In a lawsuit filed Thursday (April 12) in Harris County state district court, Ronald "Ronnie" Bookman - owner of 7303 Records and Studio 7303 - claims he was beaten in an assault allegedly ordered by Rap-A-Lot Records owner J. Prince.

The lawsuit alleges breach of contract on the part of J. Prince (born James Prince), battery, unfair competition, duress, conspiracy and unjust enrichment. Bookman is also seeking a court order barring Prince and his business associates of coming within 500 feet of his home and business.

According to the suit, Prince is accused of allegedly directing six men to attack Bookman at a Houston recreation center owned by Prince on January 25 of this year. Bookman claims that the beating was an alleged attempt to put him and his 7303 Records imprint out of business. Bookman's Studio 7303's client list has included several major hip-hop artists including 50 Cent, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliot.

Bookman's claim that he was lured to a gym after he was advised that Prince wanted to "make things right" regarding a dispute between the two men. According to the suit, the disagreement arose when Prince, who had allegedly agreed in 2005 to allow UGK member Bun B to record on 7303 recording artist JV's release Rap or Die and allegedly reneged on the agreement, failing to release the Bun B feature.

Bookman alleges that when he arrived at the gym, he was led to a weight room where he met with Prince. Prince then directed several men to enter the room and assault Bookman. He alleges that he suffered severe head trauma, a broken nose and injuries to both eyes. He was reportedly treated the next day at the ParkPlazaHospital emergency room in Houston, TX and alleges that he is still receiving treatment for his injuries.

"This was a vicious act of intimidation, plain and simple," says John B. Thomas, lead counsel for Bookman and a partner in Houston 's Hicks Thomas & Lilienstern, LLP. "We believe Mr. Prince's plan was to eliminate competition in the Houston Rap and Hip-Hop music business through the use of threats, intimidation and violence. We believe that Mr. Prince feared that his influence and financial well- being would suffer if Mr. Bookman and 7303 Records were successful."