Rap star Chingy is being sued for over a quarter of a million dollars by a record label boss who claims he broke a contract in 2002 to sign with Ludacris’ label, Disturbing Tha Peace..
Ronald Gavin is asking for $250,000 in damages and at least $25,000 towards his legal costs.
He claims Chingy, whose real name is Howard Bailey, inked an exclusive deal with his St Louis-based 49 Productions Inc. back in 1999 when he was still an unknown rapper. At the time, Chingy went by the rap name H. Thugzy.
Gavin claims he spent over $100,000 over a three year period developing Chingy’s image and sound, kick-starting his rap career by scoring him gigs and air-play.
He says he produced one album for Chingy and was working on another when the rapper signed a deal with production duo Trak Starz, who introduced him to Ludacris. A move Gavin’s lawyer has described as a "flagrant interference“.
