JAY-Z Sued Over Reasonable Doubt Royalties

Braudie Blais-Billie
Updated
Raynard Herbert claims he’s owed 1% of all sales of the album since 2008

JAY-Z has been sued over royalties for his 1996 debut album Reasonable Doubt, TMZ reports and documents obtained by Pitchfork confirm. Raynard Herbert (aka “Ray Rae”) claims that in 1995, he helped master the album and arranged its distribution agreement in exchange for 1% of the profits. Though Herbert began receiving royalty checks in 1998, he claims they stopped arriving after his last payment in November 2008. He also alleges that he followed up with the label about outstanding payments in 2010 and never heard back. Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Damon “Dame” Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke are also named in the suit.

Herbert is suing Jay, Biggs, and Dame for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. He’s asking for the percentage he’s owed as well as interest and damages. He claims Jay acted “with malice and in conscious disregard” of his rights. Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for JAY-Z for comment.

Read Pitchfork’s Sunday Review on Reasonable Doubt.