Jasmine Dumile Thompson, the widow of the late hip-hop icon MF DOOM, has taken legal action, alleging that Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, a former label collaborator, unlawfully took possession of 31 notebooks belonging to the rapper. These notebooks contained the creative musings and lyrics for many of MF DOOM’s iconic songs, including tracks from albums such as “Operation Doomsday” (1999), “Madvillainy” (2004), and “MM…FOOD” (2004), as well as unreleased song ideas and other creative content. The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, marks the latest development in the ongoing battle over these valuable materials.
This isn’t the first time the public has heard about the dispute over these notebooks. In March, Thompson shared emails between her late husband and Alapatt on the @MFDOOM Instagram account, with a caption that read, “Egon Give the Notebooks Back.” This post ignited a groundswell of support from DOOM’s fans, who rallied behind the rapper’s estate in its efforts to reclaim his intellectual property.
Egon Alapatt initially crossed paths with MF DOOM as the general manager and A&R of Stones Throw Records. He also served as the manager for DOOM’s collaborator and producer, Madlib, and founded Now Again Records. According to the lawsuit, Alapatt has previously admitted to having possession of the notebooks but has refused to return them. Instead, he has expressed a desire to donate them to a university, government archive, museum, or other institution of his choosing, a proposal that contradicts the estate’s wishes, as MF DOOM intended the contents of these notebooks to remain secret and confidential.
The genesis of this dispute can be traced back to 2010 when MF DOOM, wearing his signature metal mask, traveled to the U.K. for a performance but encountered immigration issues upon attempting to return to the U.S. Consequently, he remained in the U.K. until his untimely death on October 31, 2020, at the age of 49. During his absence, the 31 notebooks filled with lyrical content were left in his Los Angeles studio, as outlined in the lawsuit. Alapatt allegedly took unlawful possession of these materials approximately six years later.
The lawsuit contends that Alapatt did not consult with MF DOOM about his acquisition of the notebooks and took advantage of the rapper’s absence from the country. When initially confronted by MF DOOM regarding the whereabouts of the notebooks, Alapatt allegedly denied having them. However, it was revealed later that the landlord of MF DOOM’s studio had informed the rapper that Alapatt did indeed possess the notebooks. The lawsuit also raises questions about to whom Alapatt might have shared these scans, as it claims he was in discussions with potential buyers, including hip-hop archivists, to sell the notebooks or their copies.
The complaint argues that even if Alapatt has stated that he does not intend to publish the unauthorized digital copies he made, he may still be liable. It alleges that Alapatt shared these copies with others, which, in the estate’s view, constitutes an infringement of MF DOOM’s intellectual property.
Now, following MF DOOM’s passing, Jasmine Dumile Thompson is determined to secure the return of the notebooks to the family, have the photocopies destroyed, and seek “significant compensation” for the damage caused by Alapatt. In addition to copyright infringement, the lawsuit includes claims of fraud, conversion, unjust enrichment, constructive trust, and declaratory relief, and requests a jury trial.
In response to these allegations, Alapatt’s lawyer, Kenneth Freundlich, stated, “Mr. Alapatt looks forward to his day in court to dismiss these frivolous and untrue allegations. Mr. Alapatt rescued these books from DOOM’s unpaid landlord who had taken possession of all of his belongings. With DOOM’s blessing, Mr. Alapatt intended to donate the books to either the Smithsonian or the Cornell University Hip Hop Archive, where they could be considered and studied by scholars, in the same way that manuscripts by great poets or sheet music by great composers are. Mr. Alapatt will do everything he can to ensure that these historically significant books are archived and protected.”
