As previously reported Dr. Dre sued Death Row, now owned by WIDEawake Entertainment, in February for royalties after he says they re-released The Chronic without his permission.

Now however WIDEawake/ Death Row is facing more drama, this time for stipulations on the loan used to buy the embattled label.

According to an interview in Canadian Business Magazine, Robert Thompson-So of New Solutions Capital Group financed WIDEawke's $18 million purchase of Death Row but has yet to be paid back.

Speaking on the debt New Solutions has incurred since the purchase, Thompson-So estimates it to be between $23 million and $25 million and says,

“If someone would pay the amount of the debt incurred plus a dollar, we're out. This is just another commercial loan transaction that started as a workout and continues to be a workout. Please - step up to the table and take us out.”

Thompson-So also tells Canadian Business that he's willing to take over the label if need be, a measure he doesn't want to take.

Adding to the complications is the fact that the ownership of the company is not exactly clear.  A federal judge ruled that Lavi was not an officer or director of the company and ordered her to not interfere with Death Row operations.

Lavi has since announced plans to acquire the label herself but will not say how she plans to finance the transaction.

Drama, drama, drama…sheesh.

Death Row Records CEO, President Lara Lavi has just been granted a temporary restraining order against the Canadian financial group, New Solutions Financial Corp and its CEO Ron Ovenden by the New York Supreme Court County of New York.

The court order will keep outside interests from attempting to act on behalf of the iconic hip-hop label, Death Row Records, and help keep the company on the road to its continued success.

Lara Lavi made a statement on the day in court  saying,

"I have been very consistent in my message - I am determined to make Death Row about the artists, their music and their fans while staying grounded to assure the company's future. Thus, I am taking the necessary legal steps to ensure this outcome."

Lara Lavi

Founded in 1991 Death Row housed some of the highest profile hip-hop acts of the 90's including Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Death Row was purchased out of bankruptcy by Lavi in January 2009.

The court proceedings ended amicably, with Rob Scarcello the Senior Vice President of Sales Marketing with E-1 saying,

"E-1 signed its deal with Lara Lavi, the CEO, President and managing member of Wideawake Death Row Entertainment LLC on the strength of her vision, business sense and goodwill in the entertainment industry. I look forward to our continued working relationship.”

Now the company is seeing its financial business on display once again as the new CEO takes a company partner to court.
She accuses New Solutions CEO Ronald Ovenden of "self-dealing actions" that forced Deathrow to "adopt unauthorized liabilities."

In other words she is accusing Ovenden of unauthorized use of company money for new business ventures.

According to the filed complaint, the money the CEO of New Solutions is hoping to use would “make agreements on behalf of Deathrow and from executing the company's shareholder business.”

She also sued her former company, WIDEawake Entertainment Group, New Solutions Financial Corporation and New Solutions Managing Director Robert Thompson. Ovenden is chairman of both WIDEawake Entertainment and New Solutions, according to the complaint.