S. Samuel
The victim of incarcerated rapper Remy Ma's 2007 shooting, Makeda Barnes-Joseph, reportedly lost her lawsuit against Universal Music Group.
Despite claiming the label helped promote violence by hiring artists like Remy, a judge said the rapper was not employed by Universal during the time of her shooting.
Makeda Barnes-Joseph filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the label, claiming Universal was in part responsible for Remy Ma shooting her in twice in the abdomen, during a dispute over $3,000. Barnes-Joseph claimed that Universal encouraged Remy Ma’s criminal activities by releasing her music during the criminal investigation of the crime. Today, a New York appeals court ruled that Remy Ma had been dropped by Universal nine months prior to the shooting and dismissed the lawsuit. (All Hip Hop)
Barnes-Joseph’s attorney, Lauren Raysor, recently talked about the lawsuit.
“Failure to supervise, negligent hiring, and negligent retention,” Raysor tells the Voice. “[Universal] continued to feature her on their site right after the shooting, and linked their website to Remy Ma’s website. Raysor previously told reporters: “Universal hires and encourages rap artists to act violently and engage in anti-social behavior in order to sell CDs. Thus, part of the performer’s persona promoted by the company is to ‘keep it real’ and remain ‘gangsta.'” (Village Voice)
Remy was convicted of shooting Barnes-Joseph in May 2008.
The former Terror Squad member turned herself in to New York police in July 2007 for the shooting of Makeda Barnes-Joseph outside a nightclub. Remy was later sentenced to an eight year bid last May and is currently held behind bars at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in Bedford Hills. (TMZ)
Earlier this year, Remy said she hoped to be released from jail in the next few months.
“Hopefully I can be home soon, like, before the summer,” Remy told radio personality Jenny Boom Boom regarding her appeal. “If none of my appeals work and I had to do the most, probably another three years, a little bit over three years. I have eight [years], but you don’t do the whole eight, you have to do about six and I’ve already done two.” (“Jenny Boom Boom TV”)
Check out a recent Remy Ma interview down below:
