The man accused of punching Dr Dre at the Vibe Awards last year, Jimmy James Johnson, has told police that the former partner of Dre, Marion “Suge” Knight paid him $5,000 to do it.

Johnson attacked Dre as he collected his Lifetime Achievement Award and has now told police that Knight paid him to carry out the attack in an attempt to embarrass Dre, reports AllHipHop.

Part of the deal was that Knight agreed to forget Johnson’s brother’s debt. Johnson is now facing a life sentence.

Knight’s lawyer has denied these allegations stating "there is absolutely no truth to it. I am so confident that there is no issue.”

In related Vibe Awards news, Young Buck has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault relating to a stabbing incident at last year’s Vibe music awards.Buck, who is also part of 50 Cent’s rap crew G-Unit, is currently free on $500,000 bail. He faces up to eight years in prison if convicted

Young Buck is using his freedom to work on a new solo album, the follow up to last year’s "Straight Outta Ca$hville". The rapper is due back in court Feb. 18 for a preliminary hearing, which will determine if there is sufficient evidence for a trial