The music world’s drama deepens as T‑Pain, the auto‑tonal architect behind hits like “Can’t Believe It” and “Kiss Kiss,” is once again in court, this time over a dispute that’s been simmering since 2018.
Last year, the rapper and his legal team cracked open the file: Konvict Entertainment, co‑founded by Akon, had pocketed a tidy $1.304 million from Zomba Recordings for 2025 sales, yet only paid T‑Pain a single cheque of $489,047 in June before the new claim was filed.
The lawsuit, lodged on September 4, 2026 in Fulton County Superior Court, argues that T‑Pain is owed an additional $489,047.76—75 % of the net royalties he’s contractually entitled to—despite a 2025 settlement that cleared the books through 2024 for a modest $114,000.
What’s more, the complaint points fingers at BuVision, an affiliate linked to Akon’s brother Abou “Bu” Thiam, for allegedly ignoring T‑Pain’s payment demands, even though BuVision isn’t named as a defendant.
If the court sides with T‑Pain, it could force labels to tighten up royalty accounting in a marketplace where artists increasingly rely on transparent splits, especially as streaming platforms shift revenue models.
Meanwhile, Akon himself remains off the docket, his co‑founding role in Konvict untouched, while fans watch to see whether the record label can prove it complied with every clause or if the music’s biggest hitmaker will finally get what the ledger says he earned.