99 PROBLEMS: The Rise And Fall Of Scott Storch

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BILLBOARD: Just a few years ago, Scott Storch was one of the top producers in pop music, living in a $10.5 million mansion on an exclusive Miami island, driving a phalanx of luxury cars and dating the likes of Paris Hilton and Lil Kim. Nowadays, Storch, 34, is missing in action. He owes more than $500,000 in real estate taxes and had a warrant out for his arrest when he failed to show up in court in a child-support case last month. He has not had a top 10 hit in three years.

He still has his waterfront marble mansion, but his lawyer, Guy Spiegelman, says Storch is attempting to refinance it after a “catastrophic occurrence this year” resulting from “mismanagement.” Storch no longer works with his old manager or publicist. He hasn’t talked to either of his children in months. Replete with tragic details and bad behavior, the ballad of Scott Storch may be the swan song of the bling era, a riches-to-rags tale of excess, poor decisions and a hobbled music industry.storchmoney_1.jpg

Raised in South Florida and the Philadelphia area, Storch is a high-school dropout from a broken, middle-class family who turned serious musician chops and intense ambition into a high-flying career. While still a teen, Storch was a founding member of the Roots. He produced their breakthrough single “You Got Me,” which helped Philly’s acclaimed live hip-hop band win a Grammy, and gave the sandy-haired Jewish producer serious hip-hop credentials. Deciding he preferred studios to touring, Storch moved to Los Angeles to work with Dr. Dre. There his keyboard loops helped form the basis of such hits as “Still D.R.E.” He produced seven tracks on Christina Aguilera‘s “Stripped” album, including “Can’t Hold Us Down,” which featured Lil Kim. Storch decided to return to his Florida roots to, as he has said, build his empire. Beginning in 2003, the hits rolled in: Beyonce‘s “Naughty Girl,” Terror Squad’s “Lean Back,” 50 Cent‘s “Candy Shop” and Chris Brown‘s “Run It.” MORE

JUDICIARY REPORT: A year ago, according to an article in the Miami Herald, he purchased a $10 million dollar Star Island mansion on Miami Beach and a $12 million dollar yacht named Tiffany. Storch, owner of “Tuff Jew” productions, also purchased other high priced items, such as a $1 million dollar Bugati car, among other luxury vehicles. After working on Paris Hilton’s debut, which flopped and resulted in two legal claims, one by British band UB40 for copyright infringement and another one forthcoming, his career suffered. MORE

[Hat tip to DAVID SNYDER]

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