A prolific figure in the music industry has a bone to pick with ‘Lonely’ rapper Akon.
Who’s suing Akon?
Devyne Stephens is an icon in the Atlanta music scene. He got his start being the first artist ever signed to Laface records in the early ’90s. Since then he’s pivoted and excelled in artist development. Household names like Toni Braxton, Usher, and Mary j Blige have blossomed under Stephens’ wing. He signed a young Akon to his label Upfront Entertainment in 2005, and the duo has made several hits in the years after. Unfortunately, it seems their relationship has taken a sour turn.
According to a report from Page Six, Stephens claims he’s owed a $750,000 installment from an old payment plan. In addition to that, it’s alleged Akon owes the music exec nearly $4 million in royalties. According to the Manhattan Supreme Court papers, Akon made an agreement with Stephens in 2018 to pay him $3.25 million over four years. Stephens claims The last remaining installment has yet to be received. This most recent suit filed earlier this week (Jan. 19) is the third time Stephens has gotten the law involved with his artist.
The lawsuit expounds on how Stephens was robbed of royalties for four albums. Apparently, Akon was supposed to drop four projects under Atlantic Records and intentionally “sabotaged” his relationship with the label. This prevented Stephens from receiving royalties he was entitled to, stated in the clause of the settlement from a previous lawsuit. The clause specifically states the albums must be released under a “major” label.
A man on a mission for his money
While Akon has since signed to BMG Records, Stephens is adamant about still being owed nearly $4 million. Evidently, BMG is “by any objective metric, is a ‘major’ record label” and should qualify for the terms of the settlement.
“Although Akon argues he is not currently signed to a ‘major’ record label, he is wrong,” the papers read.
“Akon has spent the better part of a decade frustrating Stephens’ attempts to obtain large amounts of money which Akon unambiguously promised in contracts to pay Stephens.”
Neither Akon nor Devyne Stephens have made a statement since the filing of the lawsuit.
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Dreema Carrington|IG @dr3amgirl79|Twitter @notdreema
