Suge Knight Says Dr. Dre Owes Nearly a Billion

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Jailed rap mogul Suge Knight claims in a cross-complaint that legendary rapper and producer Dr. Dre is responsible for a nightclub shooting that left Knight with multiple gunshot wounds, and that Dre owes $900 million from a colossal Apple-Beats deal.

Knight is currently in custody on charges that he killed his friend Terry Carter in early 2015 by running him over with his pickup truck at a burger restaurant near the set of a promotional video for the N.W.A. biopic, "Straight Outta Compton."

The dispute erupted between Knight and Cle "Bone" Sloan at the restaurant after Knight had shown up uninvited to a base camp close to the set in Compton. Knight also ran over Sloan but claims he was acting in self-defense and has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder.

The year before the incident at the restaurant, Knight says he was shot seven times while at the 1Oak Nightclub in Hollywood where he was attending a MTV Video Music Awards party for R&B singer Chris Brown.

Carter's mother Lillian Carter has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Knight, Sloan, Dr. Dre (real name Andre Young) Ice Cube, and Universal Studios. The lawsuit claims that the incident at the restaurant stemmed from the long-running feud between Knight and Dre.

In a cross-complaint filed on Oct. 18, Knight does nothing to dispel rumors of a feud. Instead, he lays the blame squarely at Dre's feet, claiming of the restaurant and nightclub incidents that "Dr. Dre Did It" and that it is a "well known fact that Young and Knight are not friends."

"Andre Young is responsible for both crimes," Knight's 14-page filing states.

According to Knight, Dre hired Sloan to work on "Straight Outta Compton" and that when LA Sheriff's officers questioned a man called "Damien" aka "T-Money" about the nightclub shooting he told investigators that Young had paid him to "kill Knight."

Knight says the rift dates back to when Dre agreed to leave Death Row Records, the label they cofounded and released Dre's debut album "The Chronic." In his complaint, Knight says he was both Dre's business partner and manager.

"In the agreement, Young relinquished his 50 percent share of Death Row Records, his publishing and copyright in 'The Chronic' and waived his right to rescission," the cross-complaint says. "All that remained of their business relationship after the 1996 agreement was a lifetime management agreement that provided that Knight earn 30 percent of Young's entertainment earnings in perpetuity."

Given that clause, Knight says that Dre owes him a cut of $3 billion deal with Apple to acquire Beats Electronics, as well his share of proceeds from "Straight Outta Compton."

For years, hip-hop fans anticipated a new Dr. Dre release following his platinum turn with "2001."

Provisionally titled "Detox," the album never saw the light of day. After more than a decade of rumors, it was reported that Dr. Dre had shelved the album because he was not happy with it.

But Knight says there is another reason.

"Young did not wish to share another penny with Knight, even going to such lengths as refusing to record a new album, so as to keep from having to share revenue with Knight," the filing states.

Knight accuses Apple and Universal of entering into a "mutually agreeable scheme" with Dre to deprive Knight of his share in the Beats deal and the movie, which has grossed nearly $202 million worldwide.

"Because of this persisting, valid contract and management relationship, Knight was due a 30 percent portion of Young's payout in the $3 billion Apple/Beats transaction and in Young's profit share from the Universal film, 'Straight Outta Compton,'" the filing states.

Knight's claims include intentional interference with contract, conversion, negligence, assault and battery and others.

He is represented by Thaddeus Culpepper of Encino.

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