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R&B star Chris Brown is facing a federal lawsuit from songwriter Steve Chokpelle, who claims he co-wrote two of Brown’s hit tracks but hasn’t received any royalties. The suit alleges Chokpelle was cut out of millions in revenue from Monalisa and Sensational, leaving the songwriter uncompensated despite the songs’ commercial success.
Songwriter Steve Chokpelle Claims Chris Brown Denied Him Millions
Steve Chokpelle, also known as Muse, says he wrote the lyrics for Monalisa, a 2022 collaboration with Brown, Lojay, and Sarz. According to the lawsuit via Billboard, the lyrics were created during a 2020 session at Brown’s Tarzana, California home. “I never received any compensation despite ‘Monalisa’s’ commercial success,” Chokpelle alleges.
He also co-wrote Sensational, a track on Brown’s 2023 album 11:11, alongside producer Onyekachi Emenalo, known as Krazytunez. While Chokpelle is listed as a composer on the track, the complaint claims he was left off the song’s copyright registration and has earned “no revenues whatsoever.”
Lawsuit Seeks Recognition and Damages
The lawsuit states, “Defendants sustained a tremendous benefit, and shall continue to receive tremendous benefit, by [earning] millions in revenues, acclaim, accolades and goodwill from the commercial exploitation of ‘Monalisa’ and ‘Sensational.’”
Chokpelle alleges that Brown, Sean Kingston, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Publishing Group have been unjustly enriched by failing to acknowledge his authorship and copyright interests.
Chokpelle is asking the court to officially recognize him as an author and co-copyright owner of both songs. In addition, he is seeking at least $1 million in damages for unjust enrichment and fraud.
The legal action highlights ongoing disputes in the music industry over credit, ownership, and the fair distribution of royalties for hit records.
