Tay-K Sued for Earning Profits From Record Deal After Murder Charge
The families of the murder victims in Tay-K's alleged shootings are suing the 18-year-old rapper for profiting from a record deal during the time of the crime.
Rapper Tay-Kis now facing a new lawsuit.
According to the Star-Telegram, the family of a man killed in a Mansfield home invasion and a survivor of the incident filed suit Thursday against Tay-K, claiming the 18-year-old Texas rapper boosted his music career with violent crimes, then hid money from a record deal to keep it out of his victims’ reach.
READ: Tay-K is Named as Gunman in Chick-fil-A Shooting in New $1 Million Lawsuit
In 2017, the then-16-year-old was on the run from police when he released his viral song and video "The Race." The song peaked at No. 44 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart that September and was certified platinum by the RIAA in January.
Tay-K, born Taymor McIntyre, is one of seven people who were charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Ethan Walker and the wounding Zachary Beloate.
Walker’s parents filed the lawsuit Thursday under the Texas Wrongful Death and Survival Statutes and the Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act. The plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 million in damages.
“The principle behind this case is that people and corporations shouldn’t profit from violent crimes against the innocent,” attorney Brian Butcher said. “Taymor McIntyre became a threat to society, possibly with the encouragement of others, in order to promote sales of his music. I want those sales to compensate his victims, not to enrich a record company that supports a child thug.”
READ: Debunking the Meme Comparing The Cases of Tay-K & the Texas Shooter: Here are the Facts
While in jail, Tay-K signed a deal with 88 Classic LLC, which gave the company all rights to his music.
The lawsuit alleges, “McIntyre was encouraged and/or manipulated by his manager and 88 Classic Records to commit crimes in order to promote sales of his music.”
Court documents show Tay-K's earnings of more than $236,000 were placed in an irrevocable spendthrift trust managed by the owner of 88 Classic Records, Joshua White.
The suit also states, “Averill (McIntyre’s independent manager), 88 Classic Records and White have profited or stand to profit greatly from McIntyre’s music, while leaving McIntyre with insufficient funds to satisfy the claims of the plaintiffs.”
Tay-K is is currently being held at Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, Texas and will be tried as an adult.
Source: Star-Telegram