Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav is suing Chuck D, his co-founder of the pioneering hip-hop group, claiming he has been cheated out of royalties and merchandise sales.
Flav, real name William Drayton, lodged the lawsuit against Chuck D, real name Carlton Ridenhour, as well as various others, in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Las Vegas resident Flav says his payments from merchandising and live shows from management firm Eastlink have “diminished to almost nothing”.
The lawsuit also alleges that his voice and image were used on latest album Nothing Is Quick In The Desert without his consent and then was not paid in full.
“Drayton was in need of money to support his family, and defendants were aware of that,” lawyer Eric Bjorgum writes.
Flav, 58, who has gone on to become a reality TV star, claims he has had a long-standing agreement with Chuck D, 57, that any profits from Public Enemy would be shared.
They formed the band in Long Island in 1986 and released hits such as Fight The Power, Rebel Without A Pause and Don’t Believe The Hype.
Flav, known for wearing a large clock around his neck, acted as a “court jester”, as the lawsuit reflects, to Chuck D’s serious persona.
Public Enemy were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.
