On the third anniversary of rapper MF Doom’s death, producer Madlib has filed a lawsuit against his former manager, Egon, for alleged “self-dealing” and taking funds from their joint earnings.
According to the lawsuit, Egon, whose real name is Eothen Alapatt, used his own record label, Now-Again Records, as a “middle man” to siphon off money from Madlib and MF Doom’s collaborative projects. The suit claims that Egon would negotiate deals with third parties on behalf of Madlib and MF Doom, but then have the payments made to Now-Again Records instead of the artists directly.
Madlib, whose real name is Otis Jackson Jr., also alleges that Egon failed to provide accurate accounting of their earnings and did not pay them their fair share. The lawsuit states that Egon’s actions were a breach of their management agreement and a violation of his fiduciary duty to the artists.
The lawsuit comes as a surprise to many, as Madlib and Egon had a long-standing professional relationship and were known to be close friends. They had worked together for over a decade, with Egon managing Madlib’s career and helping to launch his label, Madlib Invazion.
Egon has not yet responded to the lawsuit, but in a statement to Rolling Stone, he denied any wrongdoing and expressed his disappointment in Madlib’s decision to file the lawsuit on the anniversary of MF Doom’s death. He also stated that he had always acted in the best interest of Madlib and MF Doom and had never taken any money that was not rightfully theirs.
The lawsuit has sparked a debate among fans and industry professionals about the importance of transparency and trust in artist-manager relationships. Many have expressed their support for Madlib and his decision to take legal action, while others have questioned the timing of the lawsuit and the impact it may have on Egon’s reputation.
As the legal battle unfolds, fans continue to mourn the loss of MF Doom and remember his legacy as one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in hip-hop. It remains to be seen how the lawsuit will affect the future of Madlib and Egon’s working relationship, but one thing is for sure – the music industry will be closely watching the outcome of this case.
