2Pac’s ‘Dear Mama’ at the Centre of New Lawsuit
Renowned hip-hop track “Dear Mama” by 2Pac has found itself at the centre of a legal battle as bus driver Terence Thomas, known as DJ Master Tee, files a lawsuit against a group of major corporations, including Warner Brothers, NBC, Fox, Hulu, and Disney.
Court documents obtained by Music Business Worldwide unveil that DJ Master Tee filed a lawsuit against producer Tony Pizarro and Universal Music Group on Friday (November 17). The DJ alleges that Pizarro colluded with the record label conglomerate to prevent Thomas from receiving his rightful royalties as a co-writer of the iconic song.
The documents state, “A self-serving group, led by an upstart music producer, Tony D. Pizarro, conspired with executives at Interscope Records and Universal Music Group (UMG), misappropriated Master Tee’s publishing copyright and master recording copyright and assumed the identity of writer/publisher of Dear Mama’s music.”
The lawsuit, filed in New York, not only targets Pizarro and Universal Music Group but also includes production companies responsible for bringing the documentary “Dear Mama” to the small screen. Thomas is seeking an unspecified amount in damages and has requested a jury trial.
“Dear Mama” premiered on FX on April 21 and holds the record for the most-watched premiere episode for an unscripted series in FX’s 28-year history, according to reports from April. The docuseries, directed by Allen Hughes, explores the compelling mother-son relationship between Afeni Shakur, a revolutionary and Black Panther Party member, and 2Pac, one of the greatest rappers in history.
The legal dispute adds a complex layer to the legacy of the celebrated track and raises questions about the distribution of royalties and credits within the music industry.
