A former assistant of Busta Rhymes is taking legal action against the renowned rapper, claiming he was assaulted and subsequently blacklisted within the music industry. This lawsuit has prompted Busta Rhymes to vehemently deny any allegations of wrongdoing and to threaten legal action against the accuser in return.

On Tuesday, a lawsuit was filed in the federal court located in Brooklyn, where Dashiel Gables alleges that Busta Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith Jr., physically assaulted him by repeatedly punching him in the face. This incident reportedly occurred in January when Gables was using his phone while on duty. Following his decision to file a police report regarding the attack, Gables claims that the rapper retaliated by working to ensure that he would be unable to secure employment in the industry.

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According to the legal documents acquired by Billboard, Gables’ attorneys assert that this retaliatory behavior has severely impacted his career prospects and significantly diminished his ability to earn a livelihood in the only profession he has ever known.

However, in a public statement released on Thursday, Busta Rhymes staunchly refuted Gables’ allegations, describing him as a former employee who was only with him for a very short duration. Rhymes emphasized that he “completely and categorically” denies any wrongdoing in this matter.

Rhymes further stated, “It appears that Dashiel has chosen to retaliate against being let go by fabricating claims against me in an effort to tarnish my reputation.” He expressed his eagerness to disprove the allegations and indicated that he is preparing to file a countersuit, confident that it will reveal the situation for what it truly is—a desperate attempt to extort money by a disgruntled former assistant. “In the end, I am convinced that the truth will come to light,” he concluded.

Busta Rhymes was taken into custody in January following the alleged January 10 incident, which occurred in the lobby of his luxury high-rise residence in Brooklyn. Reports indicate that the rapper struck the 50-year-old staff member multiple times, resulting in injuries that necessitated hospitalization. However, court records do not provide evidence that prosecutors moved forward with charges related to this alleged assault.

In the lawsuit, Gables elaborates on the details of the incident, asserting that the altercation was initiated when he received a phone call from his daughter while he was unloading luggage for Busta Rhymes. Although Gables claims he did not answer the call, he did send a text message, which reportedly provoked Rhymes into a fit of rage, during which he allegedly shouted, “Stay the f–k off your phone.”

When Gables attempted to explain that the call was from his daughter, Busta Rhymes allegedly responded with hostility, saying, “Don’t tell me about your f–king kid, what the f–k that gotta do with me?” According to Gables’ attorneys, when Gables mentioned that it could have been an emergency, Rhymes asked, “Are you talking while I’m talking?” and then proceeded to punch him in the face with a closed fist.

Gables alleges that after the initial punch, Rhymes struck him again, prompting Gables to walk away from the confrontation, which only seemed to infuriate the rapper further, leading him to scream more obscenities.

Gables’ lawyers noted that while he endured considerable abuse during his time working for Busta Rhymes, the physical assaults were intolerable and ultimately prevented him from returning to his position. They confirmed that Gables subsequently filed a police report documenting the incident.

The fallout from this incident has reportedly left Gables “frozen out of the hip-hop music industry,” despite having spent decades working within it. “News of the assault and Gables’ complaint against Busta Rhymes has circulated throughout the tightly-knit hip-hop community, effectively resulting in Gables being blacklisted from potential job opportunities in his field,” his attorneys stated.

The lawsuit outlines several claims against Rhymes, including various violations of federal and state employment laws, civil assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.