E-40's Open Letter To The Source
On Tuesday, August 22, 2000 at The Source Awards, while I was visiting a
member of the Cash Money Millionaires, I was verbally assaulted and
physically attacked by a person known as Andre Dow, a.k.a. Mack Minister.
Andre Dow has, over the last four years, followed and stalked me.
Website: TheSource.com
He has shown up uninvited to numerous events, at which I am scheduled to
appear, and events that I have arranged and sponsored. Four years ago when
no one would give Andre Dow a break in the business I gave him an
opportunity to appear on my album, Hall Of Game. Andre Dow was paid for his
services under his contract.
Since his appearance on my album, he has used his association with that to
make people believe that he is a part of my crew. Because of his failures
outside of the opportunities I have given him, Andre Dow has taken a
personal belief that I owe him for my success. Andre Dow has the same
birthday as mine. He has gone as far as showing up at my birthday party
representing that it is his party and thanking everyone for coming. He has
appeared, uninvited, at events representing that he is appearing on behalf
of me and my company. He is not an employee of mine, and outside of working,
under contract, on Hall Of Game, he has no association with me or Sic Wid It
Records.
On August 22, 2000, at the Source Awards, all persons receiving awards,
performing, and people who were VIPs, were assigned seating in the front row
area of the stage. Andre Dow did not have an assigned seat but was in the
front row area changing seats, as seats became open, as groups and
individuals would go backstage to perform and leave their seats empty.
At the break, just prior to the confrontation, Andre Dow approached me and
began to rant and rave in an incoherent voice. He began to spit and cuss at
me stating I owed him. Myself and others asked him to calm down. I tried to
take a non-aggressive role. At the same point, he began to approach me
spitting, cussing, and threatening to do me. He began to reach out at me,
grabbing my necklace and pendant, and I went to push him back away from me.
The next thing I know, I am being grabbed at and taken out of the Arena by
my body guard. When I got outside, I noticed that my $30,000
necklace/pendant and $40,000 bracelet had been taken.
I never saw Andre Dow again that night or since. No criminal charges were
brought against me by the Pasadena District Attorney's Office and I fully
cooperated with the Pasadena Police investigation.