Chuck D Sues Over Publishing Deal He Says Cost Him Ownership of Public Enemy's Music

The rap legend claims he lost half of his catalog and was cheated out of $1 million.

Chuck D is fighting for publishing deal rights.

According to a report in The Blast, the rap legend says he unknowingly signed a publishing deal years ago that stripped him of part ownership of Public Enemy's music, and now he's suing to get it back.

Chuck D has reportedly filed a lawsuit against his label, accusing them of cheating him out of over one million dollars.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Chuck D claims he entered a publishing deal with Reach Global Music and Terrodome Music Publishing in 2001 with a man named Michael Closter and claims that he convinced him to form a new independent music publishing company that would administer the publishing rights to his work. This allegedly included the rights to his work from his days with Def Jam.

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The documents state that Chuck D claims he's lost 42 percent of his catalog and that the label created fake copyright registrations. He says he wasn't aware of this business dealings until early this year and claims Closter "created a complex master plan that involved, and still involves, unconscionable contracts, hidden transactions, false and fraudulent copyright registrations, and false incomplete accountings."