This is the ultimate college party culture conflict: Snoop Dogg versus Pabst Brewing Company.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Snoop filed a lawsuit against Pabst (producers of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Colt 45) over a breach of contract in relation to his deal to promote the company’s malt liquor: Blast by Colt 45. Back in 2011, the rapper was hired as the Colt 45 brand ambassador entitling him (under the contract’s phantom-equity clause) to 10% of the net sales price should the brewing company be sold before 2016. Just so happens, TSG Consumer Partners, a private equity firm out of San Francisco, bought Pabst (including its subsidiaries) in 2014 in a deal estimated at $700 million. Game on.
So, The Doggfather, under his giving name Calvin Broadus Jr., filed suit for his meager 10 percent (which would be a whole heck of a lot more than the royalties awarded during his promotion deal). A Pabst spokesperson said in a statement that, “Pabst Brewing Company has been under new ownership and new management since November 2014. We have not been contacted by Snoop Dogg or his representatives about this issue. We are investigating the matter and would be happy to talk to Snoop or his representatives to try to get to the bottom of this.”
This is a total Blast from the Pa(b)st, and our hearts are torn in two. Whose side are you on?
Steph is a native New Yorker with a love of culture, creativity, and communications. She’s a foodie, nutrition junkie, yogi, wine-lover, bookworm, world traveler, style-addict, and people person. She also runs her event planning company, Orchard + Broome.
