DMX Estate Fighting Legal Dispute With Late Rapper’s Friend Over Songs on Decades-Old Tapes

Six years after the untimely demise of DMX, his estate is engaged in a legal showdown with a close friend and collaborator, DJ Superior, over unreleased recordings and potential co-writing credits. DJ Superior, whose real name is Michael Murray, claims ownership of various items associated with the late rapper, including VHS tapes, handwritten lyrics, and a stash of cassette tapes containing unreleased tracks.

He had attempted to auction some of these items last year but has now set his sights on releasing the music he co-owns with DMX.

In a series of cease-and-desist letters obtained by Billboard, the DMX estate's executors have sternly warned Against Superior's intentions. The legal team asserts that the physical items in question rightfully belong to the estate and that releasing the music without their consent would lead to a copyright infringement lawsuit. In a June letter, the estate's attorneys emphasized that they would pursue all available legal remedies against Murray and anyone else involved in the unauthorized release of DMX's work.

A statement from Ashley Austin, the estate manager, reaffirmed these warnings, stating that they had made "substantial good faith efforts" to find a resolution with Superior but emphasized that he has been "unreasonable." Austin underscored the estate's responsibility to "protect DMX's legacy" and made it clear that any commercial distribution, publication, release, or licensing of unreleased DMX material without the estate's consent would trigger legal action.

Despite the legal battle, Superior's manager, Jonah Levine, remains optimistic about finding a mutually beneficial agreement with the estate to release the music. He views the material as "a piece of history" deserving of public exposure, stating that their ultimate goal is not financial gain but rather to ensure that Superior's work is made available to fans.

DMX, known for his distinctive flow and aggressive delivery, rose to prominence in the 1990s with chart-topping hits such as "Ruff Ryders' Anthem," "Party Up (Up In Here)," and "What These Bitches Want." Over his career, he achieved 16 entries in the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first artist to have their first five albums debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.