Rapper Says Cash Money Owes Him $1.3 Million

NEW ORLEANS (CN) - Tab Virgil Jr. also known as "Turk," is suing Cash Money Records claiming he's owed $1.3 million for songs he wrote for the Hot Boy$, a group that includes rappers Lil Wayne, B.G. and Juvenile.

Turk says he has not been paid any artist or music publishing royalties for the dozens of songs he has written, and that no accounting of royalties has ever been rendered by Cash Money.

Cash Money Records is a Miami, Fla.-based record label, with distribution through Universal Music Group. It was founded in New Orleans. The label has signed some of the best-known musical artists in the hip-hop and pop music genres, the lawsuits says, including Grammy Award winning and multi-platinum album selling artists such as Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj.

Turk says in his complaint that he began writing songs for Cash Money in 1998 under exclusive artist recording agreements in which he was promised artist advances, royalties and publishing advances and royalties. He has received none of these, his lawsuit says.

Cash Money has also failed to copyright any of his music, as required under the agreement, Turk says.

Turk, who is also sometimes known as "Young Turk" or "Lil Turk" is a New Orleans rapper. His debut album "Young & Thuggin'" became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard 200.

Though not stated in the lawsuit, in 2005 Turk was convicted of killing a police officer in Memphis, Tenn. for which he spent almost nine years in prison. While incarcerated, he continued to make songs, and when he was released, he immediately released mixed tapes with Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Juvenile and B.C., including an official Hot Boy$ return song and a mixed tape released on SoundCloud called "Blame it on the System."

Cash Money Records has been sued multiple times by multiple artists with similar claims. Just last week Lil Wayne filed a lawsuit in Manhattan to end his contract with rapper Birdman and Cash Money Records for allegedly withholding millions of dollars in song royalties. This was not the first time Lil Wayne sued the record label.

Turk says his Cash Money has sold over two million records featuring songs he wrote. He seeks $1.3 million for breach of contract and copyright violations.

He is represented by Patrick E. Costello of Mouledoux, Bland, LeGrand & Brackett in New Orleans.

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