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Kanye West ‘Refused to Compensate’ Producer for Work on ‘Vultures 2′ and ‘Bully,’ Lawsuit Claims
A freelance producer has sued Kanye West, now known as Ye, alleging he was hired urgently to help finish the album "Vultures 2" but was never paid for his work, and later contributed uncredited to tracks on "Bully" as well. Filed as a John Doe in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the lawsuit accuses Ye and his Yeezy label of failing to provide written contracts, refusing payment despite nearly two years of demands, and not crediting him on streaming platforms, adding to a growing list of legal disputes involving the rapper.
The producer says he was brought on just two days before "Vultures 2" was released in August 2024, working under intense time pressure to create 13 custom AI voice models and over 400 vocal generations, with contributions appearing on five tracks. He later worked on "Bully" from October 2024, and claims his uncredited work appears on seven commercially released tracks in total. He is seeking at least $110,000 in compensatory damages, plus double damages under Los Angeles's Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance, after the defendants allegedly offered only a "master buyout" rather than proper payment. Ye has faced numerous copyright and mistreatment lawsuits in recent years, including a May 2026 loss in a copyright trial over his song "Hurricane."
In short
- Producer sues Ye over unpaid AI vocal work on "Vultures 2" and "Bully"
- Seeking $110,000+ in damages plus penalties under LA freelance worker law
- Latest in a string of lawsuits accusing Ye of mistreating musicians
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The producer completed substantial, documented creative work—over 400 vocal generations and AI voice models—that demonstrably appeared on commercially released recordings. He pursued payment for nearly two years without success, and California law explicitly protects freelance creatives in these circumstances. Work that appears on commercially released music should be fairly compensated; refusal to pay exploits the power imbalance between individual creators and major labels.
The case against
Without written contracts, collaborative music production creates unavoidable ambiguity about what arrangement was made, particularly under urgent circumstances where formal agreements couldn't be drawn up. Questions about whether this was a freelance job, a revenue-sharing collaboration, or a work-for-hire situation remain contested, and different understandings lead to different conclusions about appropriate payment. The label's master buyout offer represents their interpretation; in an industry where compensation structures vary dramatically, this remains a commercial dispute with legitimate arguments on both sides.
Explained simply
Kanye West, who performs as Ye, is a rapper and producer who releases music through his Yeezy label. Vultures 2 is an album he released in August 2024, and Bully is another album on which the lawsuit says the producer later worked.
Music producers can help shape recorded tracks by creating or editing sounds and vocals. Their pay and credit are usually set out in an agreement; California’s Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance sets rules for written contracts and payment for some freelance work.
The case was filed in Los Angeles County by a producer using the name John Doe, which keeps their identity private in the court filing. The allegations and requested damages have yet to be resolved in court; the dispute could affect how the producer’s work is paid for and credited.