Sexyy Red is asking a court to remove her from the late producer Tay Keith’s unpaid royalties lawsuit, arguing that artists do not control producer payments and should not be held responsible for record label business decisions.
According to a letter obtained by TMZ, the St. Louis rapper submitted the request on June 6, only days before Tay Keith’s death. The Grammy-winning producer had sued Sexyy Red’s record label over alleged unpaid royalties and included the rapper as a defendant.
In the emotional letter, Sexyy Red said she was shocked to learn she had been named in the case.
“I recently learned that I was named as a defendant,” she wrote. “I am appalled and furthermore hurt by the allegations made.”
The rapper insisted she has no authority over royalty payments, telling the court, “I am an artist who is not allowed to pay producers. All of this is handled by the record label.”
Sexyy Red also highlighted her close relationship with Tay Keith, describing him as both a trusted collaborator and a friend.
“Tay Keith and I are great working partners and even greater friends,” she wrote. “If the label owes him money, I’m sure they have started the process to get him paid.”
Rapper Sexyy Red Asks The Judge To Drop Tay Keith Case In Emotional Letter
She added that delayed payments affect artists as well, writing, “There are several songs that Tay Keith and I have worked on together that I haven’t received payment for yet. It’s just a process the label uses in making payments after all the monies are recouped.”
The lawsuit alleges Tay Keith produced 13 songs for Sexyy Red in 2024 without receiving compensation.
Both sides, however, agree the dispute centers on the record labels rather than the artist herself. Label attorney Dameka Davis said, “Royalty negotiations are handled by labels — not artists.”
It was also added that the company had worked with Tay Keith’s legal team to finalize a royalty agreement.
A representative for Tay Keith echoed that position. They state, “The dispute is between the parties’ respective labels, and naming Sexyy Red in the lawsuit was a legal formality. Any allegations are directed at the label, not Red personally.”
Sexyy Red has asked the court to dismiss her from the case while the royalty dispute continues between the parties.
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