LUCKI Faces Legal Battle with EMPIRE Over Contract Dispute
Rising Chicago rapper LUCKI is at the center of a legal battle with his longtime label EMPIRE. The label filed a lawsuit alleging that LUCKI breached his recording contract by releasing new music through rival distributor UnitedMasters. EMPIRE claims it has paid LUCKI nearly $10 million since 2019 and retains exclusive rights to his recordings under a 2024 renewal agreement.
According to court filings, EMPIRE alleges that LUCKI’s attorney hid a termination notice within legal paperwork, causing the label to miss its renewal deadline. EMPIRE describes this as a “bad faith tactic.” The dispute intensified after LUCKI independently released “Not So Virgo of You” on October 1, an action EMPIRE says violates his contract. The label is seeking injunctive relief to block future releases and confirmation that the 2024 agreement remains binding.
LUCKI’s legal team disputes EMPIRE’s claims, calling the contract “unfair” and overly restrictive. His attorney argues that the label’s 50/50 profit split exceeds industry norms and allows EMPIRE to recoup marketing costs directly from the artist’s share of revenue. These terms, they argue, justify ending the partnership.
Following the lawsuit, “Not So Virgo of You” was removed from streaming platforms after EMPIRE issued takedown requests. Despite its short availability, the track received positive feedback from fans, who praised its atmospheric production. The release was intended to kick off LUCKI’s new project, ‘Drugs R Bad,’ which currently has no official release date.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between independent artists and labels over control, profit sharing, and creative freedom. Fans are closely watching the outcome, as it could impact both LUCKI’s future releases and the broader industry approach to contract enforcement.
