Rapper Nelly is facing a $10 million lawsuit accusing him of claiming songwriting credit for songs he allegedly didn’t write on his hit albums Country grammar And Nellyville.
This is evident from court documents obtained by The American sunthe Hot in Herre The artist was arraigned in federal court in May after an initial lawsuit was filed against him in Missouri state court earlier this year.
The production company D2, founded by twin brothers Darren and David Stith, filed an amended complaint against the rapper in August.
“D2 is a production company founded at a local ice rink by twin brothers Darren Stith and David Stith,” the complaint states.
“D2 was known for developing producers and talents and giving them the opportunity to further their art and careers.”
The brothers claim they played a key role in helping launch Nelly and his group, the St. Lunatics, which included Ali Jones, Torri Harper, Robert Kyjuan Cleveland and Lavell Webb (aka City Spud).
“They were directly responsible for finding, nurturing and bringing to the public the music of Nelly and the group known as the ‘St. Lunatics,'” the complaint said.
According to D2, the company had contracts with both Nelly and the group, but released Nelly from his contract in June 2000 after receiving a $75,000 payment.
The lawsuit alleges that Nelly later entered into a secret deal, claiming sole writing credit on songs actually written with the St. Lunatics.
This arrangement, the company claims, allowed Nelly and the group to avoid paying D2 the royalties owed.
“The Songs, which were included on the albums Country Grammar and Nellyville, have sold more than twenty million copies,” the complaint states.
“D2 was never paid its share of the revenue legally owed to D2 under crazy deals with Harper, Cleveland and Jones (and subsequently the publishing deal), but instead went to Nelly under the secret arrangement.”
The lawsuit accuses Nelly and the St. Lunatics of breach of contract, fraud, conspiracy and breach of good faith and fair dealing. D2 is seeking damages in excess of $10 million.
Additionally, Nelly is being sued individually for tortious interference, an allegation that he intentionally disrupted D2’s business relationships with other members of the St. Lunatics.
The lawsuit claims that the Air Forces rapper “intentionally caused and caused an interruption of D2’s contractual relationship with, and its business expectations with, Harper, Cleveland and Jones by proposing, negotiating, entering into and executing the undisclosed arrangement.”
The filing further alleged: “Nelly knew or should have known that his actions would disrupt the Lunatic Agreements and cause D2 to lose income entitled to the Songs under the Lunatic Agreements, and later, through the Publishing Agreement.”
In September, Nelly, along with group members Cleveland and Harper, took action to have the lawsuit dismissed. The case is still ongoing.
