Entertainment
DMX estate and former collaborator lock in legal dispute over unreleased recordings and royalties
Michael Murray claims co-ownership of unreleased tapes and classic tracks, while the late rapper's estate threatens copyright lawsuits.
The short version
- The estate of late rapper DMX is in a legal standoff with early collaborator Michael Murray (DJ Superior) over unreleased recordings, historical memorabilia, and song co-writing claims.
- Murray attempted to auction early physical tapes and release unreleased songs, but distributors and streaming platforms have refused to publish material without estate authorization.
- Attorneys for the estate have issued multiple cease-and-desist letters, dismissing Murray's co-authorship claims as baseless and threatening copyright litigation if material is released without permission.
- Settlement negotiations have stalled over profit splits and ownership rights, though Murray's team plans to submit a revised proposal.
Key facts
- Michael Murray (DJ Superior) claims co-authorship of at least 10 DMX tracks, including the 1998 hit 'Get At Me Dog', and possesses early cassette tapes, lyric sheets, and videos.[Billboard]
- Attorneys representing the DMX estate issued cease-and-desist warnings asserting that commercial distribution or licensing of unreleased DMX material without estate approval constitutes copyright infringement.[Billboard]
- In 2025, Murray pulled DMX-related memorabilia from an auction after the estate notified the auction house that the physical items were only entrusted to him for safekeeping.[Billboard]
- Music distributors and streaming services have refused to host the disputed tracks without written authorization signed by DMX's estate.[Billboard]
- Settlement negotiations stalled after the estate demanded Murray explicitly waive all copyright ownership claims and disputed his share of potential auction and release profits.[Billboard]