Cordae Faces $25 Million Lawsuit Over Upcoming Anderson .Paak Collaborative Project

Rapper Cordae is facing major legal action after Florida-based record label MMMG Inc. filed a $25 million lawsuit alleging that he breached his exclusive recording agreement, according to a report by Billboard. The federal complaint centers on Cordae's upcoming collaborative album with Anderson.Paak, titled Heavy is the Crown, which MMMG claims is being released without its authorization or commercial involvement.

According to the legal complaint obtained by Billboard, MMMG signed Cordae to an exclusive recording pact in 2018. Under the provisions outlined in the lawsuit, the Florida imprint claims full ownership of Cordae’s sound recording copyrights, alongside exclusive rights governing his merchandising, live touring revenue, and commercial endorsements. MMMG previously oversaw the distribution of Cordae's first two studio projects through Atlantic Records.

Trouble escalated when Cordae announced the release of Heavy is the Crown alongside Anderson.Paak, scheduled to arrive through.Paak’s imprint APESHIT, Mass Appeal, and EMPIRE. MMMG asserts that releasing music through these outside distributors directly violates the exclusivity terms of their binding agreement. The label claims it issued a cease-and-desist letter to Cordae and his distribution partners following the initial project announcement in August, but alleges that the artist refused to halt the rollout. Cordae and.Paak subsequently released their lead single, titled A Good Day, in September.

Beyond the upcoming record, MMMG contends that Cordae has repeatedly violated contract provisions over several years by selling tour merchandise independently without remitting the required profits back to the company. In the filed complaint, the label stated that it invested significant resources into establishing Cordae's career and asserted that the rapper chose to ignore his contractual responsibilities rather than honor them.

Legal counsel representing Cordae has argued that the 2018 contract is no longer enforceable because MMMG altered its distribution channel, transitioning from Atlantic Records to Stem in 2025. Cordae’s representatives claim that Stem fails to fulfill the distribution criteria established in the initial contract. However, MMMG disputes that interpretation in court documents, calling the defense completely lacking in merit.

Billboard reported that MMMG’s lawsuit asserts claims of copyright infringement and breach of contract against Cordae, while also leveling tortious interference and copyright infringement claims against APESHIT, Mass Appeal, and EMPIRE. The filing does not name Anderson.Paak as an individual defendant, and.Paak is not accused of personal misconduct. Representatives for Cordae, APESHIT, Mass Appeal, and EMPIRE did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the litigation.