Jermaine Dupri is taking legal action against Sony, claiming the music giant owes him millions in unpaid royalties linked to some of the biggest names in the industry. The famed producer and his label, So So Def Recordings, have filed a lawsuit alleging that Sony has shortchanged them for years on a range of hit albums.
In documents obtained by TMZ, Dupri asserts that the issues first came to light in 2023 when Sony began issuing revised royalty statements. A subsequent audit in 2025 reportedly revealed a troubling pattern of accounting discrepancies, missing royalties, and unreported income, leading So So Def to demand around $18 million in owed payments.
The lawsuit highlights that Dupri believes Sony has failed to compensate him fully for the work associated with artists like Kris Kross, Xscape, Da Brat, and Jagged Edge, resulting in significant financial losses for his label. Additionally, he claims that the royalties from his projects with superstars Mariah Carey and Usher have also been underreported, although the exact figures are still being determined.
Dupri and his companies are seeking at least $18 million in damages, along with potential interest that could increase the total significantly. He argues that Sony has been withholding and misreporting royalties for decades, leaving So So Def in a precarious financial position.
As this legal battle unfolds, fans and industry insiders alike are left wondering: will Dupri’s courtroom efforts lead to a major victory, or will the saga continue to play out in the public eye?
