapper.

At press time, Cudi was awaiting arraignment by a judge and bail had yet to be set, police said; the rapper’s management had not responded to MTV News’ request for comment.

What I’m not sure is how he was arrested last night in NYC when he was in Tennessee performing at Bonnaroo. Maybe some dates are wrong? I dunno.

Sorry bro, but no one purposely does that so they can have their home repossessed. Good try, though. Via TMZ:

A Houston mansion owned by rapper Chamillionaire was repossessed by the bank recently after the place went into foreclosure — but according to the rapper, it was all part of a calculated business decision.

TMZ has learned Chamillionaire lost the 7,583 sq. foot home — which he picked up for roughly $2 million back in 2006 — after failing to make several payments.

But, yesterday in New York we spoke with Chamillionaire — real name Hakeem Seriki — who told us he “decided to let that house go” because the real estate market had turned and the house had become a bad investment.

Chamillionaire also noted that he was never at the home because, “I was always on the road touring” adding, “I just didn’t feel like it was a good business investment to pay that much mortgage for a house I was never at.”

But Chamillionaire claims he’s far from broke — quipping, “I still got all the cars.”

I don’t really mess with Apple or its products. I don’t really have any reason why I don’t, nor do I really have any animosity toward the brand…I just don’t. Regardless, I’ve always glazed over some pretty grimey things they’ve allegedly been involved with and this is one of them. Seems like they were trying to strong arm labels in to not messing with Amazon.com. Grimey.

The early-stage conversations “have revolved broadly around the dynamics of selling music online” and in particular Apple’s use of its market power to dissuade labels from granting Amazon.com one-day exclusives on certain new releases.

The Times referenced a March article by Billboard’s Ed Christman about the strong-arm tactics Apple had been using to deal with an increasingly competitive Amazon.com MP3 store. “Sources say that iTunes representatives have been urging labels to rethink their participation in the Amazon promotion,” wrote Christman, “and that they have backed up those warnings by withdrawing marketing support for certain releases featured as Daily Deals.”

As a result, explained Christman, Amazon.com had been agreeing to skip the one-day exclusive window. And some labels had continued to work with Amazon.com on titles that would not have received prime placement at iTunes.

Story via Billboard.biz. And as said on Twitter:

An excerpt from VIBE:

Speaking of babies, this was the first time since making Illmatic that you became a dad again. How’d it feel to be awaiting you first son while recording Distant Relatives?
It’s amazing. It just made everything feel like it was right on time, you know? To have a daughter is amazing too, but when you’re a man, to have a son is different. My daughter is my princess and now I have a prince, so it’s a beautiful thing to have a son and a daughter. Now I have a little man. It’s the coolest shit ever.

How old is Knight? Is he walking yet?
He’s like nine months. He’s crawling, pulling himself to stand up. He said the word ‘stick’ about a month ago. He’s been talking for about two months, saying little words here and there.

Any of them rhyme?
Nah. [Laughs]

What was his first word?
I don’t know, it sounded like he was trying to say ‘hello.’ He was picking up on things very young, like two to three months if not sooner. It just throws you that we’re born knowing what’s up.

How often are you able to see him?
My son was born with ice grills, so when his mom feels in the mood she sends pictures. If not, its hell. It’s hell trying to figure that out, trying to get him—I’ll just leave it at that. It’s hell. A man shouldn’t go through that shit, but it’s another story I’ma tell at a different time.

I hear you.
Overall he’s super good, and when I do get him there’s nothing better in the whole world. When I get both my kids together its beautiful.

Oh, Kelis

Via TMZ:

Nas claims he can’t afford to pay Kelis the child and spousal support ordered by the court.

“What the fuck you gon’ do with fifty five God damned grand a month? What the fuck is that shit, man? That’s fuckin foul! Fuck that…”

Interesting story right here. Wayne in jail is even slangin the females. So she says she doesn’t like rap and was just saying hi to a friend in a restricted area. I feel like there’s gotta be more to that story than what she claims and they obviously had more of a reason to fire her than just claiming she popped her head in. I dunno. On second thought, it’s not really that interesting other than the fact that she’s now suing the establishment. Here’s part of the article:

A former Rikers guard says she was canned after a bad rap – a claim she tried to sneak a peek at Lil Wayne in lockup.

Amelia Negron, who is preparing a federal suit against the city, said union higherups forced her to falsely confess she was trying to star-gawk.

“I don’t even like rap,” said Negron, 33.

“I like rock and alternative music and didn’t know much about him when they said I tried to see him. None of it’s true.”

What really happened March 10 is that she popped her head into the unit where the performer was being held to see a colleague, Negron said.

“The door to the area was unlocked, and so I went in to say hello, and that officer said, ‘Hey, you can’t be here. We’ve got a celeb here.’ I said, ‘Okay, no problem,’ turned around and left,” Negron said.

She said that, after the short exchange, her superiors claimed she was trying to cozy up to Weezy.

“We did nothing wrong, but we were threatened with criminal charges, transfers, suspensions,” she said.

Jailbird rapper Lil Wayne was hit with a $500,000-plus suit yesterday by the producer of his Grammy-winning song “Lollipop.”

Jim Jonsin claims the rap star — who’s serving a year behind bars for gun possession — hasn’t coughed up royalties for Jonsin’s work on the hit single.

Via

Via TMZ:

Nas went to court Monday over his divorce with Kelis — and walked out a little lighter in the wallet.

According to documents filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Nas had to immediately fork over $47,249.42 in back child support and $40,454 in back spousal support.

The judge also ordered Nas to pay $10,000/month in spousal support until he pays off the $299,015.50 he owes Kelis. Nas also has to pay 90% of Kelis’ legal fees in the amount of $155,787.28. Lastly, Nas has to pay $48,549.83 to cover Kelis’ accounting expenses.

^^^Seriously, I couldn’t even live with myself if I was stealing my ex’s money like that. The figures Nas is being ordered to just hand over are absurd. No one needs that kind of money to comfortably raise a child. And you know damn well she’s not not spending all that cash on her kid. Sweet kicks below that are priced between $4k and $10k.

Via TMZ:
T.I.’s attorney, Steve Sadow, tells TMZ the rapper — who’s been serving the last 30 days of his sentence under house arrest — will officially be done today.

T.I. will now be placed under 23 days of supervised release … which means he’ll have to be home by 11 PM unless he’s performing, when he’ll have to be in by 1 AM.

The rapper — real name Clifford Harris — will also have to complete 400 hours of community service and will be on probation for three years.