Egon

MF DOOM Collaborator Egon Blasts Lawsuit Claiming He Stole Rapper’s Notebooks

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MF DOOM’s legacy and its proper preservation hangs in the balance in a legal battle between his widow, Jasmine Dumile Thompson, and his former collaborator and label executive, Eothen “Egon” Alapatt. Moreover, the latter claims that the former’s lawsuit against him for allegedly stealing DOOM’s notebooks from a Los Angeles studio is “baseless and libelous.” Egon’s attorney Kenneth Freundlich expressed in a court filing on Tuesday (November 14) that this year-long narrative falsely represents his client’s character and misunderstands the situation. For those unaware, Thompson claimed that Egon unrightfully bought 31 “rhyme books” of original material, ideas, “musings, and other creative ideations” from the aforementioned studio’s landlord.

This was when DOOM was out of the United States, as he left for his birthplace of London in 2010 for a show and was not allowed reentry into the U.S. based on immigration issues. Furthermore, Thompson and her legal team allege that Egon never consulted with MF DOOM about this purchase. When he asked for them back, she claims, the former Stones Throw manager “delayed, obfuscated and deflected” while refusing to return them. Not only that, but the New York MC’s widow claims that Egon actively went against his wishes that they remain “secret and confidential.” Instead, he wants them to go to into a public archive.

Read More: MF DOOM & Nas Once Freestyled: New Details Emerge From DOOM’s Former Assistant

MF DOOM Performing In London In 2013

MF DOOM Notebook Lawsuit Egon Response Hip Hop News
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – NOVEMBER 16: DOOM performs on stage at The Forum on November 16, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by C Brandon/Redferns via Getty Images)

On the other hand, in Tuesday’s legal response, Egon and his team admitted to assuming ownership of MF DOOM’s notebooks, but denied that he was their legal owner when they came into Egon’s possession, which is why he bought them from the L.A. studio’s landlord, which also had a lot of unpaid rent. If not for this, they allege, then this entity would’ve put the pads up for purchase or destroyed them altogether. In addition, they claimed that Egon reached out to DOOM to get these back to him, but that he never followed up and “seemed to have completely forgotten his prior discussion” with the executive. One thing that this response confirmed is that Egon will only return the notebooks if a digital version of them goes to an archive, of which his attorneys suggested “the Cornell Hip-Hop Archive, the Smithsonian, or another accredited archive of their choosing.”

Meanwhile, Freundlich claims this initiative would preserve and champion “precious artifacts of hip-hop history.” “Scholars and researchers [can] study DOOM’s creativity and further entrench his creative genius– not just in hip-hop, but in [United States] history. Rather than accept [Egon]’s generous offer, plaintiffs chose to continue their hurtful, and defamatory attacks against [him] by filing this frivolous complaint.” For more news and the latest updates on MF DOOM, stay logged into HNHH.

Read More: Leeds Hospital Apologizes For Care Of MF Doom

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The post MF DOOM Collaborator Egon Blasts Lawsuit Claiming He Stole Rapper’s Notebooks appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

MF Doom’s Family Blasts Egon For Hoarding Late Rapper’s Rhyme Books

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MF DOOM’s family continues to seek the return of the late enigmatic rapper’s rhyme books. Since his passing in 2020, DOOM’s family released several statements, alleging that Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, Now-Again Records founder and DOOM’s former manager, has held onto the notebooks and ignored requests for their return. DOOM’s widow, Jasmine Dumile, opened up in 2022 about the several attempts to regain possession of the books following the rapper’s death. Apparently, this is an issue that DOOM dealt with in the years prior to his death. 

“We had hoped after DOOM transitioned Egon would do the right thing and return the books to the family but he has continued to ignore these requests,” Dumile said in a statement obtained by TMZ. “Unfortunately, Egon is not the only former associate abusing the likeness, art and life’s work of DOOM.” Shortly after, Talib Kweli echoed these sentiments when he referred to Egon as a “culture vulture” who “stole MF DOOM’s rhyme book,” despite officiating MF DOOM’s wedding. 

DOOM’s Family Exposes Egon’s Emails

Unfortunately, the issue surrounding the rhyme books has yet to be resolved. Jasmine Dumile shared a slew of photos on DOOM’s official Instagram account revealing exchanges with Egon over the notebooks. “Peace E. Hope you’re well,” reads an email sent to Egon on August 16, 2016 from the alias Karlo Metal-Franks. “Any word from [redacted] on my belongings. I really need those notebooks.” 

“I have no idea where [redacted] is,” Alapatt wrote in response. “As I told [redacted] when she contacted me… He disappeared when his family sold the building, which, from what I understand, has been gutted. I know from working with [redacted] that they carted away dumpsters full of stuff.” A week later, Jasmine provided an address where the notebooks should be sent to.

The post shows another email DOOM sent Alapatt in Jan. 2017. “I also come to find out my notebooks are in your possession. Let me know the cost of storage so we can promptly reclaim these items. I do appreciate the safe keeping and return of ALL the notebooks and any other property belonging to DOOM in your possession. We are interested in keeping good relations with you as the future unfolds.” Check the post above. We’ll keep you posted on any updates surrounding the missing notebooks. 

MF DOOM’s Widow Says His Former Business Partner Stole His Rhyme Book

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mf doom rhyme book
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Since his passing late last year, MF DOOM’s legacy has been about his lyrical contributions to the hip-hop canon through his whimsical, one-of-a-kind rhymes, but recent events have made those rhymes the center of an ugly power struggle between some of those who were closest to him in his life. More specifically, his rhyme book is the focal point of a dispute between DOOM’s widow, Jasmine Dumile, and his former business partner Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, the founder and president of Now-Again Records. Egon was general manager of Stones Throw Records, which put out DOOM and Madlib’s collaborative album Madvillainy under the duo name Madvillain.

Now, though, Jasmine Dumile tells TMZ that Egon is holding onto DOOM’s rhyme book and refuses to relinquish it, even after numerous attempts to get it back. In a statement, she says, We had hoped after DOOM transitioned Egon would do the right thing and return the books to the family but he has continued to ignore these requests. Unfortunately, Egon is not the only former associate abusing the likeness, art, and life’s work of DOOM.”

While she didn’t want to elaborate on which other former associates might be taking advantage of their proximity to DOOM, she did say she will reveal more when it’s “appropriate.”

Meanwhile, in more upbeat DOOM news, he’s received some positive attention lately thanks to a posthumous collaboration with Black Thought and Danger Mouse (the latter of whom he released The Mouse And The Mask with as Danger Doom in 2005), while the rappers he’s inspired paid cute homage to his memory on Instagram. A biography about him is due in 2024, and his name lives on as a cheeky pun in Richmond, Virginia, where a street sweeper was dubbed MF BROOM.