In VIBE's exclusive story, “Stoked”, Linda Hobbs looked at how the lives of the former members of the mega-cute mega-group B2K were impacted by their manager Chris Stokes. Unfortunately, boy bands aren’t the only entertainers facing managerial woes: VIBE.com takes a look at the actions of other artists’ representation.
Artists: D12 and Sean Paul (formerly of the YoungBloodz)
Manager: Jeremy Geffen
Cause For Rift: Misconduct with a Minor
D12 members have spoken out against their manager, Jeremy Geffen, who allegedly gave two 16-year-old girls cocaine and had sexual intercourse with them while they were under the influence. The group has stated publicly that while they wish him the best with his legal issues, they would not like to be associated with his private life.
Geffen was arrested on March 13, 2008 and charged with rape by use of drugs, possession of cocaine, furnishing cocaine to a minor, and two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Geffen was allegedly assaulted in his cell during his first week in holding.
Artist: Toni Braxton
Manager: Barry Hankerson
Cause For Rift: Financial issues
Toni Braxton sued her personal manager, Barry Hankerson for $10 million in January, 2007, for allegedly tricking her into leaving her record label. She also accused him of failing to send her copies of accounting statements that she had requested, lying about transactions he had made on her behalf and withholding crucial information from potential managers that she sought to employ. The R&B diva claimed that Hankerson, who is also known as the uncle of the late singer Aaliyah, was putting his own financial interests ahead of hers, which led to his underhanded and manipulative way of making her leave her lucrative deal with Arista.
The feuding former partners settled the lawsuit with Braxton returning her $375,000 advance to Hankerson, and he will receive a percentage of her upcoming album. The soulful singer was released from her recording contract with Hankerson’s Blackground Records after moving 431,000 units of her 2005 release Libra.
Artist: Mario
Manager: Troy Patterson and Third Street Music Group
Cause for Rift: Financial problems
Mario filed a lawsuit against his ex-manager in February of 2006 for “making hundreds of thousands” of dollars off of him and allowing the singer to only see $50,000 of the $20 million he accrued from his first two albums. Patterson signed Mario in 2000 and due to Mario’s family problems, became Mario’s legal guardian soon after the two became business acquaintances. Mario said that Patterson “insinuated” himself into his life in 1998 due to those circumstances, and the two severed their ties in 2004. He wanted the contracts to be declared void because he was a minor when he signed them.
Mario joined Matthew Knowles’ management company, and Mario is currently under new management by Julius Erving III. Patterson went on a warpath, countersuing Mario, Mario’s mother, J Records, “Erving III, the Coalition, and Troy Carter. Patterson wanted a court order to be a part of Mario’s future recording process, and at least $5 million from those named.
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