American rap icons Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube are facing a $1.3 million lawsuit from Westside Merchandising, which accuses the pair of fraud and breach of contract—claims they firmly deny.
Court filings show that the rappers, aged 53 and 56 respectively, asked a judge in August to exempt them from depositions scheduled for October. Their lawyers argued that forcing them to appear in person would be “harassing, oppressive, and burdensome,” citing their busy schedules and lack of substantive input on the case.
Instead, they proposed that Tony Draper, an associate, could answer questions on their behalf—a suggestion Westside rejected, insisting that the artists themselves testify. Their legal team called this “a clear tactic to force a settlement.”
The rappers said that if required to appear, they should be allowed to testify virtually for no longer than two hours. Snoop cited ongoing film commitments until October 21, while Ice Cube said he was tied up with his Big3 basketball league and tour preparations.
Westside countered in September, accusing the defendants of stalling and asking the court to sanction them with $11,000 in legal fees. The judge has not yet ruled.
The dispute stems from a November 2024 suit filed by Westside Merchandising against members of the hip-hop supergroup Mount Westmore—which includes Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short—as well as their company, Mount Westmore LLC.
Westside claims it paid the group $1.375 million after signing a 2022 agreement making it the exclusive vendor for Mount Westmore merchandise tied to a planned 60-city tour. The company alleges the rappers failed to deliver on promises to promote the deal, produce a video, or appear at its retail outlets—aside from one VIP event where Snoop allegedly sold his own products.
The musicians have rejected the accusations, maintaining they acted “in good faith and with integrity.” Their attorney, Frank Seddigh, said repeated attempts to resolve the issue amicably were ignored.
Westside’s lawyer, John Fowler, meanwhile, accused the rappers of dodging accountability, saying they’re “scared of answering difficult questions relating to their swindle.”
