URL Co-Founder Claims He Was Pushed Out After Drake/Caffeine Deal

URL co-founder Dagoberto Velez sues the company for $40M and claims he was pushed out following the deal between Drake & Caffeine.

BYAron A.Sep 16, 20203.2K Views

A co-founder of Ultimate Rap League is taking the company to court in the wake of its recent deal with Caffeine and Drake. Dagoberto Velez has filed a $40M lawsuit against Ultimate Rap League (LLC) accusing them of pushing him out of the company after their fruitful deal with the Toronto rapper and the social streaming giant.

Velez said that he helped build the brand as the lead talent recruiter for URL. He said he was the main talent scout that helped bring talent to their platform and identify the prominent figures and buzzing MCs in the scene. Velez added that he was among those who had authority in negotiating contracts pertaining to the company and served as a visible figure whos image and likeness were used as an on-camera personality.

Velez filed the multi-court lawsuit against Troy Mitchell, Eric Beasley and Jean French who he accuses of breach of contract, wrongful dissolution, and other counts. His lawsuit said that the defendants have previously admitted that Velez is a partner in the company.

Velez said Mitchell, Beasley, and French have "dissolved" their relationship on a public platform following URL's partnership with Drake and Caffeine, even though he said he was a pivotal figure in helping land the lucrative deal.

He's now suing for $40M and 10% royalty from the company.

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Aron A.

Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.