Rappers Take Fight to Court

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Hip-hop artist Big Bad 40 took a fight with The Game to court, claiming The Game edited a YouTube video to make it look like he won a smackdown, though they were surrounded by The Game's armed clique.

Lawrence White, pka Big Bad 40 fpka 40 Glocc, sued Jayceon Terrell Taylor pka The Game in Superior Court, alleging 10 causes of action, including assault, battery, false light and defamation. White also sued seven members of Taylor's posse, Universal Music Group and Saint Ives Realty.

White claims Taylor attacked him on the evening of July 7, after the rappers crossed paths at a Los Angeles pool party.

"A few steps outside the front door, and much to his surprise, plaintiff heard a voice behind him say, 'Turn up, nigga.' Plaintiff turned around and saw Taylor standing with about fifteen men who appeared to be members of Taylor's entourage," the complaint states.

"Taylor was pointing a gun at plaintiff's head. As plaintiff stood looking at Taylor, Taylor cocked the gun. Plaintiff ran, fearing for his life, shouting as he looked behind him, 'You betta not shoot that gun,' Taylor said, 'Freeze or I'ma shoot, nigga.' Plaintiff fell as he was running away. Taylor caught up to plaintiff as plaintiff was still on the ground and pointed the gun at plaintiff's head. Plaintiff pleaded as he rose from the ground, 'Don't shoot that gun.'"

White claims that Taylor and his posse beat him, and that he could not fight back because Taylor had threatened to shoot him.

The beating was captured by Taylor and his cohorts on cell phones, White says.

Less than 24 hours later, footage titled: "The Game Beats up 40 Glocc Whilst Recording on iPhone Full Video" appeared on the Internet, according to the complaint.

In the video, which was still posted this morning, White is depicted cowering in a bush as Taylor stalks him. Shots allegedly from Taylor's iPhone show Taylor delivering blows to White.

Soon after the attack, Taylor "began boasting in various media that he had vanquished" White, according to the complaint.

"Defendants, and each of them, by publishing videos of plaintiff being beaten and chased, and by publishing, without plaintiff's permission, over the radio, in print, and online, the story of plaintiffs being beaten and chased, without revealing that at least one of plaintiff's attackers had pointed a gun at him, publicized information or material that portrayed plaintiff in a false light," the complaint states.

White claims that Taylor's statements on his Twitter account and to the media made it look like White was a "coward" and that Taylor had beaten him in one-on-one "unarmed combat, as in boxing," and that Taylor was "too weak to defend himself."

Defendant Saint Ives Realty owns the property where the party was. White claims that because the rappers were involved in a publicized feud, the company should have checked Taylor and his entourage for guns.

Also sued is German resident Christopher Hellwig and the Does who allegedly created a website promoting the video, including an image of White "modified to appear bloodied and bruised, and wearing red headphones."

Defendant Universal Music Group is the parent company of The Game's record label Interscope.

White seeks punitive damages, and an injunction barring Taylor from using the video to promote his products and services.

White is represented by Steve Soloway.

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