Studies from America say that Fats Joe has been sued for a whopping $20million (£14.8m) over claims of unpaid wages and underage intercourse with minors.
The New York rapper, 54, whose actual identify is Joe Cartagena, rose to fame within the mid-to-late 90s as a solo performer and as a member of the Terror Squad.
He landed his greatest UK chart hits in 2002 and 2005 when he teamed up with Ashanti for What’s Luv? and with Jennifer Lopez for Maintain You Down – each high 10 singles.
Now, his former hypeman and stage companion of 16 years, Terrence Dixon – higher identified by his stage identify T. A. – has filed a lawsuit towards Cartagena in federal court docket.
Dixon is alleging that Cartagena engaged in ‘coercive labor exploitation, monetary fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion’ – claims that Cartagena denies.
Additional stories (through Selection) point out that the lawsuit additionally accuses the Feelin So Good rapper ‘intentionally suppressed, silenced and erased Dixon’s substantial inventive, inventive, and business contributions’.
The grievance, which is 157 pages lengthy, has been filed within the US District Courtroom, Southern District of New York, and accommodates a set off warning in its contents.
Dixon accompanied Cartagena on phases the world over for 16 years, typically working up and energising the gang earlier than and through units.
Throughout this time, he alleges, the Lean Again rapper compelled him ‘into humiliating conditions, together with intercourse acts carried out underneath duress and surveillance, accompanied by threats of abandonment.’
Cartagena is represented within the case by superstar lawyer Joe Tacopina, who has represented, amongst others, US President Donald Trump and rapper ASAP Rocky.
‘The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation,’ an announcement from Cartegana’s representatives started.
‘[It’s] a determined try and deflect consideration from the civil swimsuit we filed first, which uncovered their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena by lies, threats, and manufactured allegations.’
The most recent improvement follows Cartagena’s submitting of his personal lawsuit towards Dixon in April of this 12 months, by which he claimed that his former hypeman had slandered him on social media.
Claims are made in Dixon’s swimsuit that he was personally coerced ‘into greater than 4,000 sexual acts to take care of his standing’ inside Cartagena’s musical enterprise.
Essentially the most stunning declare made is that the hypeman ‘personally witnessed [Cartagena] have interaction in sexual relations with youngsters who have been 15 and 16 years outdated.’
Three Jane Does – a 16-year-old lady from New York, a 15-year-old lady from outdoors the USA, and one other 15-year-old lady – are listed within the doc.
Dixon alleges that Cartagena ‘contemplated leaving his spouse’ after ‘falling in love’ with the third lady, who it’s claimed he met with simply earlier than she turned 16.
The response from Cartagena’s authorized staff continued: ‘The allegations towards Mr. Cartagena are full fabrications – lies meant to break his fame and drive a settlement by public strain.’
Dixon is credited as a musician and lyricist on a number of of Fats Joe’s songs that have been launched across the late 2000s and early 2010s, particularly on the album Jealous Ones Nonetheless Envy 2.
The hypeman – also called Inhabitants One within the music trade – is alleged to be represented for the lawsuit by Tyrone Blackburn, who’s at present lead counsel within the high-profile Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs case.
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