Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - American rappers Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube have been sued for $1.3 million in a lawsuit by a company, Westside Merchandise, alleging fraud, which the pair adamantly deny.
The 53-year-old Snoop Dogg and 56-year-old Ice Cube filed
court documents in August asking a judge to rule they did not have to appear
for a deposition scheduled for October.
According to lawyers for the rappers, the request to depose
them as part of the lawsuit was “harassing, oppressive, and burdensome,”
especially for such “high-profile individuals who keep busy schedules with firm
commitments.” Their attorneys also claimed the pair did not have anything
“substantive” to provide were they to show up for the deposition in the first
place.
The rappers said in court documents that they told Westside
Merchandise they could speak to their associate Tony Draper, but the company
refused until the duo sat for depositions. This, their lawyers assert, is a
“clear tactic” to “force” a settlement.
Snoop and Ice Cube said that if the court did order them to
appear, they requested permission to testify virtually and that the deposition
be limited to two hours. Snoop has said he was shooting a movie and would not
be available until October 21, while Ice Cube said he was in Florida handling
his Big3 basketball league, and was also getting ready to tour.
Westside Merchandise filed court documents in September
opposing the rappers’ request not to be deposed.
The company claimed it had been “extremely cooperative” with
the musicians’ legal team in attempting to schedule the depositions.
Ultimately, the company demanded that the court sanction Snoop and Ice Cube by
ordering them to pay $11,000 in fees for dragging out the case. Notably, a
judge has not yet ruled on the matter.
The case started in November last year, when Westside
Merchandising sued a group of rappers, including Snoop, Ice Cube, E-40, Too
Short, and Mount Westmore LLC for breach of contract, fraud, conversion, and
other claims. Mount Westmore is a supergroup consisting of the aforementioned
musicians, who have worked together for years. Their debut album was released
in 2022.
According to the merchandising company, it entered into a
deal with the rapper in 2022 as the exclusive vendor for Mount Westmore merch.
The lawsuit says the company provided the rappers with certain advances and
royalties based on the promise that the group would go on a 60-date tour in
America and Europe.
Westside Merchandising also says it was promised that Snoop
and Ice Cube would “publicize and promote the agreement by producing a
promotional video” and by appearing at a retail location of Westside’s
choosing—but none of these things happened, the company asserts.
“In fact, the only appearance Defendants made was [at] a VIP
meet and greet event at which Snoop Dogg appeared to sell his own merchandise,”
Westside’s lawyers said.
The merch company said it paid the rappers $1.375 million
after the contract was finalized, but the musicians ultimately bailed on their
contractual obligations.
However, Snoop, Ice Cube, and the other rappers argued that
the company failed to provide enough evidence to back up certain claims in its
case. For one thing, Too Short and E-40 said they weren’t even involved in the
initial agreement.
“[Defendants] have always conducted their business in good
faith and with integrity,” said Frank Seddigh, a lawyer for the
rappers. “Despite multiple attempts to resolve this matter amicably, Westside
Merchandising has refused to cooperate or engage in good-faith discussions.”
Meanwhile, John Fowler, an attorney for Westside, said:
“Defendants in this case are trying to hide from having their depositions taken
because they are scared of answering difficult questions relating to their
swindle.”
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