Jermaine Dupri has filed an $18 million lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment, alleging the company failed to accurately pay royalties on recordings by Mariah Carey, Usher, Xscape, Kris Kross, and other artists.
The complaint, brought by Dupri’s So-So Def Entertainment, traces the dispute to a 1992 partnership with Sony that released projects from Da Brat, Xscape, Whodini, and Neena. Attorneys for Dupri allege:
“a pattern of underreporting royalties and retroactively updating statements of previously earned royalties.”
The suit identifies multiple So-So Def production share and royalty accounts that were allegedly misreported. Among the highlighted shortfalls:
- $960,000 in unpaid producer royalties for Xscape’s “Hummin’ Comin’ at ’Cha”
- More than $1 million for Da Brat’s “Funkdafied”
- Understated royalties payable to So-So Def for albums by Carey, Bow Wow, Usher, J-Kwon, Dupri, and Bone Crusher
The lawsuit further claims Dupri is owed more than $10 million in interest on the unpaid royalties. Sony Music Entertainment declined to comment on the litigation.
Dupri is seeking no less than $18 million, plus interest and attorney costs, with the amount to be determined at a jury trial.
