Doug E. Fresh Owes $2 Million in Unpaid Taxes

Hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh owes the IRS a pretty penny, apparently failing to pay over $2 million in taxes. According the Detroit News, the beat boxer owes $2,276,848 million in taxes. In an attempt to collect on the hefty bill, the IRS filed a lien against Fresh with the New York City register's office in October.

Ironically, Fresh, born Douglas E. Davis, has been in tax trouble before. In 2008, the New York native was being sought after by Uncle Sam for $367,000 in delinquent tax payments. Yet despite his financial issues, the 44-year-old has delved into other business ventures outside the music industry, opening a restaurant in Harlem last month. The eatery, Doug E's was met with criticism after its opening was delayed by two years. Doug E's, located in Harlem, specializes in a variety of fast food options including waffles and fried chicken.

"Really even in this whole Obama initiative, and everything that's going on with the economy, the only way to jump start it is we have to give each other opportunity. That's the only way to make it work," he said of the restaurant which he opened to provide after-school job opportunities for teens in the neighborhood. "I understand the kid that, you know, he needs some money because he gotta get back and forth to school."

As the founding member of the Get Fresh Crew, Fresh gained his footing on the New York music scene in the early 1980s. After linking with rapper Slick Rick, to release the hit 'La Di Da Di' in 1985, Fresh rose to popularity for his beat boxing skills, that later solidified his place in hip-hop history.