Rapper Cordae and three record labels face a federal lawsuit alleging they violated an exclusive recording agreement ahead of his collaborative album with Anderson .Paak. AllHipHop broke the news on Friday, October 16.
MMMG Inc. filed the 20-page complaint Thursday in New York federal court against Cordae, EMPIRE, APESHIT and Mass Appeal.
The company claims an April 2018 agreement grants it exclusive rights to Cordae’s recordings, including his forthcoming album, Heavy Is The Crown.
“Defendants never requested nor received a license from MMMG to release this album,” attorney Jeffrey M. Movit of Cohen & Gresser wrote.
The album, featuring Anderson .Paak, is scheduled for release Oct. 23.
MMMG also challenges the Sept. 16 release of “A Good Day” and its accompanying music video, alleging unauthorized use of recordings.
The company further accuses Cordae of withholding revenue from merchandise, touring and other commercial activities.
According to the complaint, “he refuses to pay MMMG its contractual share of the revenues.”
Rapper Cordae Sued Over 2018 Record Contract That Asks To Halt Anderson .Paak Joint Album
The dispute stems partly from Atlantic Records’ alleged termination of its distribution agreement on Sept. 2, 2025.
MMMG claims it subsequently secured a replacement agreement with Stem and notified Cordae’s attorneys two days later.
The company argues that arrangement satisfied a contractual provision allowing six months to secure another distributor.
Cordae’s attorneys allegedly disputed whether the Stem agreement fulfilled those requirements.
MMMG maintains that its exclusive recording agreement remains enforceable.
The lawsuit seeks at least $15 million from Cordae for breach of contract and $5 million from the labels for allegedly inducing that breach.
MMMG additionally demands at least $5 million over “A Good Day,” or statutory copyright damages.
The company requests a jury trial and an injunction blocking further distribution of recordings it claims to control.
Cordae and Anderson .Paak previously collaborated on “RNP,” from Cordae’s 2019 debut album, The Lost Boy.
Cordae established Hi Level in 2021 while signed to Atlantic Records.
No defense response appeared in the five public docket entries reviewed.
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