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Photo by Mikamote via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Popular rapper and podcast host N.O.R.E. is facing a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman at a Manhattan nightclub in 1999.
The plaintiff, Carmen Bryan, is an author and entrepreneur best known as the former partner of rapper Nas and the mother of his daughter. She filed the lawsuit Sept. 9 under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, RollingOut.com reported.
Santiago has denied the allegations, calling them “entirely false” through his attorney.
Lawsuit Alleges Assault at Manhattan Nightclub
Bryan alleges the assault occurred in May 1999 while N.O.R.E. was promoting his second album at a Manhattan nightclub.
According to the complaint, Santiago approached Bryan while intoxicated, physically overpowered her and subjected her to nonconsensual sexual contact despite her objections.
The lawsuit states that other people in the club eventually intervened and separated them.
Bryan alleges that she left the nightclub distressed and that Santiago followed her outside before recognizing her as someone connected to rapper Nas, with whom Bryan shares a daughter.
The complaint further alleges that Santiago apologized to Bryan outside the club and again weeks later at a family event.
Learn More About NYC Gender-Motivated Violence Lawsuits
New York City law may give some survivors another opportunity to pursue civil claims involving gender-motivated violence, including older allegations that were previously time-barred.
Learn more about the current filing window, eligibility and recent lawsuits in our NYC Gender-Motivated Violence Act Lawsuit Guide.
Bryan Says She Stayed Silent for More Than 25 Years
Bryan says she did not publicly discuss the alleged assault for decades.
According to the lawsuit, she felt that the culture surrounding women in hip-hop during the late 1990s made it difficult to speak openly about sexual misconduct.
She says the 2023 lawsuit filed by singer Cassie Ventura against Sean Combs resurfaced memories of her own alleged experience and contributed to her decision to come forward.
Bryan previously worked as a finance officer for Rush Management, an affiliate of Def Jam, and moved within many of the same music-industry circles as Santiago.
Complaint Says Jay-Z Was Told About Alleged Assault
The lawsuit also says Bryan told Jay-Z about the alleged incident around the time it occurred.
According to the complaint, Bryan and Jay-Z had an on-and-off relationship that was not publicly known at the time.
She alleges that Jay-Z wanted to confront Santiago after hearing what had happened, but that she asked him not to intervene because she feared the situation could escalate.
Jay-Z is not accused of wrongdoing in the lawsuit.
N.O.R.E. Denies Allegations
Santiago has since publicly denied Bryan’s account.
His attorney described the allegations as “invented interactions” and “entirely false.”
The response also pointed to Bryan’s previous books, arguing that neither discussed Santiago or the alleged 1999 incident.
The lawsuit states that Bryan contacted Santiago in March before filing suit and attempted to resolve the matter privately. According to the complaint, Santiago denied knowing her.
Lawsuit Relies on NYC Gender-Motivated Violence Law
Commonly referred to as the GMVA, New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law provides a civil cause of action for certain acts of violence motivated by gender and has become increasingly important in older sexual abuse and assault cases.
New York City lawmakers have also expanded and revived portions of the law in recent years, including provisions affecting claims tied to conduct that occurred before 2022. Courts are continuing to address the scope of those revival provisions and how they apply in specific cases.
Bryan is seeking compensatory damages and damages related to alleged emotional distress and mental anguish.
