Another day, another civil suit against UMG … One of the key architects behind Lil Wayne’s chart-topping success is demanding his dues—and he’s taking Universal Music Group to court to get them.
Darius “Deezle” Harrison, the Grammy-winning producer behind several standout tracks on Tha Carter III, including the No. 1 smash “Lollipop,” has filed a lawsuit against UMG, accusing the music giant of stiffing him out of millions in royalties dating back over a decade.
Ge this, according to the complaint, Harrison is seeking $3 million in unpaid royalties for his work on six tracks off Tha Carter III, the 2008 blockbuster album that catapulted Wayne into rap superstardom. Harrison says his deal with Cash Money Records entitled him to a 4% royalty share for his production contributions, which UMG—Cash Money’s distributor—allegedly stopped paying almost immediately after a previous lawsuit was settled.
What’s more, the producer isn’t just talking about Tha Carter III. Harrison also claims he’s owed a separate 3% royalty rate for his work on Birdman’s Fast Money album from 2005, under a second agreement with Cash Money.
Check this out. This isn’t the first time Harrison has gone the legal route over royalty payments. Back in 2011, he filed suit against Lil Wayne, Cash Money, and Young Money over unpaid earnings. That case was quietly settled, and Harrison began receiving checks from UMG around 2012—only to see the payments halt shortly after they started, according to the lawsuit.
UMG and Lil Wayne have yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit.
That part.