Earlier this year, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) released two collaborative albums with singer/rapper Ty Dolla $ign: Vultures 1 and Vultures 2. The former, released in February of this year, went on to sell over 817,000 copies - including over 1 billion streams - and has earned Ye yet another Grammy nomination.

However, thanks to a recent report by Billboard, it has now come to light that many of the producers who worked on these projects have yet to be paid for their contributions.

The attorneys of over 10 producers who worked on Vultures 1 told Billboard that their clients have yet to receive the fees, royalties, and publishing incomes that ought to come with having a production credit. Some producers are now experiencing similar issues with their contributions to Vultures 2, which was released this past August.

Bob Celestin, a music attorney, told Billboard:

“We have clients who’ve produced music on the Vultures album(s) and have still not been paid for their services even though both albums have been released. Presently, we have no idea when payment will be made, which is so unfortunate and unfair. You would think Ye would be more sensitive to this issue because he is a producer.”

Celestin and several other attorneys have now come together in a coordinated effort to make sure their clients (none of whom are named in the article) are properly compensated for their contribution to the project.

This has proven to be inordinately complicated. According to the article, this team of attorneys planned to send a letter to Create Music Group - Ye's distribution company - threatening legal action. However, by the time the letter was drafted, Ye had switched distributors.

"[We] have no recourse besides to try to sue [Ye],” one attorney told Billboard.

Ye's representation did not respond to Billboard's request for comment.

This situation is reflective of a widespread problem in the music industry. According to one of the lawyers Billboard spoke with about this story, "nine out of 10 deals, the producer has not been paid the day the music comes out." This is in part due to the impossibly large volume of new music released at any given moment, as well as the trend towards long lists of collaborators; Ye especially is known for his collagist approach to music, one which involves the input of many performers, songwriters, and producers. This means that there is all the more paperwork and red tape to maneuver through before a collaborator can actually get paid.

Tim Kappel, an entertainment attorney, told Billboard,

“The industry’s ‘back of house’ infrastructure really isn’t designed to handle dozens of producers and other collaborators on a single project. There are inevitably going to be delays even when everyone is operating in good faith. Throw in a few bad actors here and there, and it’s easy to understand why producers are feeling aggrieved.” 

According to sources close to Ye, the superstar is planning on releasing Vultures 3 soon. Time will tell how this new project will complicate matters further.