July 08, 2026 3:09 PM ET Jermaine Dupri, one of the most influential producers of hip hop and R&B music, filed an $18 million lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment (SME). Dupri’s 13-page federal legal filing alleged that SME knowingly underpaid and concealed royalties tied to his work with major artists including Mariah Carey, Usher, Kris Kross, Bow Wow, Xscape, and Da Brat, according to Rolling Stone. The Grammy-winning producer claimed SME “knew that it was violating” contracts with his highly influential labels, So So Def Recordings and So So Def Productions, but “never attempted to disclose its contemptuous accounting practices.” LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: Jermaine Dupri (C) performs onstage during 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year Honoring Mariah Carey on January 30, 202