By Ismael AbduSalaam
A NY federal judge has cleared DJ Drama and several others over charges that the defendants failed to compensate Cash Money Records for various tracks that appeared on mixtapes.
While Drama had regularly collaborated with superstar Lil Wayne for their Dedication mixtape series, the financial issue arose when Drama began to sell his mixtapes officially in retail outlets.
Judge Cedarbaum threw out the charges after Cash Money lawyers failed to provide any “valid legal claim against [the] defendants.”
The label’s legal representation was given until September 9 to amend their initial complaint and continue litigation.
Wallace Collins, an entertainment attorney who represented BCD Music Group, explained that there will be no appeals and the matter is finished.
“[The] plaintiff (Cash Money Records) had requested that the case be dismissed ‘without prejudice’… which would have meant that Cash Money could try again,” Collins told AllHipHop.com. “However, the judge agreed with our request that it be dismissed ‘with prejudice;’ which basically drives a stake through the heart of the action and puts the final nail in the coffin of this lawsuit; it’s over and done!”
BCD Music Group was named as a defendant along with several other mixtape deejays.
Even when the case was first announced, DJ Drama remained diplomatic and hopeful that the situation would be resolved amicably.
“The accusations against me are misplaced,” Drama stated. “This is not a case of Lil Wayne vs DJ Drama. Me and Wayne are good. I am confident that this matter will be resolved quickly without harming the relationships between myself, Wayne and Cash Money Records.”
At press time, Cash Money Records has not released a statement regarding the verdict.
