Akon’s former business partner, Devyne Stephens, has filed a lawsuit against the singer.
Devyne Stephens has accused the “Don’t Matter” artiste of stiffing him out of $750,000 from a 2018 settlement agreement and $3 million in royalties, Page Six reports.
Stephens, a music executive who previously worked with Destiny’s Child, Usher, Jay-Z, Toni Braxton, and TLC, claims he and Akon reached a pact four years ago in which he would receive $3.25 million over the span of four years. The singer allegedly failed to pay the final installment of $750,000.
This is the latest development in what has become a contentious relationship between Akon and Stephens, who accused his former business partner of spending “the better part of a decade” finding ways to avoid giving him the money that’s contractually owed to him. “Akon has spent the better part of a decade frustrating Stephens’ attempts to obtain large amounts of money which Akon unambiguously promised in contracts to pay Stephens,” court documents state.
Stephens alleges that Akon believes he shouldn’t be required to pay 20 percent because he’s now working for BMG Records. Stephens countered with the accusation that the singer intentionally breached his contract with Atlantic, and argued that BMG “by any objective metric, is a ‘major’ record label.”
The court claims Akon has taken the stance that he’s currently not on a “major” label, to which Stephens responded, “He is wrong.”
Akon came under fire last year when he told TMZ that the “famous and the rich go through more issues than the poor,” a statement he later stood behind, saying he was speaking from his own personal experience.“
“I’m having more problems successfully dealing with all that comes with success than I had when I was poor,” he said. “I was actually happier when I was poor.”
Latest Stories
-
MELPWU signs first-ever Collective Agreement with government
8 mins -
I’ve not been evicted from my home – Tema Central MP refutes ‘unfounded’ reports
9 mins -
After Free SHS, what next? – Alan quizzes and pledges review to empower graduates
40 mins -
Wontumi FM’s Oheneba Asiedu granted bail
50 mins -
Alan promises to amend the Constitution to limit presidential powers
1 hour -
Ghana to face liquidity pressures in 2025, 2026 despite restructuring most of its debt – Fitch
1 hour -
NPP’s record of delivering on promises is unmatched – Bawumia
1 hour -
Mahama: It’s time to dismiss the incompetent NPP government
1 hour -
Today’s front pages: Monday, November 25, 2024
2 hours -
T-bill auction: Government misses target again; interest rates continue to rise
2 hours -
We have a bad technical team; Otto Addo and his team should go – Ernest Thompson
3 hours -
Hindsight: Why Accra Lions’ present problems do not define them
3 hours -
10-year-old Lisa Laryea arrives at Wits Donald Gordon Hospital in South Africa for bone marrow transplant
4 hours -
23 ambassadors inducted to take on 2025 GSTEP Challenge in three regions
4 hours -
Ghana Shea Workers Union inaugurated
4 hours