Daz Dillinger is taking legal action against Amaru Entertainment, the company managing the estate of the late Tupac Shakur. The former Death Row producer and Dogg Pound member claims that he is owed royalties for his contributions to several of Tupac’s classic tracks.
Dillinger’s lawsuit, which was filed after he requested royalties in 2024, alleges that he has not been paid for his work on over a dozen songs that he either co-wrote or co-produced with Tupac. Among these are five tracks from Tupac’s iconic 1996 album All Eyez On Me, including “Ambitionz Az a Ridah,” “Skandalouz,” “Got My Mind Made Up,” “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted,” and “I Ain’t Mad at Cha.” This album, which was released by Death Row, went on to become diamond-certified, marking it as one of Tupac’s most influential and successful projects.
In 2024, Dillinger was paid $91,000 by Amaru Entertainment but claims that no detailed royalty statements were provided to verify the amount. His attorney, Bret Lewis, emphasized in a statement that Amaru Entertainment failed to render proper statements and has not paid the full sums owed. “The precise amount owed will be shown according to proof after an accounting and discovery,” Lewis added.
Daz, known for his role as one of Death Row’s key producers alongside Kurupt, played a significant part in shaping the label’s sound. In addition to his work on All Eyez On Me, Daz contributed to platinum-selling albums and soundtracks for Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and other artists within the Death Row roster.
The lawsuit highlights that Amaru Entertainment’s payment to Daz confirms that money was owed, but the failure to provide a breakdown of the payment prevented him from confirming whether the amount was correct and inclusive of all royalties. The estate has been managed by Tom Whalley since the death of Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, in 2016. Whalley, who was instrumental in signing Tupac to Interscope in 1991, is currently involved in a legal battle with Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, who serves as the president of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.
The ongoing dispute over Tupac’s estate and royalties underscores the complicated nature of managing the legacy of one of hip hop’s greatest figures.
