Solar, the controversial producer once branded the most “evil man in Hip-Hop,” is suing DJ Premier in a new bid to block him from using the Gang Starr name and logo while also demanding a share of the group’s earnings.
The lawsuit accuses Premier, along with Ill Kid Music Inc., Guru Productions Inc. and unnamed parties, of copyright and trademark infringement.
Solar, who worked with the late Guru during the rapper’s final years, claims he owns rights to the Gang Starr brand and wants the court to stop Premier from profiting off it.
According to court documents, Solar alleges that Premier and his affiliates “have used and continue to use Plaintiff’s copyrighted works and trademarks without authorization and have failed to pay royalties owed.”
He also claims they “have received and retained royalties and other income from the exploitation of Plaintiff’s works.”
The legal dispute stems from Solar’s collaboration with Guru on multiple projects under the 7 Grand banner. Solar says he co-wrote, produced and/or performed on Gang Starr’s album The Ownerz as well as their final release, One of the Best Yet, and the track “Battle” from the 8 Mile soundtrack.
After Guru passed away from cancer on April 19, 2010, a bitter legal fight erupted over his intellectual property.
A lower court eventually ruled against Solar, and in March 2014, ruled in favor of Guru’s estate. The ruling stated that Solar did not own or have any rights to Guru’s creative works, recordings or certain trademarks, including “Gang Starr” and Jazzmatazz.
The court also found Solar to be dishonest and ordered him not to use or transfer those trademarks except to Guru’s estate.
On appeal, the Appellate Division partly agreed, retaining the decisions regarding trademarks and embezzlement of estate funds, but overturned the rulings concerning some of Guru’s creative works.
It also reduced the amount Solar had to pay the estate and removed some restrictions from the original order.
However, in December 2024, a judge permanently dismissed the Trademark Infringement, false designation of origin and copyright infringement claims.
Solar’s claim for unfair competition and conversion was dismissed as well, but the judge allowed them to be brought to court again in the future. Solar appealed the decision, which is still pending.
Despite the earlier dismissal of Solar’s claims for Copyright and Trademark Infringement being made permanent, he’s pursuing DJ Premier and the others again.
His latest attempt claims that Premier is using his contributions without credit or compensation and he’s once again suing the legendary producer for copyright and trademark infringement.
Solar is now seeking to have the court award damages, block further use of the disputed material and cover his legal fees.
Trademark records viewed by AllHipHop indicate that the original Gang Starr trademark was registered by Guru Productions in 2007, but it was subsequently abandoned. Solar filed for the trademark in 2011 and again in 2021; however, both applications were abandoned and are currently listed as “dead.”
Solar’s role in Guru’s final years remains a sore spot in the Hip-Hop world. He was accused of isolating the rapper from his family, controlling his communications and allegedly pushing him to keep working despite his illness.
Solar has denied those claims, insisting Guru was entirely in control of his decisions, but Guru’s family and much of the Hip-Hop community have long questioned Solar’s intentions. The lawsuit, filed more than 15 years after Guru’s death, is likely to reignite those tensions.
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