Scott Storch’s Manager Explains How Producer Lost $30M
At one point, producer Scott Storch was a ubiquitous figure in hip hop. Then, after producing some of the biggest hits in 2006, working with every major artist from 50 Cent to Beyonce to Pink, the Canadian-born beat maker's career took a serious nose dive.
One of the highest paid people in music in 2007, by 2008 Storch was unable to pay $500,000 in back taxes and a warrant was issued for his arrest for failure to make child-support payments.
In a recent interview with MTV, Storch's manager Derek Jackson explained his meteoric rise and fall, describing it as "Unlike anything I've ever seen in my entire life...Historical! It was historical without question."
The cause for Storch's problems was cocaine. "Honestly, about three years ago, he got really shady," Jackson continued. "And that's the best term I could use. He went from what his normal vices were to suddenly becoming a person who was infatuated with the drug, and I saw it constantly."
The Rap Sheet
Rapper Willie D of the Geto Boys attends the 3rd Annual Ozone Awards on August 11, 2008 in Houston, Texas.
Ben Rose,Getty Images
Music producer Scott Storch poses in one of the control rooms at the Hit Factory Studio, Monday, Feb. 6, 2006 in Miami.
Wilfredo Lee,AP
Coolio was charged with felony drug possession and one count of misdemeanor possession of a smoking device after being searched and taken into custody at the LAX airport.
Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images
Rapper DMX was released from Arizona's Maricopa County Jail on May 13 after spending over 90 days in the facility for animal cruelty, drug and fraud related charges.
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
According to reports, Max B recruited his ex-girlfriend to rob two men in a Fort Lee, NJ, Holiday Inn in 2006.
Walik Goshorn,Retna
Busta Rhymes was placed on three years' probation and will perform community service following his assault on a fan and a former driver last year.
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
Sean "Diddy" Combs stands accused of assaulting fashion mogul Gerard Rechnitzer after last year's Oscars. Four witnesses have come forward to back up the claim.
Stan Honda, AFP / Getty Images
The 'Hot Spot' diva is serving a year in jail for violating her probation. She had served 40 days in solitary for assaulting another inmate at Rikers Island prison. Now a judge wants proof of her hearing impairment to allow her to leave jail for a cochlear implant repair.
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
Rapper Tony Yayo was initially accused of slapping a 14-year-old boy, but now it turns out the rapper may have been on the one who stopped another man from hitting the teen.
Scott Gries, Getty Images
Yung Joc may be in even bigger trouble after skipping a hearing for his arrest in which he was accused of attempting to take a loaded gun onto a plane.
Chris Graythen, Jive Records / Getty Images
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The former ASCAP "Songwriter of the Year," Storch got his start playing piano for The Roots in 1991, before meeting Dr. Dre and producing 'Still D.R.E.' from 'Chronic 2001.' "We made a lot of money -- I mean a lot of money that year [2006]. And Scott -- in all honesty -- he was broke by January. It was the quickest [loss] of money that I've ever seen in my entire life."
Storch blew the money in an impossibly short period of time, spending in a way that seemed as if he was trying to go broke. "[I had] 15 to 20 cars at all times," Storch told MTV. " That's not smart. I would take one of 15 half-million-dollar cars I owned and go to the mall and spend that much money. Stupid, stupid stuff. It's like it didn't make a difference. They were ego investments. I would have been great with three or four cars! I didn't need a 117-foot boat."
Not only did he own a fleet of Bentleys and Rolls', Storch made a habit of chartering jets and flying to exotic locales, while romantically linked to everyone from Lil' Kim to Paris Hilton.
"Private jets are expensive -- please leave them alone if you can't afford them," Jackson cautioned. "Trips to the Riviera on a private jet is $250,000 one way. I'm talking about, it was a routine [with Scott]. Spending on others -- if you can't take care of yourself, how you gonna take care of everybody else? And it got out of control."
In an effort to jump back on the scene, Storch, who was arrested for failure to return a rented Bentley he'd leased back in his heyday, has kicked his drug habit and is back in the studio working with Chris Brown and The Game. Storch has also, reportedly, been shooting a reality show about his return.
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