Cardi B has fired the manager who helped take her from stripper to reality TV star to global music sensation.
Now Klenord “Shaft” Raphael is striking back with a $10 million lawsuit for breach of contract, non-payment, and defamation.
“Since discovering Cardi B in 2015, Shaft has played an integral role in developing her music career and public image,” Raphael’s rep said in a statement to Variety. “While he is proud of their successful collaborations as she evolved from Instagram influencer to music megastar, Shaft is disappointed by her actions to freeze him out of her career, which are detailed in the complaint. Shaft is confident that his lawsuit will validate his conduct and substantiate his legal claims.”
As for the defamation ... it may have something to do with what Cardi is saying about him.
According to TMZ, Cardi has accused Shaft of skimming money. Lots of money. For example, if Cardi was getting 100K for a gig Shaft would tell her she was only making 50K and pocket the rest.
Plus, he was taking 20 percent off her end as his management fee.
Shaft has acknowledged that his management fee was unusually high. He argues he needed the money to pay the writers and producers who actually made her music.
When Cardi's fiance Offset caught wind of his fee he went nuts and pushed Cardi to confront Shaft during Super Bowl weekend. She ultimately dumped Shaft and signed with Offset's management, Quality Control.
Shaft believes Offset pushed Cardi to oust him because he wants control of her career.
Now a court will sort that all out.