In an explosive court filing, the attorney for disgraced former rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight claims that Dr. Dre and a deputy for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department conspired to kill Knight — and that a “Spotlight”-style coverup has been employed to keep the facts from getting out.
In a motion filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, Knight attorney Thaddeus Culpepper claims that a sheriff’s deputy enabled the gunmen who opened fire on Knight at 1Oak nightclub in West Hollywood in 2014, and that a suspect in the shooting admitted that “Dr. Dre paid him and a friend $50,000 to kill Knight” — but was inexplicably released from custody.
According to the filing, the Sheriff’s deputy, Henry Boyd, was captured on video letting the gunmen in the front door of the club and later helped them flee the country at LAX.
Knight, who currently faces murder charges for the death of Terry Carter, who Knight allegedly ran over in January 2015 during an altercation at Tam’s Burgers, also claims that Cle “Bone” Sloan — who was injured during the incident — was told by Dr. Dre to “take care of Suge,” while working as a technical advisor on the N.W.A biopic “Straight Outta Compton.”
An attorney for Dr. Dre called the allegations “ridiculous.”
Since his incarceration on the murder charge last year, Culpepper claims, Knight’s rights to phone calls, mail and visits have been restricted by the Sheriff’s Department via orders that the Department improperly applied for under seal.
In his filing, Culpepper likens his client’s situation to the movie “Spotlight,” about the Catholic church’s cover-up of a child-molestation scandal involving its priests.
“Like the facts comprising the movie ‘Spotlight,’ this is a massive scandal and coverup,” the motion reads. “Why did this group surreptitiously eliminate Knight’s Constitutional rights? How many times have [sic] the Sheriff’s Department been allowed to file under seal without notice? How many times have [sic] the Sheriff’s Department, with judicial help, unlawfully stolen the Constitutional rights of pretrial detainees?”
Culpepper suggests that Knight’s rights have allegedly been violated “in order to prevent Knight from having a fair trial and to ensure the continued coverup of facts and information that link 1Oak, Tam’s and the murder of Tupac Shakur and the attempted murder of Suge Knight in Las Vegas in 1996.”
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.
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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