Hustling Backwards: 10 Artists That Caught IRS Struggle, Just In 2012
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When you get paid, Uncle Sam gets paid, too. This is a concept way too many rappers, and musicians in general, who can usually afford accountants, have failed to understand. In 2012 it seemed like every other week another artist was getting called out, usually by TMZ, for owing taxes.
No matter the region, or if the artist was popping (Nas had a good year) or in falling off mode (no shots, Bubba Sparxxx), the IRS called for their fair share, usually via lien. The collections departments of credit card companies ain’t got nothing on the IRS.
Here are 10 artists who were stuck in the midst tax struggle in 2012, with some managing it better than others.
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Photo: New Jersey PD
Swizz Beatz
In November it was widely reported that Swizzy owed over $98,000 to NY State and $1.6 million to the federal government. Swizzy denied these claims. We do think buying Alicia Keys album is a legit tax write-off, though.
Lauryn Hill
After a bizarre explanation as to why she didn’t pay Uncle Sam his guap, in June, Lauryn Hill plead guilty to tax evasion for not paying taxes on 1.6 million in earnings. At the moment she is waiting to be sentenced. Pray for her kids.
Lil’ Kim
Way back in February, word came down that the Queen Bee owed the IRS a milli in taxes. Turns out she allegedly hadn’t paid taxes since 2002. It happened.
Nas
Nasty Nas reportedly owes the IRS $6 million in back taxes. Rather than wait on him to write a check, they moved to garnish his royalty checks.
George Clinton
The funk legend, and Hip-Hop sample source du jour, had a $115K tax lien filed against him this year for the years 2007 & 2008.
Young Buck
In July the IRS auctioned off Young Buck’s possessions (chains, studio equipment, plaques and more) for a grand total of $53,000. The struggle is real.
R. Kelly
Kells owes the gub’ment a cool $4.85 million. Seems like the R&B crooner hasn’t bothered to pay taxes from 2005 to 2010. Maybe the reminders got lost in his closet?
Bubba Sparxxx
Remember Bubba? Well the federal governments hasn’t forgotten that he owes them $300K.
Beanie Sigel
The Broad Street bully is currently cooling his heels in the bing. Nope, he didn’t shoot anybody. He’s serving two years for tax evasion.
Montell Jordan
Remember Montell Jordan? One thing the R&B crooner hasn’t been doing is paying his damn taxes. Well, he insists the $600K+ the debt has been paid, sort of.
We’ll give a NFL player some shine…
Plaxico Burress
Plax just got picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s great, because he recently had a tax lien filed against him for $59,000 courtesy of New York state.
