Roc-A-Fella Records Sues Co-Founder Damon Dash Over ‘Reasonable Doubt’ NFT

Roc-A-Fella Records Inc. is suing its co-founder Damon Dash for allegedly trying to sell a non-fungible token (NFT) containing ownership rights to the copyright for Jay-Z’s 1996 debut studio album, Reasonable Doubt. The label says Dash doesn’t own said rights and is seeking a court ruling to stop him from any further attempts to make the sale.

On Friday, Roc-A-Fella Records Inc. — now owned by the Island Def Jam Music Group — filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York against Dash after he allegedly planned to sell an NFT of the album’s copyright in a virtual auction hosted by investor platform SuperFarm. Bidding for the Reasonable Doubt NFT was set to take place from June 23 to 25, according to the claim, but the sale was canceled after the label sent a letter to SuperFarm “explaining why the sale was improper.” Despite the cancellation, Roc-A-Fella says it believes Dash is still trying to sell a Reasonable Doubt NFT and has “refused to stop his efforts to sell [Roc-A-Fella Records’] most-prized asset.”

Roc-A-Fella Records is seeking a ruling that states the label exclusively owns all rights to Reasonable Doubt. The label is also asking that Dash transfer ownership of “any NFT or other asset in his possession, custody, or control reflecting rights to Reasonable Doubt” to Roc-A-Fella Records Inc.

Dash co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records alongside Jay-Z and Kareem Burke in 1995. It was officially incorporated in New York on Jan. 8, 1996, and became a division of Def Jam in 1997. The label became defunct in 2013.

Dash disputed the claims to Rolling Stone on Monday (June 21), claiming the lawsuit is inaccurate. He says he was not attempting to sell an NFT of the album, but that he was trying to auction his stake in Roc-A-Fella Records after he claims the label attempted to purchase it from him for a low price.

“When another Black man calls another Black man a thief, just to make him look bad and so that they can devalue an asset that that other man owns, just because he won’t sell it to him at a low price, I don’t think the culture needs that,” Dash told Rolling Stone.

“I just think it’s disappointing to also have a white lawyer calling me a thief on Juneteenth,” he continued. “It’s very representative of what they do to someone when they try to make a good guy look like a bad guy, just because he’s doing good business.”

While Dash is refuting the allegations made against him, the lawsuit filed by Roc-A-Fella quotes SuperFarm’s announcement of the initial sale, which read, “SuperFarm is proud to announce, in collaboration with Damon Dash, the auction of Damon‘s ownership of the copyright to Jay-Z’s first album Reasonable Doubt. This marks a new milestone in the history of NFT’s, entitling the new owner to future revenue generated by the unique asset.”

Roc-A-Fella Records is seeking a trial by jury. The label is also asking that Dash become prohibited from selling “any interest in Reasonable Doubt.” Roc-A-Fella Records is seeking compensatory, nominal and punitive damages, to be determined upon trial, and the payment of legal fees.

Reps for both Roc-A-Fella Records and Damon Dash did not immediately respond to Billboard’s request for comment.

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Korn Bassist Fieldy Taking a Break From Band to Address ‘Bad Habits’

Korn bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu took to Facebook on Monday to let fans know he’s taking a break from the band to work on some “bad habits.”

In a letter addressed “To all Korn fans worldwide,” Fieldy said he was asked to “take some time off to heal” and said he’s going to “respect what was asked of me and take that time.”

“The past 6 years I’ve been dealing with some personal issues that at times have caused me to fall back on some of my bad habits and has caused some tension with the people around me,” Fieldy wrote. “It’s been suggested to me to take some time off to heal. I’m going to respect what was asked of me and take that time. Unfortunately you will not see me on stage with my band. I will be working towards getting the bad habits out of my system. In the meantime I will be staying creative to keep my mind & soul in a good place.”

He thanked fans for their “support, patience & understanding” and told his bandmates Jonathan Davis, James “Munky” Shaffer, Ray Luzier and Brian “Head” Welch: “I love you and I don’t want to bring any tension or bad vibes to the circle.”

Arvizu is a founding member of the California nu-metal band, appearing on every album starting with Korn’s 1993 debut.

Korn have tour dates lined up starting July 16 in Grand Rapids, Michigan — including a stint with Staind through the fall — as well as European festival appearances scheduled as far out as summer 2022. There’s no word yet on who will replace Fieldy on bass for the tour dates.

Read Fieldy’s full message below:

To all Korn fans worldwide.The past 6 years I’ve been dealing with some personal issues that at times have caused me to…

Posted by Fieldy on Monday, June 21, 2021

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One killed, one injured by pickup truck at Broward Stonewall Pride Parade, police say

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A cop fired at a car coming at her in a Home Depot parking lot, Miami-Dade police say

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What’s in store for Miami this week? More rain and heat, forecasters say

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Royal Caribbean sails first ‘simulator’ cruise ship from Miami, as industry set to restart

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Beto O’Rourke speaks at Austin voting rights rally at Texas Capitol

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All of Taylor Swift’s Clues That the Re-Recorded ‘Red’ Album Was Coming Next

While many Taylor Swift fans were convinced 1989 was the next album she would be re-recording, Swift did give a few signs that it would actually be Red.

Although Swift seemingly sprinkled several 1989 Easter eggs into a springtime interview with Stephen Colbert and released summer merch with a somewhat 1989 aesthetic, it was Red (Taylor’s Version) that was ultimately announced on Friday (June 18).

“This will be the first time you hear all 30 songs that were meant to go on Red. And hey, one of them is even ten minutes long. Red (Taylor’s Version) will be out November 19,” she said.

Whether you were happy or confused by the Red reveal, see some of Swift’s hints that you might have missed below.

Four Red Hearts on a Tweet

From five holes in the fence to four hearts in the tweet … sleuthing Swifties take notice. On June 6, Swift tweeted about her love for her fans in reaction to Evermore’s return to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with some telltale emojis.

Ending a note with four red hearts probably seems of minor importance to most people, but it it might be the most obvious signal Swift gave to fans that the re-recording of Red, which was her fourth studio album, was looming.

A Casual Use of a Red Lyric

While promoting the Evermore vinyl release earlier in June, Swift just so happened to make the most of an opportunity to reference the “like, ever” lyric from Red single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” “You guys went and did the nicest thing this week and broke the record for biggest vinyl sales week.. like ever?” she quipped.

Her Red-Era Look at the Brits

Swift’s glam look at the 2021 Brit Awards in May was all long hair, bangs and red lips straight out of 2012. Plus, the snapshots she shared with fans had a feeling and filter reminiscent of that from her original Red album art.

She Sent Olivia Rodrigo a ‘Red’ Ring

Swift generously mailed a gift to Olivia Rodrigo back in March, and what was in that package might have been one of the earliest indications that Red was on her mind: “Like 12 hours ago, I got a package from her with this like handwritten note,” Rodrigo shared with SiriusXM Hits. “And she gave me this ring because she said she wore one just like it when she wrote Red and she wanted me to have one like it.”

Swift wore a “Love” ring for her original Red album. For Red (Taylor’s Version), a custom version of that same ring design — featuring the word “Red” instead — is prominently shown on the album cover art.

Literally Winking at Swifties in This Clip

“Musically and lyrically, Red resembled a heartbroken person,” Swift said in her announcement of Red (Taylor’s Version). You could say that long story short, it was a bad time/the wrong guy/she survived — and, as fans realized later, it turns out that in a short Spotify video accompanying Evermore’s “Long Story Short,” Swift was actually wearing the same coat and cap that became her cover look for Red (Taylor’s Version).

And in that clip, Swift winks.

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Lorde Shares ‘Solstice’ Teaser: Watch

Lorde posted a mysterious “Solstice” short video on her official website on Sunday (June 20).

In the clip, Lorde, dressed in beige and posed by a floral arrangement on the beach, appears to be meditating until she focuses on the camera with an intense stare. The only sound is that of her natural surroundings. The video is captioned with just the word “Solstice.”

No information about what this visual might be previewing was given, but for what it’s worth, the summer solstice occurs Sunday night at 11:31 p.m. ET.

Earlier in the week, Lorde shared another teaser ahead of her upcoming third studio album, Solar Power: a silent video that had the camera swooping over a wide grassy expanse and zeroing in on a giant crop circle that spells out the album’s initials in tall grass.

She recently told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that she wanted every song on the album to “sound like the sun,” and said its tracks would remind listeners of “the beach, the waves, the girls lying on the beach.”

“Solar Power,” the lead single and title track of Lorde’s new album, arrived on June 10.

Take a look at her latest teaser below.

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Will Smith Opening Up, Releasing Memoir ‘Will’ in November

Will Smith is ready to open up about his life story.

Penguin Press announced Sunday that Smith will release his memoir called Will on Nov. 9. The actor-rapper shared a photo of the book’s cover art to more than 54 million of his followers on Instagram.

Smith said he is “finally ready” to release the memoir after working on the book for two years. His book will be published by Penguin Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House and co-authored by Mark Manson, the author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F(asterisk)ck.

“It’s been a labor of love,” Smith said in his post.

Smith will also narrate the audiobook of Will from Penguin Random House Audio.

Will looks to tell a story about Smith’s life and career. The book will delve into him being raised in West Philadelphia to entering superstardom as an actor and rapper. He’s a two-time Academy Award nominee and a four-time Grammy winner.

Smith starred in the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Bad Boys, Men in Black and Pursuit of Happyness. He’s won Grammys for “Summertime,” “Men in Black,” “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” and “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQTl_HUhcRA/

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