An anonymous music producer has sued Kanye West, who now performs as Ye, and his Yeezy company in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming he was never paid for extensive vocal production work on the albums 'Vultures 2' and 'Bully.' Filing under the pseudonym John Doe, the producer says he is owed at least $110,000 in compensatory damages tied to seven commercially released tracks across the two projects.
According to Law Commentary, Ye and Yeezy brought the producer on just two days before Ye and Ty Dolla $ign surprise-released 'Vultures 2' on August 3, 2024, a timeline REVOLT confirmed at the time. The complaint alleges the producer performed extensive vocal production work under extreme time pressure, yet Ye and Yeezy declined to credit him on digital streaming platforms once the album dropped.
13 AI Voice Models, 400 Vocal Takes Under Deadline Pressure
The producer says he created at least 13 custom AI voice models and generated more than 400 individual vocal takes during the sessions, drawing on source material he had recorded in his own voice, the complaint states. He contributed extensively to 'Vultures 2' before Ye and Yeezy enlisted him again in October 2024 for additional work on 'Bully,' where he produced AI-generated vocal work and co-wrote tracks with other artists.
$110,000 Demand Broken Down by Album
The lawsuit itemizes the producer's $110,000 compensatory demand by project, according to TMZ: $80,000 for five released 'Vultures 2' tracks and $30,000 for two released 'Bully' tracks, plus additional damages tied to unreleased vocal models and court-ordered streaming credit. The same report notes the producer says he repeatedly pursued payment through Ye's business representatives, including former Yeezy chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos, without ever being paid or credited.
A Buyout Offer That Didn't Settle the Dispute
'Bully,' Ye's 12th studio album, arrived March 28, 2026, through YZY and Gamma, as REVOLT reported, following months of public debate over his use of AI vocal modeling. Ye and Yeezy later offered the producer a master buyout, but the complaint suggests that offer failed to resolve the underlying payment dispute. The lawsuit also alleges Ye and Yeezy told the producer that streaming platforms would be updated to reflect his contributions, a promise the complaint says was never kept.
The producer's suit claims breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and violations of laws protecting freelance workers, along with violations of California's Unfair Competition Law, according to the filing. He brought the case anonymously as John Doe in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
How Los Angeles's Freelance Worker Law Backs the Claim
The producer is seeking double damages under the Los Angeles Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance, enacted in July 2023, which requires hiring entities in the city to provide written contracts for work valued at $600 or more and to pay freelancers within 30 days, according to the Los Angeles Office of Wage Standards. Entities that fail to comply can face civil suits with statutory penalties up to double the unpaid amount.
California's statewide Freelance Worker Protection Act, known as SB 988, adds another layer of exposure. Effective January 1, 2025, the law requires written contracts and authorizes double damages for unpaid freelance professional services exceeding $250 anywhere in the state, according to Fenton Keller.
A Pattern of Costly Los Angeles Rulings
The lawsuit lands amid a broader pattern for Ye, who has faced more than a dozen separate copyright infringement lawsuits, according to the filing. In May 2026, a federal jury ordered him to pay $438,558 after finding he unlawfully used an uncredited producer's beat in an early 'Hurricane' demo played for roughly 40,000 fans at a sold-out 2021 Donda listening event, as reported by Hoodline.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Ye to pay $76,245 in attorney fees to a former employee in September 2025, ruling that his bid to dismiss her workplace harassment lawsuit on First Amendment grounds was a baseless tactic, Complex reported. 'Vultures 2' has also drawn separate intellectual property claims: in February 2026, London label Future Bounce and artist SWSH sued Ye and Ty Dolla $ign, alleging the album sampled SWSH's master recording on the track '530' without clearance, a separate Complex report noted.
Settlements and a 2022 Reckoning Still Casting a Shadow
Just days before the producer's complaint was filed, Ye finalized an unconditional settlement on July 23, 2026, resolving a Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit from former assistant Lauren Pisciotta, according to the Los Angeles Times. Pisciotta had accused Ye of sexual assault, sex trafficking, and wrongful termination.
Pisciotta and other former staffers pursued legal action against Ye following his October 2022 social media outburst, which included a widely condemned message threatening Jewish people, according to the filing.
Ye's Response, and Hoodline's Wider Coverage
Hoodline has chronicled Ye's costly run through Los Angeles courts, including a contractor's $140,000 Malibu win and a model's backed choking claim. Despite the mounting judgments, Ye has said he considers himself especially generous toward the people he works with and takes pride in making sure people get what they deserve, according to Law Commentary.
