Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” Producer Sues UMG for $3M in Unpaid Royalties

By Hiphopla News | May 26, 2025

Another legal storm is brewing in hip-hop, and this time it’s between hitmaker Darius “Deezle” Harrison and music giant Universal Music Group (UMG).

Deezle, best known for producing several tracks on Lil Wayne’s 2008 blockbuster album Tha Carter III—including the Billboard No.1 smash “Lollipop”—has filed a lawsuit against UMG, claiming they owe him $3 million in unpaid royalties.

According to the suit, Harrison had an agreement with Cash Money Records entitling him to a 4% royalty rate on the songs he produced for the album. He also says he’s owed an additional 3% from a separate deal related to his work on Birdman’s 2005 project Fast Money.

This isn’t Deezle’s first legal fight over royalties. Back in 2011, he sued Lil Wayne, Cash Money, and Young Money, but the matter was reportedly settled, and payments briefly resumed. Now, Harrison alleges that royalty checks stopped shortly after they started in 2012—prompting his latest legal move.

As of now, neither UMG nor Lil Wayne have responded publicly to the lawsuit.

This case adds to the legal turbulence surrounding UMG, which is also facing a high-profile defamation suit from Drake. The Toronto star is accusing the label of backing Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss “Not Like Us,” which Drake claims has damaged his reputation.

Whether Deezle’s claims hold up in court remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the business side of hip-hop is getting just as intense as the lyrical battles on wax.