T.I. Is Suing Record Label For Not Returning His Masters
T.I. Is Suing Record Label For Not Returning His Masters. The Atlanta rapper is one of the most respected in the hip-hop industry. Self-proclaimed as the “King of the South”, Tip Harris has stayed true to the game. However, it appears the veteran rapper is having trouble buying back his masters.
T.I. Sues Record Label Over Alleged $50 Million Inflated Buy-Back For Masters
Atlanta hip-hop icon Clifford Harris Jr., better known as T.I., has filed a major lawsuit against Cinq Music Group, alleging the label is blocking him from reclaiming his master recordings by “artificially inflating” their price. According to reports from iHeartRadio and Billboard, the dispute stems from a multi-million dollar deal that has allegedly gone sour.
The Original Agreement
In 2017, T.I. entered into a seven-figure agreement with Cinq Music Group, selling the masters to some of his most legendary projects, including:
- Trap Muzik (his groundbreaking debut)
- King
- T.I. vs. TIP
- Paper Trail
- Urban Legend
- No Mercy
- Trouble Man
The rapper claims he agreed to the sale only because it included a buyback option. This clause allegedly gave him the right to purchase his masters back for an estimated $3 million based on a specific contractual formula.
The $50 Million Discrepancy
The legal battle ignited when T.I. attempted to exercise his option in 2024. According to his legal team, led by attorney Robert Jacobs, the label allegedly tried to charge him $50 million—nearly 17 times the expected price.
The lawsuit alleges that Cinq Music manipulated the financial data used to calculate the buy-back cost. Key accusations include:
-
Streaming Revenue Inflation: T.I. claims the contract explicitly excluded digital streaming revenue from the price calculation, but the label included it anyway to hike the cost.
-
Royalty Deductions: The suit alleges the label “messed up the numbers” in its royalty deductions, creating an “exaggerated and inaccurate” starting point for the sale price.
- Frustrating the Deal: The filing suggests the label regretted the original terms and is now doing everything possible to frustrate the purchase efforts.
“Cinq’s departure from the contractual definition of Gross Receipts resulted in an exaggerated and inaccurate revenue-side starting point.” — Robert Jacobs, T.I.’s Attorney
Why It Matters
This case highlights the ongoing struggle for artist ownership in the music industry. Similar to the high-profile Taylor Swift masters dispute, T.I.’s battle underscores the immense value of legacy catalogs in the streaming era. For T.I., reclaiming his masters is about securing his legacy and ensuring that the work that defined the “Trap Music” genre stays in his hands.
As of early May 2026, Cinq Music Group has not released an official response to the allegations.
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