Billboard.com
Daz Dillinger has launched a new legal battle against the estate of Tupac Shakur, alleging he has not received the full royalties owed for his work on the 1996 album “All Eyez on Me.”
The lawsuit centers on Dillinger’s contributions as both a producer and co-writer on several songs tied to the multi-platinum double album, which became the final release issued during Tupac’s lifetime. Among the tracks named in the complaint are classics, including “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted,” “Ambitionz Az a Ridah” and “I Ain’t Mad at Cha.”
According to the filing, Dillinger claims he requested royalty payments and accounting records from Amaru Entertainment, the entity overseeing Tupac’s music assets. While he reportedly received a payment in 2024, the producer argues that no detailed royalty documentation accompanied it, leaving unanswered questions about whether additional income remains unpaid.
The lawsuit seeks a full financial accounting related to the songs Dillinger helped create, including profits generated through licensing, streaming and other commercial uses. He is also pursuing damages for alleged breach of contract.
The case adds another chapter to the complicated legal history surrounding Death Row Records and the artists connected to its influential 1990s catalog. Dillinger, who rose to prominence as one-half of Tha Dogg Pound alongside Kurupt, has spent years involved in disputes over ownership rights, contracts and unpaid royalties tied to his Death Row-era work.
The producer’s relationship with Tupac’s estate has also seen conflict before. In the early 2000s, Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother and former estate executor, sued Dillinger over unreleased recordings allegedly connected to the rapper. That dispute was ultimately resolved outside court.
More recently, Dillinger has publicly hinted at frustrations involving royalties connected to Snoop Dogg and other longtime collaborators, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding ownership and compensation tied to some of hip-hop’s most historically significant catalogs.
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