Kendrick Lamar‘s classic “m.A.A.d city” has been dragged into a legal battle over who deserves credit for the song’s creation.
Miami rapper and producer Milan Brewer, who performs as 1000Milan, claims his work ended up on the 2012 Kendrick track without the writing credit or royalties he says he deserves.
Brewer says he wrote and recorded a song called “Ridin Rollercoaster” in April 2012. His lawsuit claims that his vocals and lyrics later found their way into “m.A.A.d city,” which features MC Eiht.
The dispute centres on producer AXLFOLIE, whom Brewer accuses of receiving writing credit for material he says originated with him. Producer Ricci Riera also appears in the allegations.
Kendrick Lamar and MC Eiht are not defendants in the case.
Brewer’s name also does not appear among the current listed composers for “m.A.A.d city.” The credits include Kendrick Lamar, AXLFOLIE, Ricci Riera, and Mark “Sounwave” Spears.
Now Brewer wants the court to recognise him as a joint author of the song and give him the same writing credit he says AXLFOLIE received. He is also seeking an accounting of royalties and a jury trial.
The lawsuit arrives nearly 14 years after good kid, m.A.A.d city introduced “m.A.A.d city” to the world.
The album has since become one of Kendrick’s defining projects and crossed 10 million album-equivalent units in the United States earlier this year.
For now, Brewer’s claims remain allegations.
The lawsuit will determine whether his name belongs alongside the writers already credited on one of Kendrick’s most recognisable songs.