AllRespect.com // Lil Wayne's Reported Lawsuit Against DJ Drama Clarified

Posted on 2009-04-03 03:00:10
Artist/band(s): Lil Wayne [FB]

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1608447/20090402/lil_wayne.jhtml

Cash Money Records lawyer provides details.By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Shaheem Reid

Lil WaynePhoto: Alexander Tamargo/ Getty Images

An e-mail blast sent to members of the media and music-industry insiders on Thursday (April 2) by Makin Moves Entertainment revealed court documents were filed in New York District Court summoning the company, as well as DJ Drama, to answer to charges of selling Lil Wayne's music illegally. According to the documents, the lawsuit was filed February 18 of this year.

The information was surprising to many, considering Wayne and Drama collaborated recently on Dedication 3, the third installment of their popular mixtape series that helped catapult the rapper to superstar status.

Candace Carponter, an attorney representing Cash Money Records, confirmed to MTV News the authenticity of the documents. Carponter clarified that the lawsuit — stemming from an ongoing case against BCD Music Group, an independent distribution company based in Texas — has not been pushed by Lil Wayne directly, but by his recording home. Lil Wayne created a rift with many mixtape DJs last year when he lashed out at them during the release of his most recent album, Tha Carter III. The rapper levied claims against a number of DJs who he felt were profiting illegally off of his work. He later cleared up his remarks on DJ Drama's radio show, of all places, singling out the Empire, the DJ who had released a number of Da Drought Is Over mixtapes featuring Wayne.

During the initial legal proceedings, Carponter explained BCD provided the court with documents that allege the company signed contracts with Drama and Makin Moves Entertaintment for rights to sell projects that included DJ Drama's Wayne collaboration Dedication 2.

Carponter acknowledged the initial collaboration of putting together the mixtapes was done with consent, however, selling the projects in retail outlets with Lil Wayne's image and likeness was an illegal act. The parties, she also noted, did not have rights to strike deals with Wayne's music.

In an e-mail message to MTV News, Drama stated, "The accusations against me are misplaced."

"This is not a case of Lil Wayne vs. DJ Drama. Me and Wayne are good," the DJ wrote. "I am confident that this matter will be resolved quickly without harming the relationships between myself, Wayne and Cash Money Records. However, due to the ongoing nature of this litigation I do not wish to make any further comments."

According to Carponter, the summons were sent within the past two weeks to the parties, which court documents list as BDC Music Group, Inc; Deep Distribution World Wide, Inc; Tyree C. Simmons; Cinque Productions, Inc; Apphilliates Music Group; Makin Moves Entertainment; and Frank Nino.

"BCD claimed the right to sell the music," Carponter said, noting the contracts the company said it signed with the parties, including Drama. "So we named them in complaints and they have 30 days to answer the charges, based on when they receive the papers."

A request for comment from Lil Wayne has not been answered as of press time.

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