Dr. Dre and Ice Cube are asking to be dropped from a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a deadly incident that occurred during promotional shooting for the N.W.A biopic “Straight Outta Compton,” according to legal papers obtained by TheWrap.
Dr. Dre (real name: Andre Young) and Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson, Sr.) have filed a demurrer in the suit, claiming that they are free of wrongdoing in the January incident, during which disgraced former rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight allegedly ran down Terry Carter and Cle “Bone” Sloan with his vehicle, killing Carter and injuring Sloan.
In the demurrer, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube say that the effort “to place the blame for Suge’s criminal conduct” is “misplaced,” and that Carter’s family cannot assert that the two defendants owed Carter a “duty of care, because Suge’s criminal conduct was not foreseeable.”
Knight currently faces charges of murder and attempted murder as a result of the incident.
Knight, Universal Studios, Sloan and others are also named in the lawsuit, which was filed by Carter’s family.
According to the papers, Knight showed up at the base camp for the shoot “bearing a grudge and looking for a confrontation,” but Ice Cube and Dr. Dre asked Sloan to direct Knight away from the base camp.
“This conduct was prudence, not negligence,” the demurrer reads.
The fatal incident took place sometime later at the parking lot of a Compton, California, restaurant.
“The Complaint offers no factual support for imposing liability on Dr. Dre and Ice Cube for Suge’s outrageous and criminal attack that took Terry Carter’s life,” the demurrer reads.
Knight has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, claiming that he acted in self-defense.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
'Straight Outta Compton' and 9 Other Hip-Hop Movies That Were Ballers at the Box Office (Photos)
"Straight Outta Compton" (2015) The biopic about the rise and fall of N.W.A blazed into box-office history with a $60.2 million debut, the biggest opening ever for an R-rated film in August.
Universal
"8 Mile" (2002) The drama, about a struggling young rapper (Eminem), made $116.8 million domestically at the box office. With a budget of $41 million, this hip-hop movie was a big baller for Universal.
Universal
"Notorious" (2009) Chronicling the life and death of rap icon Notorious B.I.G., the film had a budget of $20 million and made $36.8 million domestically. It starred Jamal Woolard and Derek Luke.
20th Century Fox
"Get Rich or Die Tryin'" (2005) 50 Cent starred in this semi-autobiographical drama about a drug dealer who turns away from crime to pursue a career in rap. It made $30 million domestically off a $40 million budget.
Paramount Pictures
"Brown Sugar" (2002) This movie about a magazine editor who falls in love with a hip-hop record exec starred Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan and Mos Def. It made $27.3 million off a budget of $8 million.
Fox Searchlight Pictures
"Bulworth" (1998) Warren Beatty directs and stars in this drama about a politician who decides to start speaking the truth and using rap music to get his point across. Isaiah Washington and Halle Berry co-starred in the film, which made $26.5 million at the domestic box office. However, it had a $30 million budget.
20th Century Fox
"Hustle & Flow" (2005) Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning and Taraji P. Henson star in the Oscar-winning film about a Memphis pimp who strives to become a successful hip-hop MC. It made $22.2 million domestically on a $2.8 million budget.
Paramount Classics
"CB4" (1993) Chris Rock co-wrote and starred in this "mockumentary" about the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson and Dead Mike, members of the rap group CB4. It grossed $17.9 million at the box office.
Universal
"Beat Street" (1984) The movie centers around an aspiring DJ from the Bronx who tries to expose people to hip-hop. The film grossed $16.6 million at the domestic box office.
Orion Pictures
"Krush Groove" (1985) The drama is based on the early days of Def Jam and follows Russell Walker as he manages up-and-coming acts, which included Run-D.M.C. It starred the real members of Run-D.M.C. and and the Fat Boys. It grossed about $11 million at the box office on a $3 million budget.
Warner Bros.
1 of 11
In honor of the N.W.A biopic’s record opening, TheWrap looks at 9 other films about hip-hop that broke out on the big screen