Last updated on March 29, 2026
Esham lawsuit details date back to 2003, when he was sued for a reported $4,650,000 by Detroit’s own Bridgeport Music, Southfield Music, and Westbound Records. Esham, known for not always having his business together or playing nice with others in the Detroit music scene, became difficult to track down as the case unfolded.
Sampling and Copyright Issues
According to court documents, Esham sampled riffs without permission from Parliament/Funkadelic, Ohio Players, George Clinton, and the Detroit Emeralds.
Esham Lawsuit Timeline
The case spanned about 10 years, finally ending in 2013 with a default judgment against Rashann A. Smith (Esham) for $33,690.41, along with an additional $10,156.07 in attorney fees.
Attempts to Serve Esham
The plaintiffs were frustrated throughout the case, as they were never able to properly serve Esham with official papers. Sworn testimony from Esham’s booking agent at the time, John Finberg, and Alex Abyss of Psychopathic Records stated they had no idea how to get ahold of him, noting that he simply “shows up.”
Shari Lesnick, the attorney for the plaintiffs, spent years trying to track Esham down. On July 19, 2003, she attempted to serve him at his last known residence, 18451 Schoenherr, without success. On July 22, 2003, she tried again at the Emerald Theatre, where he was scheduled to perform, but he did not appear. Finally, on October 10, 2003, she attempted to serve him on stage at Harpo’s, again without success.
Default Judgment Outcome
Esham’s game of cat and mouse continued for years, but the system eventually moved forward with a default judgment of $43,846.48 for unlicensed sampling and attorney fees. That is a relatively small amount considering Esham reportedly sold millions of records in the mid-1990s, when CDs were priced around $20 each, potentially generating significant revenue during that era.
Why Esham Avoided the Courts
It is not hard to understand why he avoided the courts. Few would want to open their books and testify under oath about past earnings, especially if it could lead to a larger judgment.
Rights and Ownership Questions
After reviewing hundreds of documents, a few questions remain. One of the main ones is whether Esham still owns the rights to his catalog. According to the documents, the plaintiffs pursued those rights, so it is unclear if he retained ownership.
Aftermath and Impact
This may also explain why Esham stepped away from pursuing a career in culinary arts. Years ago, he attended school to become a certified gourmet chef, secured a job, and then suddenly stopped. It raises the question of whether the $43,846 judgment may have played a role.
Maybe the $43,846 wage garnishment hit his check. I know the “Multikillionaire‘ is smarter than that…or maybe not.
Esham lawsuit docs:
This article is from the archives and was originally published in 2019.
Thomas Dishaw is the creator of Rap Therapy and a lifelong Hip Hop fan with deep roots in the culture. He previously worked at Heaven Studios, where he interviewed many of Detroit’s most influential voices.