Questlove, Black Thought Sued by Former Roots Bassist

Former Roots bassist Leonard “Hub” Hubbard is suing drummer Questlove, rapper Black Thought and the group’s current manager over failure to pay him per a contract that allegedly made him co-owner of the band, TMZ reports.

Hubbard joined the budding hip-hop outfit in 1992 when they were still known as the Square Roots. He left the group in 2007 after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

In the suit, Hubbard claims his deal with the band called for him to continue being paid as a co-owner, but the bassist alleges that he’s received less compensation than other band members. Hubbard also claims a former unnamed manager for the Roots sent him a letter in 2014 threatening to cut off his health insurance and his portion of the band’s revenue.

A representative for the Roots was not immediately available for comment.

Hubbard recorded seven albums with the Roots through 2006’s Game Theory. A year after his departure, the bassist reunited with the band at the 2008 Roots Picnic for a performance of “Mellow My Man,” and made another appearance in 2010.

The Roots have released four studio albums without Hubbard, along with collaborative records with John Legend, Elvis Costello and Betty Wright. The group also became the house band for Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night in 2009, and have since followed him to The Tonight Show.