S. Samuel
West Coast rap veteran Daz Dillinger has stepped forward to speak out on making headlines earlier this month over a hefty lawsuit against Rockstar Games using his music in its new Grand Theft Auto V without permission.
According to Daz, he learned of GTA V‘s inclusion of his records courtesy of the fans.
“They had no permission to put my music in there,” Daz Dillinger revealed in an interview. “So, we’re playing the video game and, ‘Bam.’ And, all the fans were telling me about the stuff. They were hitting me up like, ‘It’s more like a Dogg Pound Grand Theft Auto.’ I’m like, ‘Damn. How’d they get all my songs up in there? So, I had to do an investigation and make it happen.” (HHDX)
He also likened the mega video game company’s handling of his music to a dispute with a record label.
“They were trying to give me $4,000 and that was it,” Daz Dillinger says in his exclusive interview. “Then, when you read all the contracts, you’re looking at it like, ‘Man. That’s all I’m gonna get is $4,000. No BMI, no ASCAP, no nothing.’ I’m like, ‘Hey. What can I do?’ Then they tried to talk and I’m like, ‘I don’t want to do no talking. Just pay mine out.’ What makes them different than a Warner Bros., a Universal? If they want to jump into video games and put music in there and do all that, there’s royalties, publishing and mechanicals. That’s my case right there. I’m just waiting right now for them to respond.” (HHDX)
Reports earlier this month revealed Dillinger had sought legal action to handle the matter.
“Grand Theft Auto V” attempted to lowball rapper Daz Dillinger, then jacked his music without paying him a cent … this according to a cease and desist letter Daz fired off to the makers of GTA V. In the letter to Take-Two Interactive Software and Rockstar Games, Daz and his attorney say “C-Walk” and “Nothin’ But the Cavi Hit” are used in the record-setting game, even though Daz turned down the company’s “offensively low offer of $4,271.00 for both songs.” Now, the ex-member of the legendary Dogg Pound is demanding they make him a better offer or — and this is a biggie — recall and destroy ALL unsold copies of the game. (TMZ)
Despite the negative situation, GTA V continues to remain a hit at retail outlets.
Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto V has officially hit $1 billion in sales in just three days. Take-Two Interactive has officially announced more than $1 billion in sales of Grand Theft Auto V durings its first three days on sale. The company believe “this marks the fastest than any entertainment property, including video games and feature films, has reached this significant milestone.” According to an LA Times report last year Call of Duty: Black Ops managed to earn $1 billion, but on its 15th day on sale. Chairman and CEO of Take-Two, Strauss Zeinick, states “Grand Theft Auto is a cultural phenomenon and Rockstar Games continues to redefine what can be achieved in interactive entertainment. We are incredibly proud of the extraordinary critical and commercial response to Grand Theft Auto V.” (T3)
Check out Daz Dillinger’s music in GTA V:
