S. Samuel
D12's Bizarre has become the latest group member to have tax records leak online that show him owing more than $25,000 to the government.
According to reports, Biz owes taxes in Michigan and Georgia.
Lawyers for Bizarre, born Rufus Johnson, said that the bill is due to an accounting screw up from a previous manager. The result was a $13,853 lien against the rapper in the state of Michigan, an $11,976 lien filed in the state of Georgia against Bizarre and another rapper. “Mr. Johnson accepts full responsibility for this tax liability and is currently working with the taxing authorities to pay the funds due and resolve this problem,” his attorney, Jeffery Freeman told the Detroit News. “Mr. Johnson has returned to his old management team, and his tax and business issues are now being handled properly.” (All Hip Hop)
D12 member Ondre “Swifty McVay” Moore also owes money to the government.
The IRS filed a $224,749 lien against Moore on March 31 with the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds. The IRS filed a $22,036 lien against Moore and his wife March 31 in Los Angeles. The state of Michigan filed a $7,199 lien against the couple on Nov. 4, 2009, with the Ingham County Register of Deeds. Moore is negotiating a payment plan with the state and IRS, his Birmingham-based tax lawyer Jeffrey Freeman said. “Mr. Moore takes full responsibility for his debt to the IRS and the state and is working with the government in resolving his outstanding tax liability,” Freeman said. “He has rejoined with his prior manager and his current business and tax matters are now being properly handled.” (Detroit News)
D12’s Mr. Porter recently confirmed owing over $61,500 in back taxes.
“I’m not questioning the IRS,” he said in a statement. “It could have been a combination of not paying enough (taxes), it could have been them not accepting enough write-offs. Take my publishing checks. I’ll make money elsewhere. I’m done with them at the end of the year.” (Statement)
Last month, D12’s Bizarre said a new group album was in the works.
All the different projects, music, emotions, the tragedies and all the things that happened to the group — all these things add up. On my new (solo) record, you’ll feel it and other things will be addressed on the new D12 record,” Biz promised in an interview. “Right now it’s time for Marshall to do his thing, and I got my solo album. We might put out a mixtape soon, but we kind of want everybody’s full attention when we make the new D12 record, which we hope will drop before the end of the year. Even though everybody’s (right now) kind of doing their own thing, it doesn’t even matter if we don’t see each other for a month or two. We’ve been through some serious situations together, so much, but it’s still there. Today we’re smarter guys, more business-oriented, but once we’re back in the studio and we’re back on the radio, it’s like no other — pure magic.” (Detroit Free Press)
Check out a past D12 interview down below:
