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T-Pain Files Lawsuit Akon’s Record Label Over Alleged Unpaid Royalties

T-Pain & Akon

Photo: Getty Images

T-Pain has accused Akon's record label of failing to pay him royalties for his recent music sales.

According to a report the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published on Wednesday, September 9, the Florida-born artist filed a lawsuit against Konvict Entertainment, LLC, alleging the label violated his current contract and has yet to fulfill a six-figure 2025 settlement from his first lawsuit. The latest lawsuit cites a recording agreement that Pain, born Faheem Rashad Najm, signed in 2005, which promises 75 percent of the net royalties from his record sales that Konvict Entertainment receives from distributors.

The Grammy Award-winning rapper alleges Konvict Entertainment didn't pay him the $489,047 he's owed from the $1,304,127 royalty payment the label received from a distributor in March for record sales from the second half of 2025. T-Pain said he received the first half of his payment in June, along with additional royalties straight from the distributor. However, he alleges the other half of the money he's owed went to Konvict's affiliate label, BuVision, which is run by Akon's brother, Abou “Bu” Thiam. Neither Thiam nor his label is named in the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, T-Pain claims his representatives went out of their way to retrieve the funds from BuVision. However, the label allegedly ignored their requests. His legal team maintains he was "left with no other option" but to take legal action again. Pain first sued Konvict in 2018 over unpaid royalty payments. The label denied liability but, after years of mediation, it agreed to pay the "I'm Sprung" artist $114,000 in 2025 to resolve all royalties through the end of 2024.

"Left with no other option, counsel for Najm gave notice to Konvict of its failure to pay the remaining balance," the lawsuit reads. "To date, Konvict has not cured its breach of the 2025 Settlement Agreement following Najm's written notice."

T-Pain landed his first record deal with Konvict Muzik in 2005. The label released Pain's debut album Rappa Ternt Sanga that same year with songs like "I'm 'n Luv (wit a Stripper)" and more. He released five albums with the label before he went independent in 2019.

As of this report, neither T-Pain nor Konvict Entertainment has commented on the situation.