Hip-hop star Kanye West has filed a lawsuit accusing a Chicago DJ of possessing 10 unreleased songs that West produced before he was 18.
The 20-page lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Chicago alleges that Eric "E-Smoove" Miller improperly tried to distribute some of those master recordings earlier this year.
Miller, who helped record the songs before Chicago native West became famous, falsely claimed he had a contract to distribute the music, the lawsuit claims.
The disputed songs include "Ho!!!" and "Stop Frontin'," which West's attorneys claim Miller offered to distributors using a fake contract with West's fake signature.
Miller, who owns Focus Music Group, did not immediately return messages left seeking comment. He began his career as a DJ in the early 1980s and is closely associated with the creation of "house music."
In the lawsuit, the 28-year-old Grammy winner seeks payment of no less than $1.3 million. The lawsuit also demands that Miller cease from ever using West's name or voice in connection with the master recordings.
West's attorneys say the dispute over the old master recordings is particularly damaging now, as the singer releases his latest album, called "Late Registration."