A Houston-based producer is suing Roc Nation for using his beats for two of its two artists, GloRilla and A$AP Ferg.
On May 1, Kerry D. Brown of Krushial K. Productions filed a lawsuit alleging that Roc Nation and others infringed on his copyright, Vibe Magazine reported. Brown created beats for GloRilla’s 2022 hit “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” and for A$AP Ferg’s 2017 hit “Plain Jane.”
Who’s Being Sued
Among those named in the suit are Roc Nation, Lenny Santiago, Sony Music Entertainment Digital, LLC and Blac Noize Recordings LLC, AllHipHop reported last week.
Brown claims that in his meeting with Roc Nation vice president Lenny Santiago, also known as Lenny S., during a conference at a Houston hotel in 2015 the beat maker played a sample of his track as a courtesy to build a relationship. Brown says he did not give Santiago permission to use the beat.
At the time, Brown said his two instrumentals, titled “You Don’t Know Nothing About Me” and “AUDIOBOX,” were featured on “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” and “Plain Jane,” respectively. Neither Roc Nation nor the other parties listed in the suit ever issued a Notice of Intent to Use for the copyrighted tracks. According to Brown, Spotify was the only company to send him a Notice of Intent to Use the music, but he says he has yet to receive any royalties for either song.
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” is a song by GloRilla and record producer Hitkidd. Released on April 29, 2022, it went viral through the video sharing app TikTok. The song was later included on Glorilla’s debut EP, “Anyways, Life’s Great…,” in 2022.
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” has also been a commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. The song has also been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
It was nominated for several awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance, an iHeartRadio Music Award for Hip-Hop Song of the Year, and a BET Hip Hop Award for Best Song of the Year.
A$AP Ferg’s “Plain Jane” was released on Aug. 25, 2017, as the lead single from his third studio album, “Still Striving.” The song, produced by Southside, reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was also certified platinum by the RIAA.
What Brown Wants
Brown and Krushial K. Productions are suing for copyright infringement, unfair competition, and along with the defendants having to pay their attorney’s fees defendants, in Texas Southern District Court.
