Rap Star Sues Producers for Royalties
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Hip-hop artist True Master, who has produced records for some of the biggest names in rap — including Method Man, the Wu-Tang Clan, and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard — is accusing music companies Wu-Tang Productions, Diggs Family Music, Nassir Music, and others of breaking their contracts with him and “unjust enrichment” at his expense by not paying him the royalties the contracts require.
True Master says he delivered the music as promised.
The lawsuit filed yesterday in New York State Supreme Court isn’t the first time True Master, whose legal name is Derrick Harris, has sparred with record labels and music companies. He filed a similar complaint in Manhattan federal court last year. A judge in that case dismissed several of the counts, including one of copyright infringement, against some of the plaintiffs, which includes Sony BMG Music.
Mr. Harris’s lawsuit marks the second time this week that hip-hop has made an appearance in Centre Street courts.
Rap diva Foxy Brown and the indefatigable Busta Rhymes both faced misdemeanor assault charges in unrelated cases on Tuesday.
Mr. Harris has performed himself, notably on Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2, and one of his only solo tracks, “Who’s the Truest.” Lawyers for the plaintiff and the defendants couldn’t be reached last night for comment.
