Lil Wayne sues Universal Music over 'unpaid royalties' to his Young Money label

Lil Wayne claims he's owed millions of dollars in unpaid royalties by Universal Music Group.

The rapper is suing the record company, claiming he hasn't been paid for discovering and nurturing talent like Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga.

According to a court case filed in California, Universal Music has been paying itself instead of giving royalties to Lil Wayne.

In a statement sent to the Hollywood Reporter, Universal denies the claims.

"It should be no surprise that we learned of the lawyer's complaint through the news media," it says.

"We don't intend to dignify this with further public comment except to say that we will vigorously contest it and that the merits of our case will carry the day."

Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr, claims Universal Music Group has diverted tens of millions of dollars of his profits to repay itself for the $100m (£70m) it advanced to Cash Money Records.

He also wants damages of $40m (£28m) and a ruling to clarify how the royalties are split.

Court papers claim: "With Universal's knowledge of Lil Wayne's rights to partial ownership and profits from those artists, Universal and Cash Money entered into a series of agreements which, among other things, diverted Lil Wayne's substantial profits to repay debts of Cash Money.

"As a result, 100% of the profits that should have been paid to Lil Wayne as a result of his ownership of Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga records have been seized by Universal to repay debts that were neither incurred by nor were the obligations of Lil Wayne."

Drake signed to Lil Wayne's record label Young Money in 2009

According to the complaint, Lil Wayne's Young Money label has a deal with Universal's Cash Money Records.

It's designed to manufacture, distribute, promote and exploit performances of new recording artists discovered by the rapper and signed to the label.

According to their 2003 agreement, the label's profits "would be divided 51% - 49% between Cash Money and Carter, and ownership of all the Young Money Label property, (e.g., master recordings, copyrights, intellectual property, good will) similarly would be owned 51% - 49% between Cash Money and Carter, respectively".

Nicki Minaj signed with Young Money in the same year as Drake

Lil Wayne's lawyer Howard E. King from King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, said: "Universal should be grateful and respectful to Lil Wayne for the millions of dollars in distribution fees and profits they have earned on the artists he brought to the company, instead of seizing all of his profits on those artists in a desperate attempt to recoup the tens of millions of dollars they are owed by Cash Money Records."

Lil Wayne is also suing SoundExchange, the non-profit organisation which collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of copyright owners.

In a separate royalties court battle in Louisiana, Lil Wayne is suing Cash Money Records claiming $51m (£36m) in damages.

He claims that he hasn't been paid royalties, that Cash Money hasn't paid third parties associated with his artists and that the label hasn't properly registered copyright for recordings between them and Young Money.

Lil Wayne fell out with Cash Money label boss Birdman last year over the release of his album.

He sued the label for withholding an advance payment from Tha Carter V - which is due out this year but was recorded and ready for release in 2014.

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