Hip-hop producer Madlib shared this photo of himself and his alter ego Lord Quas on the character’s Instagram account on February 26, 2018.
Famed hip-hop DJ and producer Madlib is facing legal action from the artist who drew his animated alter ego.
Keith Griego claims the animated character known as “Lord Quas” was created specifically for the cover of Madlib’s 1999 single “Mic Math”, although it has since been used for “more album covers, music videos and merchandise,” Griego’s attorneys said in the lawsuit. Seamus Hughes’ Court Watch first reported the lawsuit on April 19.
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In the 25 years since the release of Mic Math, Lord Quas has become an integral part of the artistic output of Oxnard-born Madlib (née Otis Jackson, Jr.).
Madlib is known for his collaborative projects with artists such as MF Doom, Freddie Gibbs and J Dilla, as well as a project called Quasimoto with the character Lord Quas, who raps with a pitch-shifted version of Madlib’s own voice.
Even outside of Quasimoto, Lord Quas often appears on the cover of Madlib projects, such as 2019’s “Bandana” with Freddie Gibbs, which showed Lord Quas riding On the zebra, they looked out over the Hollywood sign and saw the burning building below.
Lord Quas even has his own Instagram account, which features not only album covers but also drawings and other illustrations from events like Halloween and Record Day. Interestingly, one post featured Mickey Mouse and celebrated the expiration of Disney’s rights to the character.
In addition to “microphone math,” Madlib “used Lord Quas anyway without giving Mr. Gregor compensation or credit,” the lawsuit says. The lawsuit adds that the producer even applied for his own trademark for Lord Quas, even though he and his partners “knew they had no rights to Lord Quas.”
“Mr. Griego brought this lawsuit to seek damages against Defendants for willful copyright infringement and to obtain an injunction restraining them from further infringement of his copyrights,” the lawsuit states.
If Grigo wins, Madlib’s copyright to Lord Quas will be invalid and he will have to reimburse Grigo for lost earnings and attorneys’ fees.
Madlib and his representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
