Dupri and his So So Def Recordings label made the case’s conclusion official in a recent voluntary dismissal notice. According to the filing, the plaintiffs dropped the suit without prejudice (meaning it can be refiled down the line) after they and Sony Music “resolved the matter prior to joinder.”
While we don’t know precisely what the resolution entails, we do know that Dupri, citing the results of a 2025 audit performed by Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman, claimed to be owed $2.2 million in “producer/override royalties” from Kris Kross’ first two albums alone.
That the hip-hop duo dropped those albums more than three decades ago is telling; Dupri certainly isn’t the only professional who’s sought relief in connection with years-old contracts (and the plural is important here) as of late.
Another common theme across unpaid royalties claims: Alleged unrecouped balance shenanigans. In Dupri’s words, Sony Music “failed to remit royalty payments to So-So Def by incorrectly cross-collateralizing unrecouped account balances against royalties otherwise payable to So-So Def,” among them his solo albums and compilations.
Additionally, it closely follows the joint dismissal with prejudice of one of LA-based Los Lobos’ two actions against Sony Music, centering on (you guessed it) allegedly missing payments stemming from the use of recordings in the films La Bamba and Desperado.
These resolutions aside, Universal Music is still staring down a different due royalties action yet, filed this time by George Clinton; the defendant now has until September 15th to respond to the months-old complaint owing to an ongoing legal battle concerning the underlying IP’s ownership.
Meanwhile, Pharrell Williams has until September 18th to reply to an amended suit from The Neptunes co-founder Chad Hugo, who claims to be owed royalties on releases from the likes of Tyler the Creator, Latto, and Rosalía.
