Rapper accused of eating roommate to boost image

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | April 14 2003

[dead]

An aspiring rap star who has been charged with murdering his roommate and eating part of her lung did so as part of his record label's plan to cultivate a "gangsta" image for him, the victim's mother charged in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles.

Antron Singleton, a rapper who goes by the stage name Big Lurch, faces murder and torture charges after police found him staggering naked and covered in blood on a south-east Los Angeles street on April 10, 2002.

In a nearby apartment, police said they found the mutilated body of Tynisha Ysais, 21, with teeth marks on her face and on pieces of her lung, which had been torn from her chest.

A subsequent medical examination showed Singleton had human blood and flesh in his stomach, police said when they charged the rapper.

Singleton, who would be eligible for the death penalty if convicted, is still awaiting trial.

In a wrongful death lawsuit filed just before the close of business on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Ysais's mother, Carolyn Stinson, claimed that Singleton's record label had provided him with drugs "to encourage (him) to act out in an extreme violent manner so as to make him more marketable as a 'Gangsta Rap' artist."

The lawsuit named Singleton, Death Row Records, headed by rap mogul Suge Knight, Stress Free records and two employees as defendants.

A representative of Death Row Records, now known as Tha Row, could not be immediately reached for comment today.

David Chesnoff, Knight's lawyer, said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.

Singleton, originally from Texas, had been in Los Angeles for a few months recording a rap album prior to the death of Ysais.

"Part of what makes a Gangsta Rap artist marketable is the fact that the artist is a current ongoing participant in violent gang activities," the lawsuit said.

"Singleton met this criterion and was even more marketable because his songs were as violent as his lifestyle and included rape, murder and ended with him eating his victim's body organs."

The lawsuit alleges Singleton used a "sharp (object) to remove body organs" from Ysais and eat them.

"These acts were performed within the course and scope of his employment with the other defendants," it added.

Stinson's lawyer, Winston McKesson, of Beverly Hills, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Reuters

[sharktrager]

Suge Knight is viscious, but he's not stupid. A plan like this would have meant his artist was only good for one album. This sounds like a problem this rapper had, but I seriously doubt the label was involved.

[dfwgator]

A plan like this would have meant his artist was only good for one album.

Yeah, but at least the contract wouldn't be renegotiated.

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[ecomcon]

problem...problem...problem...problem

[sharktrager]

Suge's renegotiations tend to go pretty well. The hardest part is getting a hotel room with a balcony on a high enough floor to dangle the artist from.

[wideawake]

I automatically assumed this was an Onion headline.

[dead]

The victim's mother is just looking for some deep pockets. I assume the lung-eater doesn't have alot in the bank.

[Ditter]

Eating your roommate is NOT a well thought out business plan.

[Gritty]

Now, tell me again how uplifting this Gansta Rap is for our culture?

[dfwgator]

I bet his album opens at Number 1.

[tru_degenerate]

I doubt it.

This kid is headed for the chair. How interesting, he was affiliated with Tha Row(Death Row Records) and is now heading for death row. Art imitating(sp ck) life or is it life imitating art.

[HELLRAISER II]

The same thing could be said about the Gun Industry, but they're damn sure being sued by every minority/nut case in the country. I wouldn't doubt that they could and will try to sue the record label as well. What a nutcase/dumb$hit this guy is/was.

[thepitts]

mmmmm...room mate.

[Ditter]

Possibly, & then it will go up in value because it will be a collectors item. Ain't gonna be no mo.

[cyncooper]

Now, tell me again how uplifting this Gansta Rap is for our culture?

I'm not aware anybody has ever made the claim it is "uplifting". Even "fans" of such are quite plain that the point is wallowing in the gutter.

So while you and I agree on the value of "Gangtsa Rap" (it is vile), I don't believe anyone has ever called it uplifting, therefore there is no one available to tell you anything "again".

[Leisler]

....and Hollywood. The entertainment medias are cesspools.

[KarlInOhio]

mmmmm...room mate.

I ate her lung with some black-eyed peas and a nice malt liquor.

[stuartcr]

I suppose that as long as Big Lurch doesn't say anything against the war in Iraq, it'll still be ok to buy his albums.

[Aquinasfan]

C'mon, this is art!