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A new battle is brewing in rap and this time it's between Rap-A-Lot/J. Prince Boxing CEO James Prince and incarcerated drug dealer Michael "Harry-O" Harris.
According to Harris' attorney Steve Goldberg, Harris has laid claim to a 50% stake in Rap-A-Lot Records, alleging that he provided seed money to launch the label in the mid-'80s, similar to claims Harris made against Marion "Suge" Knight's Death Row Records.
"He has a 50/50 oral agreement with James Prince and we are going to find out exactly how much money is owed," Goldberg told AllHipHop.com. "Of course we expect Prince to deny this, but there were witnesses to the oral agreement at the inception of Rap-A-Lot. Michael helped get Rap-A-Lot off the ground by booking acts and providing start-up capital. James Prince would be no place without Michael Harris. And just like he [Harris] won a judgment against Death Row, he will win against Rap-A-Lot."
Since it's founding in 1986, Rap-A-Lot has produced hit records for the Geto Boys, Scarface, Bun B and Pimp C, and the Luniz, among others.
Harris founded various entertainment-related ventures in the '80s, including the production of Denzel Washington's Broadway debut Checkmates in 1987.
Prince has been ordered by a Houston judge to produce documents relating to the assets of Michael or Lydia Harris, including but not limited to the assets of Rap-A-Lot Records.
Prince must appear in a Los Angeles court Thursday (Oct. 12) for continued deposition.
Goldberg said he seeks to start with finding links between Knight and Prince.
Of interest to Goldberg is a recent album 2Face, that consists of 2Pac and Scarface tracks released on Rap-A-Lot Records and co-produced by Knight.
"We found out that Prince was less than forthcoming in his first deposition," said Goldberg. "He denied Rap-A-Lot was doing business with Death Row, but we found out about the 2Face CD. Because of that, we showed the judge that Prince had not been totally candid in his first deposition. I'm going to keep questioning this guy until we get what we need."
In September, Prince celebrated a minor victory when questions regarding J. Prince and Suge Knight were initially thrown out.
"Harris is a pathological lying snitch," Prince said in September, adding that he was "pleased with the judge's decision on the court ruling" at the time.
Michael Harris is serving 28-years in San Quentin for attempted-murder and drug dealing.
He claimed he invested $1.5 million to help start Death Row Records in 1991 with Knight's attorney, David Kenner.
Knight filed for bankruptcy in an attempt to avoid paying Harris' estranged wife Lydia a $107 million default judgment and Death Row was placed into the hands of a Bankruptcy trustee to auction off the labels assets, which include multi-platinum recordings from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and Tupac Shakur, the best-selling rapper in history.
"Nothing was dismissed," Goldberg clarified. "If Rap-A-Lot said anything was dismissed from court, that was a misstatement. Until Michael Harris gets what's owed to him, we are not letting go."
Attempts to reach J. Prince and Rap-A-Lot for comment were unsuccessful.
Source: allhiphop.com
According to Harris' attorney Steve Goldberg, Harris has laid claim to a 50% stake in Rap-A-Lot Records, alleging that he provided seed money to launch the label in the mid-'80s, similar to claims Harris made against Marion "Suge" Knight's Death Row Records.
"He has a 50/50 oral agreement with James Prince and we are going to find out exactly how much money is owed," Goldberg told AllHipHop.com. "Of course we expect Prince to deny this, but there were witnesses to the oral agreement at the inception of Rap-A-Lot. Michael helped get Rap-A-Lot off the ground by booking acts and providing start-up capital. James Prince would be no place without Michael Harris. And just like he [Harris] won a judgment against Death Row, he will win against Rap-A-Lot."
Since it's founding in 1986, Rap-A-Lot has produced hit records for the Geto Boys, Scarface, Bun B and Pimp C, and the Luniz, among others.
Harris founded various entertainment-related ventures in the '80s, including the production of Denzel Washington's Broadway debut Checkmates in 1987.
Prince has been ordered by a Houston judge to produce documents relating to the assets of Michael or Lydia Harris, including but not limited to the assets of Rap-A-Lot Records.
Prince must appear in a Los Angeles court Thursday (Oct. 12) for continued deposition.
Goldberg said he seeks to start with finding links between Knight and Prince.
Of interest to Goldberg is a recent album 2Face, that consists of 2Pac and Scarface tracks released on Rap-A-Lot Records and co-produced by Knight.
"We found out that Prince was less than forthcoming in his first deposition," said Goldberg. "He denied Rap-A-Lot was doing business with Death Row, but we found out about the 2Face CD. Because of that, we showed the judge that Prince had not been totally candid in his first deposition. I'm going to keep questioning this guy until we get what we need."
In September, Prince celebrated a minor victory when questions regarding J. Prince and Suge Knight were initially thrown out.
"Harris is a pathological lying snitch," Prince said in September, adding that he was "pleased with the judge's decision on the court ruling" at the time.
Michael Harris is serving 28-years in San Quentin for attempted-murder and drug dealing.
He claimed he invested $1.5 million to help start Death Row Records in 1991 with Knight's attorney, David Kenner.
Knight filed for bankruptcy in an attempt to avoid paying Harris' estranged wife Lydia a $107 million default judgment and Death Row was placed into the hands of a Bankruptcy trustee to auction off the labels assets, which include multi-platinum recordings from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and Tupac Shakur, the best-selling rapper in history.
"Nothing was dismissed," Goldberg clarified. "If Rap-A-Lot said anything was dismissed from court, that was a misstatement. Until Michael Harris gets what's owed to him, we are not letting go."
Attempts to reach J. Prince and Rap-A-Lot for comment were unsuccessful.
Source: allhiphop.com