Rapper Cordae is facing a $25 million lawsuit from record label MMMG Inc., which claims his upcoming collaborative album with Anderson .Paak, Heavy Is the Crown, violates an existing recording agreement.

Filed on October 15, 2026, in federal court in New York, the lawsuit names Cordae, EMPIRE Distribution, APESHIT and Mass Appeal Records as defendants. MMMG is seeking financial damages and a court order to stop the release of recordings it claims to own, putting the album’s October 23 release date under a legal cloud.

Anderson .Paak is not named as a defendant in the case and has not been accused of wrongdoing in the lawsuit.

Why Is MMMG Suing Cordae?

According to the complaint, MMMG signed Cordae to an exclusive recording agreement in April 2018. The label claims the deal gives it ownership of recordings made during the contract term, alongside certain rights related to merchandise, touring and endorsements.

MMMG alleges that Cordae has breached the agreement by releasing music and pursuing commercial activities without meeting his contractual obligations to the company. The label also claims it was not asked to license the recordings featured on Heavy Is the Crown, which is scheduled to arrive through APESHIT, EMPIRE and Mass Appeal.

The dispute has also drawn attention to “A Good Day,” the single released by Cordae and Anderson .Paak on September 16. MMMG alleges that the song and its accompanying music video infringe copyrights it controls. The label is seeking at least $5 million over the alleged infringement, with additional claims possible if more tracks from the album are released.

The Dispute Over Cordae’s Distribution Deal

A major point of contention is whether MMMG’s arrangement with music distribution company Stem satisfies the terms of Cordae’s original recording contract.

The complaint says Atlantic Records’ distribution agreement ended in September 2025, after which MMMG notified Cordae’s legal representatives that it had secured a replacement distribution agreement with Stem.

MMMG maintains that the new arrangement meets the requirements of the existing contract and argues that the recording agreement remains enforceable. Cordae’s representatives have challenged whether the Stem deal satisfies the contract’s conditions, including questions surrounding an inducement letter.

The disagreement is central to the case: if MMMG’s interpretation of the agreement prevails, it could affect the label’s claimed rights over Cordae’s new recordings. The court has not yet resolved the dispute.

How Much Is MMMG Seeking?

The lawsuit outlines three main claims, with MMMG seeking at least $25 million in total damages:

• $5 million or more over alleged copyright infringement involving “A Good Day” and its music video.
• $15 million or more from Cordae for alleged breach of contract, including claims involving revenue from merchandise, touring and endorsements.
• $5 million or more from EMPIRE, APESHIT and Mass Appeal over alleged interference with the recording agreement.

MMMG is also asking the court to prevent further distribution of recordings it claims it owns. These amounts represent the label’s demands, not damages awarded by a court.

What This Means for

Heavy Is the Crown

Cordae and Anderson .Paak announced Heavy Is the Crown in August 2026. The project expands on their musical partnership, which dates back to “RNP,” a collaboration featured on Cordae’s 2019 debut album, The Lost Boy.

The new album is scheduled to contain 11 tracks, with “A Good Day” serving as an early preview. However, MMMG’s request for an injunction introduces uncertainty over whether the project can proceed as planned.

As of October 17, the album remains listed for release on October 23. The lawsuit’s filing does not itself mean the album has been cancelled or that MMMG’s claims have been proven. The outcome will depend on the legal proceedings and any court decisions on the requested relief.

The case adds to the ongoing debate around recording contracts, ownership of master recordings and the rights artists retain when moving between labels and distribution partners. For Cordae, the immediate question is whether the dispute will affect the release of his joint project with Anderson .Paak.