A former member of
Snoop Dogg’s female rap group Doggy’s Angels has settled a $100 thousand dollar breach
of contract lawsuit against the rapper, claiming unpaid royalties.
Chan Gains, along
with Kola Marion and Kim Proby signed an exclusive agreement with Snoop’s label
Doggystyle Records in 2000. The imprint was distributed by New York- based label
TVT Records.
The group hit
it big with the single "Baby If You’re Ready," but just before Doggy’s
Angels’ debut, Columbia Pictures filed a copyright infringement suit against
TVT and Doggystyle, claiming the group was appropriating the studio’s Charlie’s
Angels trademark.
The lawsuit forced
the group to rename themselves Tha Angels and interrupted the marketing and
promotion of their debut album, Snoop Dogg Presents: Doggy’s Angels —
Pleezbaleevit.
The group was
also forced to pull all artwork originally used to promote the album, due to
similarities between the Charlie’s Angels artwork and the materials used
to market Doggy’s Angels.
"It was going
to be Snoop Dogg’s girl group, but all the girls kind of had their hopes of
success in the music industry pretty much dashed at that point," Gaines’
attorney Lowe told CourtTV.com. "You get your one shot in the music business
… There are a lot of sad stories."
Gaines said she
was homeless for a period of time. "There were times I slept in my car.
I would just pray to God I would make it to the next day and I’m still here
because I know he has a bigger plan for me," Gaines said. "I wouldn’t
trade my experience because it allowed me to see the heartless actions of people
I was involved with."
The group broke
up in 2002, and in 2005 Gaines sued TVT and Snoop’s Doggystyle imprint for unpaid
royalties. The lawsuit was recently settled but due to a confidentiality agreement,
Gaines cannot reveal the settlement amount.
