Rapper Patwa Says Rihanna Stole Her Doobie Wrap Hairstyle

Did Rihanna really steal the signature look of an up and coming artist? That’s true according to the rapper and reaggae artist’s former manager.

While the pop star received an Icon Award at Sunday’s American Music Awards rocking doobie wrap, it seems, she was also drumming up a bit of controversy.

EnStarz reports:

In the statement, the unnamed manager wrote, “I am writing to express my extreme frustration and anger over the blatant theft of an image that my former artist and I cultivated…The image that we were trying to run with [was] what Patwa knew from the streets, which was the doobie wrap. She wore it proudly with pinned jeweled pins to signify she was a Queen and this was her ghetto crown.”

The manager went on to say that in 2010 he and his client posted a number of videos with Patwa’s hair wrapped in the doobie. Patwa was also offered a development deal with Roc Nation, which is also Rihanna’s current label, if she agreed to “soften” her image and overall sound. However, she and the manager refused and walked away.

“I’ve never told [Patwa] but I always wondered what if we had softened up and changed that hair. Fast forward to 11/24/13 and who do I see grace my flat screen while sitting in my modest one bedroom apartment wearing a doobie wrap with jeweled pins at the AMAs,” the manager worte. “Roc Nation’s own Ri Ri. I honestly felt violated.”

The letter also revealed that Rihanna and Patwa met in 2011. The Barbados singer allegedly complimented Patwa’s doobie hair and asked who styled it.

“I just find it very insulting that something we brought to those people was too ‘ghetto.’ But now RIhanna can accept awards while proudly displaying it,” the letter read. “I am really hurt by this and wanted to scream.”

What say ye? Although the look is commonly worn by ethnic women to maintain their relaxed or straightened hair, do you think Patwa should stake her claim to the look? Or perhaps, an attempt to generate some buzz is more of what the unknown artist is looking for?

Also check out the below video from the rapstress below.