The producers who helped bring Kanye West’s collaborative ‘Vultures’ albums to life are speaking out—this time, not for creative credit but for their missing paychecks. Reports suggest over 10 producers involved in ‘Vultures 1’ and ‘Vultures 2’ have yet to receive payment for their contributions, despite both albums being released earlier this year.
Music attorney Bob Celestin, representing several of the unpaid producers, revealed that the process of securing proper agreements from Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has been fraught with delays. Brittney Trigg, another lawyer representing a producer from ‘Vultures 1’, confirmed the difficulties: “We’ve had trouble receiving a producer agreement from Ye.”
The issue appears to go beyond just paperwork. Multiple lawyers representing producers involved in the projects have cited Ye’s chaotic clearance and royalty processes. The situation worsened after Ye switched distributors mid-release, opting to independently release the albums under his Yeezy brand. This disrupted coordinated legal efforts to demand payments, leaving many collaborators in limbo.
Jason Berger, another attorney involved, said this isn’t an isolated issue. “In nine out of 10 deals, the producer hasn’t been paid the day the music comes out,” he noted, adding that delays can extend for over a year. Unfortunately, lawsuits against Ye are often seen as a dead end, with another lawyer stating that “legal claims against Ye don’t really seem to go anywhere.”
For now, the producers are left weighing their options—continue waiting, or face costly legal battles in an attempt to recover what they’re owed.
Photo: Evan Agostini/AP
