Snoop Dogg’s company, Snoop Dogg LLC (SDLLC), and Contemporary Services Corp. (CSC), a crowd management firm, are seeking dismissal from a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit filed by the family of rapper Drakeo the Ruler. Drakeo, whose real name was Darrell Caldwell, was stabbed to death backstage at the Once Upon A Time in LA music festival on December 18, 2021, held at the then Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park, now known as BMO Stadium.
Attorneys for both SDLLC and CSC filed court papers this week with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James I. Montgomery, arguing that, like previously dismissed defendants—the University of Southern California (USC), the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), and talent booking company Bobby Dee Presents Inc.—there are no triable issues of fact against their clients. The core argument is that neither SDLLC nor CSC had control over or responsibility for the backstage area where the fatal incident occurred.
Snoop Dogg himself provided a sworn declaration stating, “Nobody from SDLLC was present at the backstage area at the time of the subject incident.” He further asserted that his company had no authority to manage the backstage area. The 54-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus, was paid $500,000 for a one-hour performance at the festival, according to the SDLLC attorneys’ court filings.
Similarly, CSC’s legal team wrote that the artists’ entrance, security checkpoint, artist parking lot, and backstage area were not owned or controlled by USC or LAFC, and therefore were not staffed by CSC under its contract with those entities. “CSC’s only role at the festival was to provide crowd management services to the LAFC and USC properties,” the CSC attorneys stated in their pleadings. “Therefore, the fatal incident did not occur in any area of the premises where CSC was contracted to provide crowd management services, and as such, CSC also owed no duty to decedent or plaintiff.”
Drakeo, aged 28 at the time of his death, was attacked after a fight broke out behind the main stage. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The lawsuit was originally filed in February 2022 by Darrylene Corniel, Drakeo’s mother and the personal representative of his estate, as well as by his minor son. The complaint alleges that the defendants failed to provide adequate security at the festival, despite being aware of potential dangers.
The suit states: “Defendants, and each of them, were completely knowledgeable of the potential dangers posed to both their guests and the performers that they hired based upon numerous past incidents of violence and death at their hip-hop events.” This claim highlights a broader issue of security at live music events, particularly those focused on hip-hop, which have historically faced challenges with crowd control and violence. According to data from the Event Safety Alliance, security failures have been linked to multiple tragic incidents at festivals, prompting calls for stricter protocols.
Drakeo, a Los Angeles native, released ten mixtapes from 2015 onward and dropped his first studio album, I Am Mr. Mosely, in April 2017. Critics praised his “unique flow” and “oddly expressive, poetic word choices.” The Los Angeles Times called him “the most original West Coast stylist in decades.” His career, however, was marked by legal troubles. While awaiting trial for the 2016 killing of a 24-year-old man, Drakeo recorded the mixtape Thank You For Using GTL from Men’s Central Jail. He was acquitted of murder and attempted murder charges but later pleaded to conspiracy charges and was released in November 2020.
The festival at which Drakeo was killed, Once Upon A Time in LA, was organized by Live Nation and featured a lineup of prominent hip-hop artists. The incident raised questions about backstage security, especially given the presence of high-profile performers like Snoop Dogg. Security experts note that backstage areas are often chaotic, with limited oversight, and that performers and their entourages may not be subject to the same screening as general attendees. This incident echoes other tragic events, such as the 2019 death of rapper Pop Smoke, who was killed during a home invasion robbery, underscoring the ongoing violence in the hip-hop community.
In addition to the current motions, the lawsuit has seen several defendants exit. USC, LAFC, and Bobby Dee Presents Inc. were previously dismissed after successfully arguing that they did not control the backstage area. The remaining defendants—SDLLC, CSC, and potentially others—continue to face litigation. Hearings on the dismissal motions are scheduled for September. If the motions are denied, discovery may proceed, potentially revealing more details about the security arrangements at the festival.
The case also highlights the legal doctrine of duty of care in premises liability. Generally, property owners and event organizers owe a duty to ensure reasonable safety for attendees and performers. However, the extent of that duty can be limited by contracts and the scope of control. For example, if a security firm is contracted only to manage specific zones, its liability may not extend to other areas. Similarly, a performer’s company may not be held responsible for events beyond its control, especially if the performer had no role in security management.
From a broader perspective, this lawsuit is part of a pattern of litigation following festival tragedies. The 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas led to numerous lawsuits against event organizers and security companies. While each case is unique, they collectively push the industry toward better risk assessment and emergency planning. The outcome of this case could influence how future events are staffed and how contracts allocate responsibilities for security.
In the hip-hop community, Drakeo’s death reverberated deeply. Fellow artists expressed grief and anger, with many calling for increased safety measures. The rapper’s unique style and tragic end have cemented his legacy as a cautionary tale about the perils of fame and the music industry’s darker side. As the case moves forward, both the family and the defendants await a resolution that may bring some measure of accountability—or closure.
Source: MSN News