Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube Accused of Fraud in $1.3 Million Court Battle

Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube are fighting being deposed as part of the lawsuit accusing them of fraud, Us Weekly can exclusively report. The rappers adamantly deny all allegations of wrongdoing in the case.

Snoop Dogg, 53, and Ice Cube, 56, filed court docs in August asking a judge to rule they did not have to appear for a deposition scheduled for October, where they were set to be grilled about the facts of a lawsuit brought by a company called Westside Merchandise.

Lawyers for the rappers said the request to depose Snoop and Ice Cube was “harassing, oppressive, and burdensome” especially “for these high-profile individuals who keep busy schedules with firm commitments.” Snoop and Ice Cube’s lawyer also claimed the duo did not have anything “substantive” to provide when it came to information about the court battle.

Snoop and Ice Cube said they told the company they could speak to their associate Tony Draper but the company has refused until they sit for depositions. Their lawyer said this is a “clear tactic” to “force” a settlement.

At the time, Snoop said he was shooting a movie and was not free until October 21. Ice Cube said he was in Florida handling his Big3 basketball league. Ice Cube said he was also getting ready for his tour.

The rappers said if the court did order them to appear, they requested permission to testify virtually and that the deposition be limited to two hours.

Westside Merchandise filed court docs in September opposing Snoop and Ice Cube’s attempt to avoid being deposed. The company said it had been “extremely cooperative” with the entertainer’s legal team in attempting to schedule the depositions.

The company demanded the court sanction Snoop and Ice Cube by ordering them to pay $11,000 in fees for dragging out the case. A judge has yet to rule.

The legal drama started on November 18, 2024, when Westside Merchandising LLC sued Snoop, Ice Cube, E-40, Too Short and Mount Westmore LLC for breach of contract, fraud, conversion and various other claims.

Mount Westmore is a group consisting of Snoop, Ice Cube, E-40, 57, and Too Short, 59. The legendary musicians, who have worked together for years, released their debut album in 2022.

In the lawsuit, the merch company said it entered into a deal in 2022 with the rappers to be the exclusive vendor for Mount Westmore merchandise.

Westside Merchandising said it provided the rappers with certain advances and royalties due to it being told that Mount Westmore planned to go on a 60-date tour in America and Europe, where the merchandise would be sold to fans.

“[Westside Merchandising] was also assured that Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, both of whom were defined as key men under the [agreement], would publicize and promote the agreement by producing a promotional video to be posted on [Mount Westmore’s] social media accounts and by appearing at a retail location of Westside’s choice,” a lawyer for the company wrote. “None of this happened.”

“In fact, the only appearance Defendants made was a VIP meet and greet event at which Snoop Dogg appeared to sell his own merchandise, rather,” the lawyer added.

The company said it paid the defendants a total of $1.375 million after the contract was executed, only for the rappers to allegedly bail on their contractual obligations.

The suit said Mount Westmore did not perform the 60 concerts they promised. “Instead, they appeared at a mere three concerts in 2022, and zero concerts in 2023 or 2024.” The company also alleged Snoop and Ice failed to “make the required promotional videos to promote” the merchandise “as required by the terms” of the deal.

The company, who demanded the return of their money and punitive damages, claimed that despite repeated requests, Snoop and the other defendants have refused to return the “upfront payment of $1,375,000 that they received from Westside.”

In response, Snoop, Ice Cube and the other defendants argued the company failed to provide enough evidence to back up certain claims in their case. Too Short and E-40 said they weren’t even parties to the agreement.

Frank Seddigh, a lawyer for the defendants, tells Us, “Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short, collectively known as Mount Westmore, have always conducted their business in good faith and with integrity. Despite multiple attempts to resolve this matter amicably, Westside Merchandising has refused to cooperate or engage in good-faith discussions.”

Seddigh added, “Moreover, the company has failed to uphold its contractual obligations by withholding royalty payments and sales accounting that are rightfully owed to our clients. We intend to take all necessary steps to compel compliance. The facts and the law will ultimately show that Westside Merchandising’s claims against our clients are entirely baseless and without merit.”

John Fowler, an attorney for Westside Merchandise, tells Us, “Defendants in this case are trying to hide from having their depositions taken because they are scared of answering difficult questions relating to their swindle.”

Fowler added, “The defendants took my client’s money, promising to be an upstanding partner focused on touring and merchandising efforts, only to run away with seven figures of funding, and failing to provide anything in return. My clients were sold a bill of goods, and have lost millions of dollars in merchandising opportunities, while the defendants have enriched themselves at my client’s expense.”

He ended, “The defendants have no real legal defenses to the case, and their strategy has been simply to delay the inevitable. Defendant Too Short has publicly stated that they were just ‘too rich and busy’ to focus on Mount Westmore, which is obviously not a legitimate defense in a court of law. We look forward to trying this case.”