The music mogul claims he helped Daniels build up his career and saw nothing in return.
Director Lee Daniels (Precious, The Butler) has come under fire from hip hop mogul and Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash. Dash made a substantial investment in six of Daniels' movies, including The Woodsman starring Kevin Bacon, which he put $2m into. He is now suing the director for "unpaid principal, interest and royalties" all of which come to a total of $25 million, according to the lawsuit. The New York Post reports that Dash was also not given his promised producer credit on the films.
According to the Post, Dash's lawyer, Natraj Bhushan, the music producer helped Daniels' career early on and only wants to receive what he is entitled to.
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"It's very upsetting because there was a certain point where Lee was up-and-coming and Damon, as a music mogul and producer, really saw potential," the attorney explained.
Daniels isn't the only one under fire. Talent manager Simone Sheffield got a producer credit on Daniels' films, but according to Dash, she claimed he was going to jail and obstructed his professional relationship with the filmmaker.
Lee Daniels at the Arts & Business Council's 29th Annual Awards
This is only the latest of Dash's legal battles. Earlier this year, he was sued by an ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, for allegedly having her arrested on charges of harassment.
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Dash co-founded Roc-A-Fella records and its spinoff clothing brand Rocawear with Jay Z. However, after the two nurtured some of the biggest names in music today, including Kanye West, the two founders had mounting disagreements and Jay Z's own label Def Jam eventually bought out Roc-A-Fella, installing Jay Z as the sole president.
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