Madlib is suing his former manager, Eothen âEgonâ Alapatt, accusing him of ârank self-dealing,â âengaging in persistent and pervasive mismanagement,â and unduly profiting from his involvement in the musicianâs business affairs. Madlib filed his lawsuit in a Los Angeles court on October 31, marking the fourth anniversary of MF Doomâs death. Doomâs widow, Jasmine Dumile Thompson, is also involved in an ongoing lawsuit against Egon.
In the lawsuit, Madlib and his legal team explain that both he and Egon departed Stones Throw Records in 2010. At that point, Madlib says, he retained Egon as his manager, entrusting him to create and operate the business entities Madicine Show and Rappcats. (Madlib also names Rappcats co-founder Jeffrey âJeff Jankâ Carlson as a defendant in the lawsuit.)
Madlib alleges that he only recently discovered âseveral accounting irregularitiesâ involving Madicine Show and Rappcats that occurred between 2018 and mid-2022. He also says he was unable to find âany backup documentation for, among other things, payments to EGON, JANK and others as âconsulting,â âcommissions,â âfeesâ or âreimbursementsâ (totaling in the several hundred thousands of dollars).â
Further, Madlib claims that Egon âimproperly insertedâ his own record label, the former Stones Throw subsidiary Now-Again Records, into business affairs involving Madicine Show. And he also alleges that Egon âlocked [him] out of several key music business platforms that he should have access to including but not limited to Ingrooves, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and YouTube as well as MADLIBâs own Facebook account and the Instagram account for his QUASIMOTO character.â
Madlib is seeking the judicially assisted wind-up and dissolution of Madicine Show and Rappcats, an award of punitive and exemplary damages for Egon and Now-Againâs alleged breach of fiduciary duty, and a declaration from the court that none of the defendants âown or has any continuing right or interestâ in his recorded music, professional career, registered trademarks, and name and likeness. He and his team have also requested a jury trial.
Jeff Jank and Kenneth D. Freundlich, the attorney representing Egon in his dispute with Jasmine Dumile Thompson, did not immediately respond to Pitchforkâs requests for comment.