Last week, rapper Ice Cube - whose real name is O'Shea Jackson - and his business partner Jeff Kwatinetz filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against a Qatari investor and a member of the country's wealthy royal family.
In a $1.2 billion lawsuit, the duo claims that Qatari investor and former diplomat Ahmed Al Rumaihi, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, the CEO of the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA), attempted to set up a meeting with President Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon by using their popular BIG3 basketball league for access and influence into U.S. politics.
The pair is suing under the claim that they were promised millions of dollars in investments for their 3-on-3 basketball league but never received it.
The Arab investors, instead, chose to use their money and connections with Ice Cube to "get positive public relations for Qatar", >according to the Daily Mail who saw the full affidavit.
According to official documents, both Cube and Kwatinetz assert that the Qatari representatives only invested $7.5 million in their league after initially agreeing to spend $20.5 million and seeking political influence.
They claim the Qatari investors agreed to pay $11.5 million upfront to sponsor the BIG3, which features retired National Basketball Association (NBA) stars, last July - plus an additional $9 million over the next three years.
However, the Qataris reportedly only paid $6.5 million in advance and a further $1 million in December 2017.
He turned down the offer and called it a "bribe" that had left him "appalled"
Furthermore, the duo alleges that investor Al Rumaihi was, in fact, acting as a front for the Qatari government and that his real target was Mr. Bannon.
"Mr. Al Rumaihi requested I set up a meeting between him, the Qatari government, and Steven Bannon, and to tell Steve Bannon that Qatar would underwrite all of his political efforts in return for his support," Kwatinetz said in the court filing.
He added that he turned down the offer and called it a "bribe" that had left him "appalled".
Al Rumaihi is also accused of bragging about giving money to other top Trump aides, including his now-fired former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
The court document reads: "Mr. Al Rumaihi laughed and then stated to me that I shouldn't be naive, that so many Washington politicians take our money, and stated 'do you think Flynn turned down our money?’''
Kwatinetz accuses Al Rumaihi of repeatedly mentioning Steve Bannon by name and "persistently inquired about wanting to meet with Mr. Bannon," who the businessmen closely acquainted with.
The Qatari investor also tried to find out the political views of the Trump administration on the boycott of his country, which Gulf and Sunni states imposed last year as a result of what those countries said was Qatar's ongoing funding of terrorism.
A statement from Qatar Investment Authority denies all allegations
"The allegations are unfounded and incorrect. Among others, neither the Qatar Investment Authority nor its CEO are investors in, nor have they had any involvement with, Big3," the statement said, >according to Al Arabiya.