A judge has dismissed Warner Music Group Corp. and Atlantic Recording Corp. as defendants in Ice Cube collaborator Sir Jinx’s lawsuit in which the rapper contended he was owed more than $60,000 in royalties for beats he contributed to Yo-Yo’s album “Make Way for the Motherlode.”
The rapper’s real name is Anthony Wheaton. He alleges breach of contract, breach of good faith and unjust enrichment in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed in December 2024. Judge Randolph M. Hammock heard arguments on the defense dismissal motions on Aug. 28, took the case under submission and issued his final ruling on Thursday.
In their court papers, attorneys for WB and Atlantic contended the lawsuit’s allegations were never clarified despite the judge allowing Wheaton to twice amend the complaint.
“Simply put, plaintiff does not properly allege the existence of either an oral or implied agreement, much less identify which part of any such agreement was oral or implied,” the companies’ lawyers wrote in their pleadings.
Wheaton dropped Universal Music Group as a defendant last November.
According to the suit, Wheaton notified the defendants in September 2019 that he was owed $62,090 in royalties for his contribution to the Yo-Yo song, but was never compensated even though he paid income tax on the money. Wheaton, 56, is a cousin of multi-platinum producer Dr. Dre.