Lil Wayne Wants Universal To Pay Him $40M For ‘Discovering And Nurturing’ Drake, Nicki Minaj And Tyga

Lil Wayne is suing Universal Music Group for $40 million, claiming the giant music company withheld profits it made from records stemming from the success of his artists, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga, according to a federal lawsuit filed by the rapper-producer’s attorneys Monday in California.

This is the second lawsuit of similar ilk that Lil Wayne has slammed against Universal, with an earlier lawsuit amounting to $51 million against Cash Money Records — of which Universal is the parent company — already open in the courts.

Claiming that he has not been paid fairly for profits from discovering, nurturing, and signing artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga to his label, Young Money, which is a subsidiary of Cash Money and Universal, Lil Wayne alleges that Universal has instead used that money to repay itself for a previous $100 million advance to Cash Money, according to the complaint accessed by The Hollywood Reporter.

“With Universal’s knowledge of Lil Wayne’s rights to partial ownership and profits from those artists, Universal and Cash Money entered into a series of agreements which, among other things, diverted Lil Wayne’s substantial profits to repay debts of Cash Money. As a result, 100 percent of the profits that should have been paid to Lil Wayne as a result of his ownership of Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga records have been seized by Universal to repay debts that were neither incurred by nor were the obligations of Lil Wayne.”

The complaint further states that the Wayne-founded Young Money Label is a joint venture with Universal’s Cash Money Records and is designed to manufacture, distribute, promote, and exploit performances of new recording artists discovered by Lil Wayne and signed to the label. In this context, the complaint contends that Universal could not have withheld the profits it made from the selling of records of Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Tyga — all artists discovered, nurtured, and signed by the rapper-producer.

Wayne’s 49 percent ownership of Young Money Records entitles him to 49 percent of Drake, Nicki, and Tyga’s profits, which Universal Music Group withheld from him, according to the complaint.

The filing of the lawsuit could have immediate repercussions for Universal, notes Uproxx. With Drake teasing an April release of his new album Views From The 6 – an album that is supposed to be released through Young Money, Cash Money, and Universal – the latest lawsuit could get in the way of its release. In its report, THR maintains that Views could indeed be “in the crosshairs” as a result of the lawsuit.

Wayne’s attorney, Howard E. King, claims that, instead of being grateful to Lil Wayne for discovering such artists, the company has manhandled the funds, with his client having to bear the brunt of the transactions.

“Universal should be grateful and respectful to Lil Wayne for the millions of dollars in distribution fees and profits they have earned on the artists he brought to the company, instead of seizing all of his profits on those artists in a desperate attempt to recoup the tens of millions of dollars they are owed by Cash Money Records.”

Lil Wayne is suing Universal Music Group over profits from Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga. https://t.co/F3nTK31TMA

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) March 29, 2016

Universal Music Group has refused to discuss the technicalities of the lawsuit, except claiming that the company is prepared to meet Lil Wayne in court. Speaking to THR, a spokesman for the company said that Universal came to know about the lawsuit through news media and not through Lil Wayne or his attorneys.

“It should be no surprise that we learned of the lawyer’s complaint through the news media. We don’t intend to dignify this with further public comment except to say that we will vigorously contest it and that the merits of our case will carry the day.”

With an out-of-court settlement appearing implausible at this stage, Lil Wayne can expect tough judicial battles against Universal and its subsidiary companies in the near future.

[Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images]