Jay-Z Victim Of Extortion As Unheard Recordings Held For Ransom

Jay Z has found himself the victim of a theft and extortion plot worth millions after a former Roc-A-Fella Records producer allegedly tried to sell the rapper's unheard recordings which could be worth up to $20m. Police have questioned one Chauncey Mahan, who is said to have had a number of the recordings in a storage facility in Northridge, California.

Jay Z's Long-Lost Master Recordings Were Held To Ransom By A Former Employee.

The record label apparently believed that the recordings had been lost until last Friday (18th April) when Mahan allegedly contacted Live Nation, which has a joint venture with Jay Z called Roc Nation, and told them he would either put the tapes up for auction or give them the tapes for a $100,000 (£60,000) "storage fee," according to TMZ.

Mahan Agreed To Take $75K But The Police Detained The Producer After Having Been Alerted.

Mahan, who worked with Jay Z from 1998 - 2002, is reported to have settled for $75,000 (£44,000) but the recordings could be worth up to $20m (£12m). The LAPD has reportedly taken possession of the tapes until a judge makes a decision on the rightful ownership.

However, the '99 Problems' rapper and his team moved swiftly to contact the LAPD, who travelled to the storage facility at the same time Mahan had arranged to close the deal with Jay Z's people. The police seized the tapes until a judge can determine ownership and detained Mahan for questioning but did not arrest him.

A Judge Will Decide Who Rightfully Owns The Unheard Jay Z Recordings.

Beverly Hills PD is apparently investigating the extortion allegations and Jay Z's people have filed a grand larceny complaint Friday with the NYPD in an ongoing investigation.

The rapper has not commented publically on the case.

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