Wiz Khalifa is taking the label that has been his recording home since 2005 to court in an attempt to free himself from a contract that he feels has taken advantage of him.
Billboard reports that the lawsuit filed Tuesday, May 31, in Los Angeles Superior Court accuses Rostrum Records and Wiz's former manager Benjy Grinberg of profiting from "virtually every aspect of plaintiff's professional life" for more than a decade, and entered a "series of other transactions, all in further violation of the rule against self dealing."
Wiz's relationship with Grinberg and Rostrum began in 2004 when he was 16. He entered into a verbal agreement that allowed them to manage his career.
In 2005 the Taylor Gang boss signed a 360 deal with the label that called for one album and five options for additional albums. The rapper says his 2016 album titled "Khalifa" fulfilled his obligation to the label.
The lawsuit alleges that Rostrum and Grinberg made significant profits with each release and along the way cut deals with Warner Bros. Records and Atlantic Records for his recordings while "intentionally conceal[ing] material information... in order to profit at his expense."
Wiz terminated his management agreement with them in 2014, and now wants a judge to void his contract with the label.
He's asking for more than $1 million in damages, as well as attorneys' fees and further punitive damages.
"To witness an artist turn on you after supporting them for a number of years is very disheartening," Grinberg told Billboard. "This is an egregious lawsuit filled with inaccuracies, yet unfortunately people sometimes resort to these practices as a way of conducting business.”
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