Lil Uzi Vert, real name Symere Bysil Woods, has been sued by M99 Studios, an LA-based creative agency, over unpaid fees amounting to over half a million dollars. The lawsuit, which also names the rapper’s company Uzivert LLC and manager Amina Diop as defendants, claims that Woods failed to pay for services related to live festival and tour performances.
M99 Studios, known for its expertise in concert design, direction, and production, alleges that it has worked with Woods for the majority of his touring career. According to the lawsuit, Woods heavily relied on M99 for creative ideas, production, and staffing for all tours, shows, and performances.
The creative agency also claims that Woods regularly requested unrealistic designs and concepts with little to no timeline, expecting M99 to execute them flawlessly.
The lawsuit provides examples of such demands, including a request for “a bounce house, wooden crosses, and mannequins” to be added to a performance at Rolling Loud LA with virtually no prior notice.
Another instance involved Woods asking M99 to “procure thirty adult dancers” only hours before a Rolling Loud Miami show was scheduled to begin. Despite these challenges, M99 fulfilled these requests at significant time, effort, and expense.
Issues with payment reportedly began last year when invoices stopped being paid entirely. When the debts exceeded $700,000, M99 informed Diop that it could no longer work for the rapper until the invoices were settled.
A $100,000 payment was subsequently made with a promise that the outstanding debts would be cleared after the next leg of Woods’ tour in Australia. However, no further payments were received.
After the Australia tour, M99 decided not to bill for its services in hopes of parting ways amicably. Despite this, $533,499.81 remains unpaid. M99 continued to follow up with Diop, who consistently promised that the invoices would be paid and acknowledged that the work was complete and satisfactory. Diop also assured M99 that everyone involved was aware that the money was owed and needed to be paid.
In March this year, Diop stated that a payment would be made as soon as Woods received an advance for his next album from his label. However, M99 later learned that the advance had already been paid by that point, which Diop would have been aware of prior to her conversation with M99.
M99 Studios is seeking a court order to force Woods and Diop to settle the debt and pay the agency’s legal costs, as well as punitive damages deemed appropriate by the judge.
