Another One! Composer Sues Kanye West for Misleading Contracts and Unpaid Work on Opera Project

Kanye West is facing more legal trouble.

New York composer Willie Alexander has filed a lawsuit against the producer and his companies, alleging unpaid work and misleading practices.  According to court documents, Alexander claims Kanye, along with Very Good Touring, Inc., Yeezy LLC, and Access Opera, misrepresented their intentions and misused his likeness. The dispute began when Kanye’s team contacted Alexander in September 2019 through mutual friend Charles Carter to compose music for Kanye’s opera, “Nebuchadnezzar.”

Alexander asserts he was urged to fly to Cody, Wyoming, on short notice, leaving behind existing commitments. He initially requested $15,000 due to the abrupt schedule, but Kanye’s team countered with $6,000, which Alexander reluctantly accepted. On arrival, Alexander discovered that “Nebuchadnezzar” was unwritten, and he was expected to complete the composition in four days. He continued to work on the project until the performance day and was then enlisted to work on Kanye’s next opera, “Mary,” without receiving payment for his work on “Nebuchadnezzar.”

Further complications arose when “Nebuchadnezzar” was streamed on Tidal, a detail Alexander alleges Kanye’s team withheld from him. Alexander’s lawsuit argues that Kanye’s companies earned $4 million from the Tidal stream despite Alexander’s work going unpaid.

“[Kanye’s associate] misrepresented… a ‘reasonable rate’… and failed to inform [Charles] that “Nebuchadnezzar” was unfinished,” Alexander’s lawyer stated.

The lawsuit also claims Alexander suffered missed job opportunities and financial harm due to Kanye’s team’s alleged misrepresentations. Alexander is seeking unspecified damages, with Kanye yet to respond to the allegations. This suit adds to other recent legal troubles for Kanye, who was previously sued by a former assistant over alleged misconduct.