Jimmy Duval Files Lawsuit Against XXXTentacion for Unpaid Royalties

It’s always a sensitive topic in the world of music when a young and beloved artist dies unexpectedly. Much of the hip-hop community is still mourning the death of XXXTentacion, who was shot and murdered in his vehicle on June 18 of last year. However, the rapper left behind a considerable debt of unpaid royalties to producer and alleged friend Jimmy Duval, who is now suing the estate of XXXTentacion for $1 million.

While the rapper’s fan base was quick to attack Duval on Twitter, these attacks failed to recognize the complex reality of the situation. Duval produced XXXTentacion’s breakout 2015 single “Look at Me!” – the platinum hit that’s inarguably responsible for the rapper’s success in the mainstream. Although the song was released in 2015, the track didn’t pick up momentum until it resurfaced two years later. Following that traction, X appeared on the cover of XXL Magazine, performed “Look at Me!” at Rolling Loud, and debuted an album that ranked number two on the US Billboard – and during that whole time, Duval received no royalties.

According to Duval’s statement to XXL, he was removed from all credits once the song made its way to major streaming platforms. “…all rights and royalties owed to me were immediately averted,” says Duval. “It goes without saying that everyone deserves credit for their contributing works. My friend is no longer with us and [I’m] only asking to remain apart of the legacy that we created together with ‘Look at Me.’”

Duval goes on to say that he initially pursued this issue as a private matter with no prevail. Following X’s death, it is hard to imagine a “reasonable” time to file the lawsuit publicly. The scrutiny Duval is facing is inventible, however, it holds no merit.

Dead or alive, the circumstances are simply inexcusable – an artist is legally entitled to compensation for their work. It is unfair that the Florida rapper’s estate, ran by his mother Cleopatra Bernard, continue to reap the benefits of the single while Duval is demonized by the public for standing up for himself. Just as X made a living off of his rapping, Duval makes a living off of his beats. For a young and upcoming producer, those credits could have resulted in even bigger placements and guaranteed longevity.

To make matters worse, the beat wasn’t meant for XXXTentacion in the first place. During a 2018 interview with Billboard, Duval explains that he had sent the beat to someone else, and it “just found its way to him.” Duval was a fan of X and the two made plans to collaborate in the future.

Those plans never came to fruition due to X’s intensive touring schedule. However, it did lead to a collaboration with Ski Mask the Slump God, a rapper who worked frequently with X. Like X, Ski Mask eventually went on to perform at Rolling Loud and appear on the cover of XXL Magazine. Even though Ski Mask is largely less successful than X, he still managed to pay royalties and properly credit Duval on their collaborations. There is no reason we should not hold X’s estate to that same standard.

When the song originally hit a million plays on SoundCloud, X had informally agreed to credit Duval. As X rose to stardom, he became harder to get in contact with. Still, Duval told Billboard that there was no bad blood between them. Four years after the collaboration, the narrative seems to be a rapper exploiting his fan and taking his work.

Interestingly, Ski Mask and other Florida-based rappers who worked closely with X did not attack Duval on Twitter. Perhaps they understood the importance of being compensated for your art.

But one hip-hop figure, a fellow Florida producer named DJ Scheme, didn’t empathize with Duval. Scheme tweeted that Duval was a “f*cking p*ssy” and questioned the authenticity of Duval and X’s alleged friendship. Following Scheme’s tweets, X fans endlessly harassed the Duval. One must wonder if the tables were switched, and DJ Scheme was stripped of the rights to a platinum charting hit, if he’d defend himself or just sit quietly, knowing he was neglected enormous streaming revenue and proper recognition. Duval has become the victim of displaced anger. Many fans, including Duval, consider X a legend. X’s fan base is upset that such a young, talented artist was murdered in cold blood. But Duval is not responsible for X’s death. Duval is responsible for introducing the world to X’s music, however. He contributed to a major part of hip-hop history, just as studio engineers who worked with Kurt Cobain contributed to a major part of alternative rock history. He deserves to be recognized and compensated for that contribution.