The protracted legal battle over the authorship of Kendrick Lamar’s seminal 2012 album, ‘m.A.A.d City’, has escalated into a significant conflict between two of its key creative partners, sparking considerable debate within the hip-hop community. The dispute centers around a claim made by Miami rapper Milan Brewer, known professionally as 1000Milan, alleging that producer Axel Morgan, better recognized as AXLFOLIE, received unauthorized writing credit for material incorporated into the record. Kendrick Lamar and featured artist MC Eiht are not defendants in the lawsuit.
Brewer’s case, initially traced to a song titled ‘Ridin Rollercoaster,’ penned by him and recorded in April 2012, centers on a core dispute. According to the initial complaint, Morgan and producer Ricci Riera utilized Brewer’s vocals and lyrics without granting him the same recognition that Morgan ultimately received. The core of Brewer’s argument revolves around the assertion that the material was incorporated into ‘m.A.A.d City’ without his consent and proper attribution.
Current publishing information for ‘m.A.A.d City’ reveals a complex composition of composers: Kendrick Lamar, Morgan, Riera, and Mark ‘Sounwave’ Spears. Brewer’s name, however, remains conspicuously absent among these credits. This omission is the crux of his legal challenge, demanding a revision of the publishing structure to reflect a more equitable distribution of royalties.
The lawsuit, initially brewing before the formal filing, documents a series of communications between Brewer and Morgan. A pivotal exchange occurred in an April 2026 phone call involving an attorney for Riera. Subsequently, an email was shared with Brewer, requesting to see the existing splits for ‘m.A.A.d City’ and questioning whether counsel could accept legal service for Morgan or Riera. This exchange highlights a dynamic where Brewer’s legal position was initially predicated on the expectation of a joint authorship arrangement.
The stakes are considerable, given ‘m.A.A.d City’ holds a unique position within Kendrick Lamar’s catalog as a defining record. Brewer’s claim, if successful, would not simply rewrite Kendrick’s role in the record; it would fundamentally alter the established framework of royalties, potentially determining whether another writer should have been included alongside the individuals who have accumulated credit from ‘m.A.A.d City’ since 2012. The legal proceedings are currently ongoing, with both sides preparing to present evidence and arguments in court.
Experts predict the outcome will have significant ramifications for the music industry, particularly concerning the attribution and compensation of creative work, especially in the context of enduring music legacies.
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Source: HotNewHipHop
