News: Who Ordered Assault?

Bookman is the owner of Houston recording studio, Studio 7303. He also recently established a new music label entitled 7303 Records.

According to the lawsuit, Bookman claims the beating took place after he was lured to Prince's gym for a business meeting, to discuss the clearance of one of Prince's artists to appear on an album by one Bookman's first artists.

Prince allegedly allowed rapper Bun B to record a single titled "Wrong for Dat" with 7303 artist Javon "JV" Daniels and agreed to sign over all the rights to the song.

In exchange, Bun B recorded the gold selling Trill album at 7303 for a substantially discounted cost.

According to the lawsuit, Prince and Rap-A-Lot Records reneged on their agreement to release the Bun B. single, after Warner Brothers approached Bookman with a an offer for a label deal.

"What he did was lure me over there to the gym like he was going to sign off on the clearance forms," Bookman said in a statement. "So I went over there and didn't think nothing of it."

Bookman said what he thought was going to be an ordinary business meeting soon took an ugly turn.

"We went into the weight room," Bookman said. "After we discussed some bogus contracts that he had sent over to my studio, which were a clumsy attempt to try to steal my studio, he told me that I had been talking about Rap-A-Lot Records, and we went back and forth with that. He put somebody on the phone and we chopped that up..then I asked him: 'now what?' He said 'uh huh, OK, OK ... now let's see how you gonna like this!' And then he opened a door and those seven guys came rushing out and did their number on me."

As a result of the beating, Bookman suffered a broken nose and head injuries including two blacks eyes, one of which will require surgery.

"This was a vicious act of intimidation, plain and simple," said John B. Thomas, lead counsel for Bookman. "We believe Mr. Prince's plan was to eliminate competition in the Houston Rap and Hip-Hop music business through the use of threats, intimidation and violence."

Bookman is suing for Prince for breach of contract, battery, unfair competition, duress, conspiracy and unjust enrichment. He is also seeking a court order barring Prince and any business associate from coming 500 feet within his home or business.

"I'm not going to let someone come in and destroy my business through threats or intimidation," Bookman said. "I want to serve notice that it's time to stop this right now."

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The lawsuit, which was filed April 12, stems from a business meeting and assault that allegedly took place between the rap mogul and Ronnie Bookman, a music executive, at Prince's Fresh Recreation Center Gym in Houston, over clearance for Rap-A-Lot artist Bun B to appear on an album by Javon "JV" Daniels.

Daniels is one of the first artists on Bookman's new record label, 7303 Records.

"Through my years in this music industry, I've been falsely accused and sued by many, which none of them were successful," J Prince said. "I guess this is a new season where drug dealing rats and parasite lawyers are out to extort me. If anyone with good sense would pull this guy Ronnie Bookman's record, they would see how bad his credibility stinks. The true facts will be revealed in a court of law."

In the suit, Prince allegedly agreed to sign over all the rights to the song "Wrong for Dat," a track he allegedly allowed Bun B to record with Daniels.

In return, Bun B would record his album Trill at Bookman's Studio 7303 recording studio for a discounted cost.

However, Prince and Rap-A-Lot allegedly went back on their agreement to release the single after Warner Brothers offered Bookman a label deal.

Bookman later stated in the suit that the meeting took a violent turn when he received a broken nose and head injuries from a beating allegedly set up by Prince.

He is suing Prince for breach of contract, battery, unfair competition, duress, conspiracy and unjust enrichment.

Bookman is also requesting a court order that would bar Prince and any business associate from coming 500 feet within his home or business.

The suit is the newest legal chapter for Prince, who has been battling convicted drug kingpin Michael "Harry-O" Harris over claims that Rap-A-Lot is co-owned by Harris.

In his lawsuit, Harris claims that he owns half of the company and provided startup capital to launch Rap-A-Lot.

As a result, Harris feels he is rightfully entitled to half of the label's earnings, dating back to its formation in 1986.

Harris is currently serving a 28-year sentence in San Quentin State Prison in Calif. for attempted murder and drug dealing.