Rap star Jay-Z pulled out of buying a $6.5 million penthouse in Manhattan's Tribeca section, and the owner has sued two neighbors for sabotaging the deal.
Advertising executive Peter Arnell charged in a lawsuit that tenants Lynn Fisher-Hill and Lewis Taffer hung notices in the halls and elevators of the Hudson Street condominium that referred to Jay-Z's 'criminal record and his lifestyle of knives, guns and violence.'

Taffer and Fisher-Hill also posted newspaper articles, including one of Jay-Z pleading guilty last year to stabbing a man in December 1999 in a dispute over bootlegged music, according to the lawsuit. The rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was placed on three years probation as part of the plea deal.

Jay-Z pulled out of the penthouse deal before any money was exchanged and a contract was signed. He gave no reason for not going through with the purchase. There was no comment Tuesday from Taffer, Fisher-Hill and Jay-Z on the lawsuit, which was filed May 9 in state Supreme Court in Manhattan.

Peter Arnell's Arnell Group has done ad campaigns for DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger. He and his wife, Sara, put the penthouse up for sale last year after buying music mogul Tommy Mottola's Westchester mansion.