Hip hop artist Playboi Carti is being sued by Eric Mercer Jr. (aka Blakk Soul) who claims that he was never paid for the use of his vocals on Playboi Carti’s 2017 hit track Kelly K.
The suit claims that Playboi Carti and his company Cash Carti Music LLC failed to make good on a deal to give Mercer a 5% ownership stake in the song that is off of Playboi Carti’s self-titled 2017 debut album that went certified platinum.
“Despite the commercial success of the song and the album, Mr. Mercer had yet to be compensated for his contributions to the song, and has yet to receive a single dollar, or even an accounting of what is owed to him,” the complaint said (h/t Music Business World).
“On July 19, 2019, over two years after the song’s release, CCM and Carter presented Mr. Mercer with a split sheet, in which it was proposed that Mr. Mercer would receive a five percent ownership interest in the song in exchange for his contributions to and vocals on the song,” the complaint stated.
Mercer alleges copyright infringement, breach of contract, and unjust infringement as well as breach of the right of publicity, the right to one’s own name, likeness, voice and other attributes.
“Mr. Mercer’s right to privacy and specifically his right to publicity” was violated “when the defendants released the recording that included Mr. Mercer’s vocals without any authorization,” the complaint outlines.
Mercer is seeking a minimum of $75,000 as well as costs and attorney’s fees.
