Offset Sues Quality Control Over Rights to His New Music
The former Migos member says he bought back his rights from his old label last year, but it is still claiming ownership.
Offset is seeking a court ruling making it clear he’s no long associated with Quality Control Music, the label that helped launch his career as a member of Migos nearly a decade ago.
On Wednesday (Aug. 24), the emcee filed paperwork in Los Angeles seeking a declaratory judgement “that Quality Control has no rights, title, or interest in or to Offset’s recordings” since he bought out his deal with the company early last year.
According to court documents, as of Jan. 15, 2021, Offset — whose real name is Kiari Cephus — “negotiated a deal in which he reclaimed the rights to his own solo recording and songwriting from Quality Control,” with whom he signed a production agreement in 2013 covering his work in Migos and as a solo artist. The new arrangement, however, made Offset the “sole owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to his services as a solo recording artist, entertainer, and songwriter.” Except, now, despite paying “handsomely for those rights,” as the filing states, the artist claims Quality Control is still asserting it has an ownership interest over Offset’s latest single, “54321,” produced by Baby Keem, and released last Friday.
“54321” — Offset’s first solo release since his 2019 album, Father of 4 — is credited to UMG Recordings and Motown Records on streaming platforms and the filing suggests Offset plans to continue to work with Motown moving forward. Under Offset’s settlement agreement with Quality Control, the filing states, Quality Control assigned its rights under a 2017 recording agreement with Motown to Offset, making him the successor in interest under the agreement. Nevertheless, Offset’s attorneys state that on this latest song, “Quality Control went so far as to demand that Motown Records publicly and falsely assert that Quality Control had an ownership interest in ‘54321.’ This ownership claim is wrongful and knowingly violates Offset’s rights to his own music.” Now, Offset and his team are concerned Quality Control will assert “that it has an ownership interest” in all of his future solo recordings, as well.
Pee Thomas, Quality Control Music CEO, commented on the filing by Wednesday via Twitter, saying, “The last lawsuit was filed publicly and dismissed quietly. Let’s see how this one go. Been to real for all this lame shit. Everyone know the real problem.”
The last lawsuit was filed publicly and dismissed quietly. Let’s see how this one go. Been to real for all this lame shit. Everyone know the real problem.
— P (@qcm_p) August 24, 2022
Offset quickly fired back, claiming that Thomas blackballed him from the industry: “N—-s act like im the problem I paid millions to get my rights back N—a you black balled me I ain’t said S–t one time homie I ain’t spoke to you in 2 years now I drop and you want ya name on my credit?”
Niggas act like im the problem I paid millions to get my rights back Nigga you black balled me I ain’t said Shìt one time homie I ain’t spoke to you in 2 years now I drop and you want ya name on my credit? https://t.co/UGRDykvX5C
— OFFSET (@OffsetYRN) August 24, 2022
Offset plans to follow “54321” with another track on Friday, featuring MoneyBagg Yo.
Meanwhile, Migos has been continuing on as a duo lately, with just Quavo and Takeoff. The two sat down with the Rap Radar Podcast last week to discuss their newest journey as a duo. “But far as like, sitting in the studio and recording, I can’t wait to bring some new music to Takeoff,” Quavo remarked in the newly-released interview. Takeoff, in response, agreed and said, “I don’t want to wait till I get to him.”
Reps for Offset, Motown and Quality Control did not respond to immediate requests for comment.
Kiari Cephus vs. Quality Control Music by Billboard on Scribd
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