(AllHipHop News) Rapper Wiz Khalifa has filed a lawsuit against long time manager and business partner Benjy Grinberg and his Rostrum Records.
Wiz Khalifa is attempting to get out of a 360° deal with Rostrum Records, which he claims he signed in 2004, when he was just 16-years-old.
To make matters worse, Grinberg allegedly induced Wiz into signing a series of amendments to the original agreement, which gives Rostrum the rights to all of the rapper’s income streams for the next 10 years.
“An artist’s most trusted advisor is his or her personal manager. Generally, nothing good comes out when the manager decides to go into business against his artist. Unfortunately, that is the case here,” said Alex Weingarten, Khalifa’s attorney at Venable LLP reported Variety.
Although Benjy Grinberg and Rostrum Records have not managed him since 2014, they are apparently still tied to Wiz Khalifa through the 360° deal.
Grinberg had much a different opinion of the lawsuit’s merits. He told Variety that Wiz was “turning” on him” after years of support.
“To witness an artist turn on you after supporting them for a number of years is very disheartening,” Benjy Grinberg said. “This is an egregious lawsuit filled with inaccuracies, yet unfortunately people sometimes resort to these practices as a way of conducting business.”
The rapper’s lawyers are asking a Los Angeles judge to void the agreement with Rostrum Records, under the California Labor Code’s seven-year rule.
Wiz Khalifa is also seeking at least $1 million in damages.
