Twenty-eight years after hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur's hit song "Dear Mama" dropped, one of the songwriters is now speaking out about not being paid for his work.
A legal battle has erupted between Terence Thomas, also known as Master Tee and another party over the latter's alleged refusal to pay royalties for Master Tee's work on a song.
In 1993, Tupac was introduced to Master Tee at Unique Recording Studio, and they immediately began their collaboration. This partnership resulted in the iconic rap song "Dear Mama."
The lawsuit provides a detailed account of the crucial role Master Tee had in the development of this renowned track.
'Dear Mama' Controversy
For years, the contributions of Master Tee were kept from public knowledge, according to AllHipHop.
It was only in 2023 that one particular documentary revealed the truth about what he had accomplished and the rights and credits due to him that had been withheld. This evidence exposed a history of concealment stretching back decades.
The dispute surrounding the co-writer and producer of Tupac's song "Dear Mama" is made more complex with the presence of producer Tony D. Pizarro.
A legal complaint is being filed against Pizarro, who allegedly attributed himself to a remix of "Dear Mama" and incorrectly claimed involvement in Tupac's creative endeavors between 1994-1996. This included the original 1993 Master Recording of "Dear Mama."
Tupac was facing a difficult time in his life as the single "Dear Mama" was released in February 1995, and alongside being punished for sexual abuse charges, this exact moment marked the misappropriation of credits and royalties associated with the song. His confinement coincided with its release.
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According to Master Tee, while Tupac was locked away, Pizarro and other entities, such as Interscope Records and Universal Music Group, had a field day profiting off the song with minimal credit due to his absence.
It is contended that while they were derived from the original master tape created by Tupac and Master Tee, due recognition of Master Tee's contribution has not been provided, nor has he received any form of remuneration.
In a discussion with Bill Bellamy in 1996, Tupac expressed his appreciation for Master Tee's part in creating the iconic track "Dear Mama." He was grateful for the producer's invaluable contribution to the song.
"Master Tee gave me the beat, and I wrote it in the bathroom on the toilet, in one of their early morning sit-down for sessions."
He went on to say, "I just wrote it down, and it came out like, like, tears. After I wrote it, I called my mom and I rapped it to her over the phone live, and she was crying. And I was like 'That's a hit.'"
A drastic allegation has been made against Pizarro, Interscope Records, and Universal Music Group - that they partook in a plan to unlawfully seize the publishing and master recording copyrights of Master Tee, a bus driver from New York City with over 26 years of experience.
It is claimed that these entities assumed the role of writers and publishers of "Dear Mama's" music without authorization.
Master Tee has undertaken a legal course of action for more than just monetary gain; he wants to correct history's wrongs.
With his lawsuit, he pursues recognition as owner and copyright holder of "Dear Mama" and "Dear Mama Remix" to assert his rightful place in hip-hop culture.
Additionally, Master Tee seeks an injunction to prevent defendants from profiting off the songs until a resolution is reached.
