Jermaine Dupri Sues Sony for $18 Million, Claims So So Def Was Shortchanged on Royalties for Mariah, Usher, Bow Wow & More

Jermaine Dupri is taking one of the biggest names in the music business to court.

The legendary producer and music executive has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Sony, alleging the company underpaid and withheld royalties owed to his iconic label, So So Def Recordings, for years.

According to the lawsuit, Jermaine claims Sony failed to properly account for royalties tied to a long list of hit albums and artists, including Mariah Carey, Usher, Kris Kross, Jagged Edge, Bow Wow, Xscape, and Da Brat.

The lawsuit alleges the discrepancies didn’t become apparent until 2023, when Sony reportedly began issuing revised royalty statements. Jermaine says a 2025 audit later uncovered what he describes as years of accounting errors, unreported earnings, and unpaid royalties.

As a result, So So Def is demanding at least $18 million in damages.

Jermaine also claims Sony failed to pay the full royalties generated from classic So So Def releases by Kris Kross, Xscape, Da Brat, and Jagged Edge, leaving the label millions of dollars short.

The lawsuit further alleges that projects Jermaine produced for Mariah Carey and Usher were also underpaid, though attorneys say the total amount tied to those recordings is still being calculated.

In addition to the $18 million in damages, Jermaine and his companies are seeking interest and any additional compensation the court finds appropriate.

Neither Sony nor its representatives have publicly responded to the lawsuit.

If successful, the case could become one of the most significant royalty disputes involving a legendary hip-hop and R&B label in recent years.