Fat Joe says his ongoing legal battle with former hypeman Terrance “T.A.” Dixon has drained his pockets and cost him millions.
According to court documents obtained by Complex, the Bronx rapper filed an amended complaint accusing Dixon and attorney Tyrone Blackburn of waging a smear campaign against him. Joe initially sued Dixon in April, alleging that his former employee spread “wholly fabricated, grotesque, and scandalous allegations” in an effort to score a big payout.
Joe claims Dixon’s alleged extortion attempts cost him around $10 million in lost business opportunities, including endorsement deals, podcast ad revenue, TV appearances, and retail contracts for his Rewind It grooming line. He’s now seeking $15 million in damages, plus interest.
The original lawsuit outlined that Dixon worked with Joe from 2006 to 2019 and was paid fairly, but allegedly became dissatisfied with his earnings. Joe says Dixon then hired Blackburn to demand compensation for supposed contributions to tracks like “Congratulations,” “Ice Cream,” and “Money Over Bitches.”
In March, Dixon and Blackburn reportedly sent a letter demanding money for alleged ghostwriting and vocal work. A month later, they threatened to sue Joe with shocking claims of sexual trafficking, pedophilia, and forced labor, among others. Dixon eventually filed a $20 million lawsuit, which Joe dismissed as another extortion attempt.
“The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation,” Joe’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, told The Independent. “The allegations against Mr. Joseph Antonio Cartagena are complete fabrications — lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure. Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated.”
Joe’s amended complaint also takes aim at Blackburn’s professional conduct, noting that the lawyer was referred to the grievance committee in 2024 after a judge accused him of filing cases in federal court “to garner media attention, embarrass defendants with salacious allegations, and pressure defendants to settle quickly.”
The update to the case comes about a month after Blackburn was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault for allegedly striking a process server with his car, per NBC News.
