Jermaine Dupri Sues Sony Music Alleging $18 Million in Unpaid Royalties

The legal action, filed in early July 2026, alleges that Sony engaged in "deceitful actions" to avoid paying out earnings on a catalog that generated over $200 million. Dupri points to a long history of contract renegotiations, noting that his agreement with the company was revised at least seven times between 1992 and 2006. Suspicion of financial malpractice solidified in 2023, when So-So Def identified a substantial period during which payments for multiple releases were allegedly never issued.

Specific claims in the filing highlight significant shortfalls, including nearly $1 million owed for Xscape’s debut album, "Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha," and $2.2 million tied to two Kris Kross records. Beyond these, the $18 million suit encompasses missing royalties from works featuring Mariah Carey, Usher, and Bow Wow. The filing suggests these omissions were not clerical errors but a deliberate strategy to shield funds from the artist who helped define the sound of 1990s R&B and hip-hop.