Jay-Z Wins $4.5M In Unpaid Royalties Over Failed Cologne Partnership

Jay-Z won $4.5 million in royalties Thursday (Feb. 24) from a fragrance company called Parlux that sued the rapper after their cologne endorsement deal went south.

Three months after a Manhattan jury cleared the superstar of wrongdoing and potentially $67 million in damages, a New York state appeals court went even further, ruling that it was Parlux that must pay up. The court said the fragrance brand owed past royalties, plus interest, for sales of the product made after the deal soured.

“The record is clear: Parlux sold licensed products after July 31, 2015, but failed to pay royalties on those sales,” wrote Justice John Higgitt of the New York Appellate Division.

The ruling came after more than six years of litigation over “Gold Jay-Z,” a cologne brand that the superstar, whose real name is Shawn Carter, launched in 2013 through a partnership with Parlux.

In its lawsuit, the company accused the rapper and his S. Carter Enterprises of failing to properly promote the brand, breaching his contract and dooming the product to failure. Jay-Z quickly countersued, claiming he had fulfilled his obligations despite numerous missteps from Parlux – and that the company still owed him money.

A three week trial was held last fall, featuring heated testimony from the star himself, during which he verbally sparred with opposing attorneys and even threatened to file a new countersuit. Eventually, jurors largely sided with Hov, finding that Parlux was entitled to nothing.

Confusingly, Thursday’s ruling was not based on an appeal from that verdict. Instead, both sides had lodged appeals earlier in the litigation, challenging intermediate rulings issued by the judge overseeing the case. The new decision mostly rejected those challenges, but held that Jay-Z was “correct” when he claimed he was owed $4.5 million in royalties for the period after July 31, 2015.

An appeal of the verdict could still be coming. The case remains in the trial court, where Parlux is asking the judge to set aside the verdict and order a new trial. Once the judge rules on those motions, the case could head back to an appeals court.

Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro of the law firm Quinn Emmanuel, declined to comment on the decision. Parlux’s lawyer, Anthony J. Viola of the firm Mintz Levin, did not return a request for comment on Thursday evening.

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‘A Thinly Veiled Attempt To Extort’: Snoop Dogg Blasts Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Snoop Dogg told a federal judge on Thursday (Feb. 24) that a dancer’s recent sexual assault lawsuit was a “thinly veiled attempt to extort defendant for money” just days before he was set to appear during the Super Bowl halftime show.

In a motion to dismiss the case filed in Los Angeles federal court, the rapper’s attorneys said the Jane Doe accuser’s lawsuit was legally flawed in a variety of ways, including that it was filed years too late. But, according to Snoop’s lawyers, sound legal arguments were not the main purpose of bringing the case.

“Plaintiff’s complaint, launched just days before Defendant’s Super Bowl Halftime performance, was a thinly veiled attempt to extort Defendant for money to stop Plaintiff from continuing to assert her false claims publicly,” wrote Jennifer L. Keller of the law firm Keller/Anderle LLP. “But the fatal deficiencies in her complaint ensure her gambit will not succeed.”

The attorney who represents the Jane Doe accuser, Matt E.O. Finkelberg, did not immediately return a request for comment on Thursday evening.

In her lawsuit filed on Feb. 9, the Jane Doe accuser alleged that both Snoop Dogg and Bishop Don “Magic” Juan separately assaulted her over a 24-hour span in May 2013. She also says she was not hired again because she rebuffed their advances.

The complaint included startling and explicit allegations against both men. The lawsuit claims that Doe was first assaulted by Juan — whose real name is Donald Campbell — after she accepted a ride home, fell asleep in the car and woke up at his house. She claims he “repeatedly shoved” himself into her mouth the next morning.

The pair then traveled to Snoop Dogg’s recording studio, the lawsuit says, where Doe claims the rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, barged into a bathroom while she was using it and demanded oral sex. She says she reluctantly complied because she was “afraid for her safety and for her life.” She claims he then masturbated onto her.

In Thursday’s response, Snoop’s attorneys said that each of the lawsuit’s specific claims was meritless. For instance, they argued that a claim for federal sex trafficking was not the kind of thing the statute was designed to prevent.

“If accepted as a sufficient pleading, Plaintiff’s claim would transform into federal sex trafficking every alleged sex act between a defendant and a plaintiff with lesser means, fame, or influence,” Snoop’s lawyers wrote.

As for the primary claims of sexual assault and sexual battery, Snoop’s attorneys said they were clearly barred by California’s two-year statute of limitations for such accusations.

Meanwhile, attorneys for Bishop Don “Magic” Juan also filed a separate motion to dismiss the claims against him, making similar arguments to Snoop’s attorneys.

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Yuri Shows Salsa Moves With Gilberto Santa Rosa at 2022 Premio Lo Nuestro

Who knew Yuri could do salsa improvisations?

Yet there she was, soneando next to one of the best – Gilberto Santa Rosa —in their joint rendition of Santa Rosa’s “Conteo Regresivo” at Premio Lo Nuestro on Thursday night (Feb. 24). Backed by a live salsa band, Santa Rosa and Yuri parlayed off each other for a delivery of the “Conteo” version that Yuri included in her live album Celebrando a Una Leyenda with La Sonora Santanera.

For the Premio Lo Nuestro performance, Yuri dazzled in a sexy, full-length yellow dress, and Santa Rosa, of course, was a consummate gentleman in his suit. Both flexed their vocal chops as they flawlessly executed the “Conteo Regresivo” performance.

See a clip on Premio Lo Nuestro’s Instagram Stories before they expire here, and check back to billboard.com for more Premio Lo Nuestro coverage.

Under the theme “Vive El Momento” at this year’s show, J Balvin, Camilo and Nodal lead the list of nominees with 10 nods each. They are followed by Bad Bunny and Karol G with nine each, and Calibre 50, Carlos Rivera, Farruko, Jhay Cortez, Maluma, Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro with eight.

The 10 artists up for Premio Lo Nuestro artist of the year are Ángela Aguilar, Bad Bunny, Camilo, Christian Nodal, Grupo Firme, J Balvin, Karol G, Maluma, Rauw Alejandro, and Sebastián Yatra. Other notable categories include album of the year, song of the year, new female artist of the year, and new male artist of the year.

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Maluma, Blessd & Kapla Y Miky Speak Out Against Violence in Colombia During Premio Lo Nuestro Performance

Maluma, Blessd and Kapla Y Miky utilized their platform during Univision’s Premio Lo Nuestro on Thursday night (Feb. 24) to speak out against drug culture and the narratives surrounding their native Colombia.

With his Idolo Global award in hand, Maluma closed out his performance with pertinent words. “Colombia isn’t drug trafficking; Colombia is loads of talent,” he said, amidst cheers from the audience.

The singer gave an energized performance, riding onto the stage atop a motorcycle, in an all leather getup and shades during “Mama Tetema.” The singer then transitioned into “Cositas Del USA” in an industrial, graffiti-covered scene, surrounded by dancers in red leather. Maluma was soon joined by Blessd and Kapla Y Miky, for their performance of “L.N.E.M. (GATA).”

The four artists all donned thick jackets, soon revealing what was underneath: matching white t-shirts that read “Medallo en el Mapa. + Musica, – Violencia.”

Maluma is up for eight awards, including Premio Lo Nuestro Artist of the Year, pop solo artist of the year and pop collaboration of the year alongside Reik for “Perfecta.” Blessd is nominated for male new artist.

Under the theme “Vive El Momento,” at this year’s show, J Balvin, Camilo and Nodal lead the list of nominees with 10 nods each. They are followed by Bad Bunny and Karol G with nine each, and Calibre 50, Carlos Rivera, Farruko, Jhay Cortez, Maluma, Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro with eight.

The 10 artists up for Premio Lo Nuestro artist of the year are Ángela Aguilar, Bad Bunny, Camilo, Christian Nodal, Grupo Firme, J Balvin, Karol G, Maluma, Rauw Alejandro, and Sebastián Yatra. Other notable categories include album of the year, song of the year, new female artist of the year, and new male artist of the year.

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Dembow Took Center Stage for Natti Natasha, El Alfa & Chimbala’s ‘Wow BB’ Premio Lo Nuestro Performance

Woah, baby! Dembow took center stage during Natti Natasha‘s performance of “Wow BB” alongside El Alfa and Chimbala at Univision’s Premio Lo Nuestro.

The uplifting performance comes two days after the Dominican trio released “Wow BB,” and marks Chimbala’s first Premio Lo Nuestro performance.

Natasha wowed in a sporty and sexy black-and-white set, dripping in jewel-covered fringe, busting a move alongside her tribe of dancers as the song’s title danced across multiple screens. Chimbala donned a simple monochrome outfit and shades, while El Alfa rocked a Canadian tuxedo and pristine braids.

Natasha is up for seven awards, including urban album of the year, urban song of the year and urban female artist of the year. Leading up to her performance, she took home an award for remix of the year. El Alfa is up for four awards, including new male artist, dance pop urban song of the year for “La Mamá De La Mamá (Remix)” and “Mambo” alongside Steve Aoki, Willy William Sean Paul, Sfera Ebbasta and Play-N-Skillz, and urban collaboration of the year for “Fulanito” with Becky G. Chimbala is up for urban song of the year for Loco with Justin Quiles and Zion Y Lennox.

Under the theme “Vive El Momento,” at this year’s show, J Balvin, Camilo and Nodal lead the list of nominees with 10 nods each. They are followed by Bad Bunny and Karol G with nine each, and Calibre 50, Carlos Rivera, Farruko, Jhay Cortez, Maluma, Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro with eight.

The 10 artists up for Premio Lo Nuestro artist of the year are Ángela Aguilar, Bad Bunny, Camilo, Christian Nodal, Grupo Firme, J Balvin, Karol G, Maluma, Rauw Alejandro, and Sebastián Yatra. Other notable categories include album of the year, song of the year, new female artist of the year, and new male artist of the year.

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