Songwriter files lawsuit against Chris Brown for unpaid royalties, alleging he penned lyrics for hit song 'Sensational'.

A songwriter, Steve Chokpel, has filed a lawsuit against Chris Brown for allegedly not paying him royalties for two successful songs, including "Sensational". Chokpel claims he wrote the lyrics for both songs but never received compensation despite their commercial success.

The lawsuit alleges that the songs made significant revenue across various platforms, but Chokpel was excluded from profits. He is seeking recognition as an author and co-owner of the copyrights, along with at least $1 million in damages, raising issues around songwriter credits and royalty transparency.

Songwriter Claims for 'Monalisa' Lyrics

Chokpel asserts he wrote the lyrics for "Monalisa" during a 2020 studio session with Chris Brown and Sean Kingston in California. Despite the song's success, he claims he received no royalties or acknowledgment for his contributions, shedding light on how behind-the-scenes contributors can be overlooked.

Royalty Dispute Over 'Sensational'

The lawsuit focuses on the song "Sensational", which Chokpel co-wrote in 2021. Despite its success, he alleges being deliberately excluded from the authorship registration, leading to no royalties. The legal action also involves other parties, including record labels and collaborators, who allegedly profited while Chokpel received nothing.

Chris Brown, Sean Kingston, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Publishing Group are named defendants in the lawsuit. Chokpel claims they benefitted financially from the songs while he was left without recognition or payment. The legal dispute highlights ongoing issues in the music industry regarding fair compensation for contributors.