MF Doom’s Estate and Widow Pursue Legal Action Against Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, Seek Damages and Return of Notebooks

Jasmine Dumile Thompson, the widow of the late rapper MF Doom, and Gas Drawls, the LLC responsible for managing the rapper’s intellectual property, have initiated legal proceedings against MF Doom’s former A&R, Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, citing multiple charges, including copyright infringement, fraud, intentional misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.

The lawsuit centers on the alleged ownership of 31 notebooks, currently held by Alapatt, which contain a variety of MF Doom’s creative work, such as rap lyrics, song notes, drawings, and other intellectual assets.

The legal action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, also involves “50 Does” – unidentified individuals or entities potentially connected to Alapatt’s activities. The plaintiffs are seeking a court-ordered injunction to retrieve the notebooks, eliminate any copies, and prevent further use or dissemination of MF Doom’s intellectual property contained within the notebooks.

The plaintiffs asserted that Alapatt’s false statements about how he acquired the notebooks deterred them from pursuing legal action earlier, constituting fraud. They also claim that Alapatt’s possession and duplication of the notebooks have allowed him to gain significant financial benefits. Furthermore, the plaintiffs aim to obtain a declaratory judgment confirming their ownership of the notebooks, not Alapatt’s.

MF Doom and Alapatt crossed paths during Alapatt’s tenure as the general manager and A&R at J Dilla’s Stones Throw Records. Alapatt played a pivotal role in introducing MF Doom to Madlib, resulting in their iconic 2004 collaborative album, Madvillainy. The lawsuit details that MF Doom stored the collection of notebooks in his Los Angeles studio, amounting to 31 in total by 2010. His immigration troubles prevented his return to the United States from the United Kingdom that same year. According to the plaintiffs, Alapatt then took possession of the notebooks in 2016, claiming he paid the studio’s landlord back rent to prevent their destruction. MF Doom’s request for their return was reportedly denied.

In response, Alapatt’s attorney explained that he intended to donate the notebooks to institutions such as the Smithsonian or the Cornell University Hip Hop Archive with the artist’s consent. However, the lawsuit presents evidence in the form of email exchanges, suggesting that MF Doom repeatedly asked for the return of the notebooks. The messages appear to contradict Alapatt’s claim that he was safeguarding the notebooks for academic purposes. The plaintiffs also allege that Alapatt copied and distributed the notebooks to various parties, including hip-hop archives.

Recent revelations from an undisclosed source indicate that there was no “back rent” and that Alapatt acquired the notebooks from the landlord for $12,500. Additionally, Thompson provided evidence in the form of copyright registration certificates for 20 of the notebooks, effective as of April 19, 2023.

It’s worth noting that Alapatt has faced disputes with other artists and their estates, including J Dilla’s mother, Maureen Yancey, and Talib Kweli, further calling into question his actions in managing intellectual property and assets related to the hip-hop community.