WU-TANG CLAN star U-GOD has filed a lawsuit against his group’s record own label, claiming he is owed $170,000 (£85,000) for his work in the band.

The rapper - real name Lamont Hawkins - filed the legal papers in the U.S.

District Court of New York last Tuesday (08Jan08), accusing Wu Music Group - a subsidiary of Universal Music - for failing to pay him royalties and money owed from the band’s U.S. tour last year (07). He also claims he has yet to receive the advance payment promised in his contract for Wu-Tang’s latest album, 8 Diagrams.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ.com, Hawkins is suing for $50,000 (£25,000) owed to him for the Rock The Bells 2007 tour, $60,000 (£30,000) for his publishing advance, and $40,000 (£20,000) in advance payments for 8 Diagrams, which was released in the U.S. last month (Dec07).

It states: "(The) defendant (Wu Music) has failed and/or refused to pay certain monies currently due and owing to plaintiff (Hawkins), despite plaintiff’s repeated demands that it do so." The papers also claim that Wu Music Group intentionally breached its contract with Hawkins willfully and intentionally, "without justification".

Hawkins is also seeking legal fees and nine per cent interest on the total owed to him, starting from the date the lawsuit was filed.