Credit: Possan

MF DOOM‘s widow, Jasmine Dumile Thompson, filed a lawsuit against his former A&R Eothen ‘Egon’ Alapatt in October, claiming copyright infringement, fraud, intentional misrepresentation and unjust enrichment. The complaint came up following DOOM’s death in 2020 when Alapatt obtained the late rapper’s handwritten notebooks.

The dispute has now officially been settled, and 32 notebooks have been returned to Thompson as a result. The news was announced through DOOM’s Instagram account, which included statements from both Thompson and Alapatt.

“We are relieved to bring this chapter to a close,” Thompson said. “Over the years, there have been many public narratives concerning this matter, some of which have been misrepresented or unfairly magnified. While differences did arise along the way, we acknowledge that Egon preserved DOOM’s invaluable notebooks and are grateful to now have them returned as part of this resolution.”

She continued, “As a family, our focus remains steadfast on celebrating DOOM’s extraordinary legacy — his unparalleled artistry and his lasting impact on music and culture. We hope that this resolution serves as a step forward in continuing to honour his memory.”

In another statement, Alapatt added, “DOOM was a dear friend to me and one of the most important artists I’ve ever known. I bought DOOM’s notebooks and kept them safe for years to ensure his powerful musical legacy could be preserved.”

Continuing, “My only goal has always been to showcase DOOM’s lasting musical genius, and the resolution Jasmine and I have reached regarding DOOM’s notebooks represents a significant triumph in protecting the genesis of a once-in-a-lifetime talent. I am proud to have played a role in saving some precious markers of DOOM’s life in music and trust Jasmine to determine the next steps for his notebooks.”

The lawsuit was initially filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California. It cited 50 unknown individuals and/or entities working with Alapatt who allegedly withheld the notebooks.

DOOM passed away on October 31st, 2020, after being admitted to St James’s University Hospital in Leeds with respiratory problems, later dying from angioedema. His death was unknown for two months, with Thompson announcing the news on December 31st of that year.