Looks like Drake isn’t the only one with their foot on UMG’s neck. Now a music producer is asking to be paid what he’s owed.
Deezle (real name Darius Harrison), a producer who worked with Lil Wayne, is suing Universal Music Group (UMG). He claims they haven’t paid him millions in royalties. He is owed this money for his work on albums like Tha Carter III (2008) and others.
Deezle and his company, Drum Major Music, recently filed the lawsuit in a New York court. This time, they are targeting only Universal Music. This isn’t his first legal fight. Back in 2008, Deezle sued Lil Wayne over similar issues. The case was settled in 2012. Despite that agreement, Deezle says the royalty problems never fully went away.
According to the lawsuit, Deezle signed a deal with Lil Wayne’s label, Young Money Entertainment, in 2007. Under that deal, he helped create six songs for Tha Carter III, including the hit “Lollipop.” The agreement promised him regular royalty payments and detailed financial reports. Universal Music handles distribution for Young Money and Cash Money Records. It was supposed to send these payments. However, Deezle claims he hasn’t received royalties in over a decade.
The lawsuit argues that after the 2012 settlement, Universal briefly sent payment statements but stopped almost immediately. Deezle also says he’s owed money for work on rapper Birdman’s 2005 album. This is for Fast Money. He is also owed money for a song on The Longest Yard soundtrack.
Deezle is now asking for at least $6 million in damages. He joins other artists, like Iggy Azalea and Limp Bizkit, who’ve accused Universal of failing to pay royalties properly. Universal Music has not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit.
