In a bizarre legal turn, Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B was recently targeted with a lawsuit alleging she violated an unwritten “gang code” through her musical collaboration with fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion. The suit, filed by a Michigan inmate, centered on claims that Cardi B’s partnership with Megan Thee Stallion, who had previously cooperated with law enforcement regarding the Tory Lanez shooting incident, contravened a supposed “no-snitch” policy. However, the legal challenge was met with swift and decisive action by a federal judge, who immediately dismissed the case as frivolous, preventing it from progressing further.
The Lawsuit and Alleged Gang Code Violation
The unusual legal complaint originated from an inmate incarcerated in Michigan, who purportedly identifies with the Almighty Vice Lord Nation. According to reports, the inmate alleged that Cardi B is affiliated with the Righteous United Blood Nation. The crux of his argument was that by collaborating with Megan Thee Stallion—who had spoken to the police after rapper Tory Lanez allegedly shot her—Cardi B had breached an alleged code of conduct that prohibits association with “rats, snitches, [and] informants”. The inmate further claimed that Cardi B’s lyrical content contained offensive language and racial slurs, and that she misrepresented his culture, seeking court intervention to prevent her from working with anyone who had previously cooperated with federal authorities.
The concept of a “no-snitch” policy is a well-documented tenet within certain street cultures and gang affiliations, where informing on others to law enforcement is considered a grave betrayal, often met with severe consequences. This lawsuit invoked such a code, attempting to impose its rules onto the professional music careers of artists. While Cardi B has previously spoken about her youthful associations with the Bloods gang, she has also publicly denied affiliations with specific groups like the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods when mentioned by others in legal contexts. Megan Thee Stallion, on the other hand, has never been publicly associated with any gang affiliations.
Music Collaborations and Industry Context
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have notable past collaborations that have achieved significant commercial success. Their 2020 hit single “WAP,” featuring explicit lyrics and a groundbreaking music video, topped charts and sparked widespread cultural conversation. They also collaborated on the track “Bongos.” These high-profile partnerships underscore their status as top artists in the contemporary hip hop and music landscape. The lawsuit attempted to frame these professional relationships through the lens of alleged gang affiliations and codes, an approach that ultimately proved unfounded in court.
Swift Dismissal by the Court
The legal challenge was quickly deemed without merit by the presiding judge. Recognizing the frivolous nature of the claims, the court dismissed the lawsuit “with prejudice,” a ruling that bars the plaintiff from refiling the same case. This decisive action highlighted the court’s assessment of the lawsuit’s lack of legal standing. As a consequence of the dismissal, the inmate was ordered to pay the $350 filing fee for the case. The Michigan Department of Corrections was mandated to collect this fee by deducting 20% from his monthly prison account until the amount is fully paid.
Cardi B’s Legal Landscape
This peculiar lawsuit emerged while Cardi B is concurrently involved in a separate, ongoing civil assault trial. In that case, a former security guard, Emani Ellis, is suing Cardi B for an alleged physical altercation in 2018. During the proceedings of this unrelated trial, Cardi B has been questioned about various aspects of her past, including past alleged gang associations, though her legal team has sought to prevent such details from prejudicing the jury. The rapid dismissal of the “gang code” lawsuit offers a stark contrast, showcasing how the legal system addresses claims with demonstrable merit versus those perceived as baseless.
Conclusion
The lawsuit against Cardi B, which alleged a violation of gang code over her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, ultimately failed to gain traction in the legal system. The swift dismissal serves as a clear indicator of its lack of factual or legal basis. While the incident brought attention to the intersection of hip hop culture, street codes, and legal disputes, it concluded without consequence for the artists involved, other than the singular repercussion for the inmate filing the suit. This chapter in the rapper’s legal saga underscores the resilience of her career against a backdrop of highly unusual allegations, reinforcing her position as a dominant force in the music industry’s top stories.
