A songwriter is taking his fight straight to federal court, and this time, the claims are serious.
Steve Chokpel has filed a lawsuit accusing Chris Brown of allegedly failing to pay him royalties for two successful songs, including the hit record “Sensational.” According to court documents filed in New York, Chokpel says he never received compensation despite claiming he wrote the lyrics for both “Sensational” and “Monalisa.”
The lawsuit alleges that the songs generated significant revenue across streaming platforms, radio airplay, and international markets. However, Chokpel claims he was completely shut out of the profits. As a result, he is now seeking recognition as an author and co-owner of the copyrights, along with at least $1 million in damages.
This legal action adds another chapter to the ongoing conversation around songwriter credits, royalty transparency, and who really gets paid when a hit record takes off. Especially in an era where Afrobeats and global R&B collaborations dominate charts, disputes like this are becoming harder to ignore.
Songwriter Claims He Wrote Lyrics During 2020 Studio Session For ‘Monalisa’
According to the lawsuit, Steve Chokpel says his involvement with Chris Brown dates back to 2020. Chokpel claims he wrote the lyrics for “Monalisa” during a studio session with Brown and Sean Kingston while they were recording in California. The song later gained major traction and went on to peak at number eight on Billboard’s US Afrobeats chart.
Despite the success, Chokpel alleges he never received royalties or financial compensation connected to the record. He says his contributions were ignored even as the song continued to perform well commercially.The lawsuit suggests that while the track benefited multiple collaborators and corporate entities, Chokpel himself was left without acknowledgment or payment. He claims this omission was not accidental and that he was excluded from official registrations tied to the song’s publishing and authorship.
In today’s music landscape, songwriting credits are more than just a name on paper. They determine long-term income, publishing rights, and legacy. Chokpel’s lawsuit places a spotlight on how behind-the-scenes contributors can allegedly get overlooked once a record gains momentum.
‘Sensational’ Royalty Dispute Sparks Federal Lawsuit Against Chris Brown
The heart of the lawsuit centers on “Sensational.”Chokpel claims he co-wrote the song in 2021 alongside producer Krazytunez. The track later became a standout hit, dominating Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and reportedly bringing in more than $1 million in revenue.
However, Chokpel alleges that he was deliberately left off the authorship registration for the song. As a result, he says he received no royalties while others involved benefited financially.
According to the filing, this exclusion directly impacted his ability to earn income from the song’s success. Chokpel claims that despite his lyrical contributions, his name was absent from official records tied to publishing and copyright ownership.
The lawsuit argues that this was not a simple oversight. Instead, Chokpel alleges it was part of a broader pattern that allowed others to profit while he was excluded entirely.
Lawsuit Names Record Labels And Collaborators In Royalty Dispute
The legal action does not stop with Chris Brown.In addition to Brown, the lawsuit names Sean Kingston, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Publishing Group as defendants. Chokpel claims these parties benefited financially from the songs while he received nothing.
According to the lawsuit, the involved labels and collaborators allegedly reaped substantial profits from licensing, streaming, and radio play. Meanwhile, Chokpel says he was left without recognition, payment, or contractual protections.As of now, Brown’s legal team has not responded publicly to the accusations.
