Redemption: Big Hutch Sues EVE, Aftermath, Interscope, and Ruff Riderz Over “Love Is Blind” Song

West Coast Hip-Hop pioneer Gregory Hutchison, who goes by the name Big Hutch aka Cold 187um, has recently filed a lawsuit against EVE, Dr. Dre, Ruff Ryders Entertainment, and Interscope Records accusing them of stealing the hit 1999 single release entitled LOVE IS BLIND FEATURING FAITH EVANS. Hutch stated the song was stripped of some of its original components and presented as the accused own work.

“Love Is Blind” is on the September 14, 1999 album release “Let There Be EVE…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady. The album sold 213,000 copies in the first week and sold over 2 million copies according to Soundscan and is certified Double Platinum. The album’s only singles were “Gotta Man” and “Love Is Blind” featuring Faith Evans. In 2000, “Love Is Blind” was nominated for “Best Rap Video” and the album received “Best R&B/Soul Female Solo Album of the Year.”

Big Hutch, nephew to R&B legend Willie Hutch, says that in December of 1997, he was introduced and hired to produce, at the time, an up and coming artist known as EVE. Mike Lynn, as head of the A&R department at Aftermath, introduced him to the EVE project. With just him and EVE in the studio at the time, Hutch was helping develop EVE producing an array of tracks but ultimately, the original track for “Love Is Blind” was chosen. Hutch claims to have co-wrote and produced the track. Hutch even called in the Aftermath songtress at the time, Truth Hurts, to sing the hook and assist them in finishing up some other singing ideas they had. The problem began when EVE made the transition from Aftermath to Ruff Rydaz where they took the song “Love Is Blind” and failed to give Hutch credit. Between 2000 and 2001, serving as the VP to Death Row during Suge Knight’s incarceration at the time, Hutch approached Aftermath to help and assist him in retaining compensation for his involvement with EVE and the “Love Is Blind” song and according to Big Hutch they simply replied to him, “We can’t help you. You have no proof.” Aftermath further explained to Hutch they could not put anything together to help obtain the rights to the song he “helped produce.” As Hutch was still continuing on with his own music career while battling Aftermath, Hutch was unfortunately incarcerated from July 2004 to August of 2007. Prior to his incarceration Hutch stored and warehoused all his musical catalog and it wasn’t until this year (2012) he finally stumbled across his “proof”, the original “Love Is Blind” song before the other copy landed in the hands of Swizz Beatz and the Ruff Rydaz. Hutch explains, “I’m not trying to take away from what EVE has done, but I was a key in helping EVE create a hit record. “ The parties involved in Hutch’s law suite has yet to respond to the accusation. EVE’S WIKIPEDIA MENTIONING LAWSUIT BY BIG HUTCH (UNDER THE “LEGAL ISSUES” CATEGORY)

The Pomona, California emcee was one of the pioneers of Gangsta Rap and was signed to the late Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records. Hutch was a key figure in developing the G-Funk sound with his group Above The Law and acknowledges himself as Dr. Dre’s “understudy.” Hutch and Above The Law’s 1990 “Living Like Hutstlers” debut album release was selected as one of The Sources “100 Best Rap Albums Ever” and claimed The Billboard 200 at #75 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at #14. Hutch currently heads his own label West World Records and is business partners with label Big Shot Music Group where he released his Only God Can Judge Me album and his first ever mixtape entitled From Pomona With Love Big Hutch is also currently signed to Psychopathic Records, home to the famed Insane Clown Posse, where he will be releasing an album entitled The Only Solution.

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1 Comment

1. 

   Reply by Pedro Escobar on July 9, 2012

   WOW! dying to know the outcome!