Kanye West Faces Accusations of Unpaid Producer Fees for “Vultures” Albums

Kanye West may be facing another legal storm, as allegations emerge that the rap and fashion mogul hasn’t paid several producers who worked on his collaborative projects Vultures 1 and 2 with Ty Dolla $ign.

According to a new Billboard report, at least ten producers claim they haven’t seen a dime for their contributions, even though the albums dropped earlier this year—Vultures 1 in February and its follow-up in August.

Music attorney Bob Celestin shed light on the situation, stating, “We have clients who’ve produced music on the Vultures album(s) and have still not been paid for their services even though both albums have been released. Presently, we have no idea when payment will be made, which is so unfortunate and unfair.” Celestin also pointed out the irony of West’s position as a producer himself, saying, “You would think Ye would be more sensitive to this issue because he is a producer.”

The situation becomes murkier as Billboard reports that none of the producers involved signed formal agreements, leaving them without the legal leverage to collect royalties or fees. “We have no recourse besides to try to sue [West],” one attorney explained, though they added, “Legal claims against Ye don’t really seem to go anywhere.” The lack of agreements leaves these producers in a bind, with costly lawsuits as their only apparent option.

Adding fuel to the fire, producer Digital Nas, who worked on the track “Carnival” for the project, recently blasted Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign in a heated rant. “I’m showing y’all this to let y’all know how many vultures are in this music industry,” he said. He accused both artists of exploiting young talent and using their sounds without properly crediting or compensating them. “These n****s are fighting over crumbs,” he claimed, revealing that “Carnival” made $47,000 in publishing revenue, yet he was left out of the credits entirely.

As the controversy unfolds, the spotlight once again turns to Kanye West’s business practices. With the allegations piling up, many are left wondering how this could affect his reputation in the industry, especially as a fellow producer who should understand the importance of proper credit and payment.