Mandatory Credit: Photo by Andrew H. Walker/REX/Shutterstock (9336003iw)
Cardi B 60th Annual Grammy Awards, Arrivals, New York, USA – 28 Jan 2018
Cardi B‘s former manager Klenord “Shaft” Raphael claimed he’s the reason for her stardom and is suing the star for $10 million.
According to Variety, Raphael and the “Bodak Yellow” rapper started working together in 2015. The relationship soured last year when Cardi went with her fiance’s management group “Solid Foundation” ran by Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre ‘Pee” Thomas.
The former manager and his label “KSR” and management agency “WorldStar Marketing Group” filed suit on April 26 demanding judgment against Cardi B “in an amount to be determined at trial, but not less than $10,000,000.”
The KSR managed detailed in the lawsuit that he’s behind her knowledge of the music game, her massive hit “Bodak Yellow” and her contract with Vh1’s “Love & Hip-Hop.”
“Since discovering Cardi B in 2015, Shaft has played an integral role in developing her music career and public image. While he is proud of their successful collaborations as she evolved from Instagram influencer to music megastar, Shaft is disappointed by her actions to freeze him out of her career, which is detailed in the complaint. Shaft is confident that his lawsuit will validate his conduct and substantiate his legal claims,” said Raphael’s representative.
Cardi is accused of “breach of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, declaratory judgment, and defamation.” Her former manager stated Cardi told others “Shaft is robbing me” and her fiance Offset sent him a disturbing text that read, “[U] better stop play acting like u don’t know u taking her sh** from her u a snake. U can’t hide from me N**** and u not bout to play my WIFE.”
According to Variety, the lawsuit also named Cardi B’s publicist, stylist, and other members of her new management team. He said they all “intentionally interfered” with the star’s contract with ‘WorldStar’ and stripped them of “substantial income.”
