As legal tensions heighten within the hip-hop industry, veteran rapper Cam’ron has filed a lawsuit against Grammy-winning artist J. Cole, claiming breach of contract related to their 2024 collaboration “Ready ’24.” The lawsuit, filed in 2025, centers on allegations that Cole failed to honor verbal agreements made during the recording process in 2022, with damages estimated to exceed $500,000.
According to court documents, Cam’ron recorded a guest verse for “Ready ’24,” which samples his group Dipset’s track “I’m Ready,” under the condition that Cole would either collaborate on a future project or make an appearance on Cam’ron’s YouTube sports show “It Is What It Is.”
The Harlem rapper alleges that since mid-2023, Cole has repeatedly declined or ignored requests to fulfill these promises, citing being “too busy” or simply remaining unresponsive to communications.
This dispute isn’t the first collaboration between the two artists, who previously worked together on “95. South,” a track featured on J. Cole’s 2021 album “The Off-Season.” However, their professional relationship has apparently soured, with Cam’ron now seeking legal recognition as a co-author of “Ready ’24” to secure both songwriting credit and royalty payments.
The lawsuit demands a complete accounting of the song’s earnings, including all distributed revenue from sales and streaming. Cam’ron’s legal team has formally requested co-authorship status to ensure he receives a fair share of the song’s commercial success. Financial experts familiar with the case note the significant sum at stake reflects the track’s commercial success since its release as part of Cole’s “Might Delete Later” mixtape.
Industry observers point out that this case highlights the risks associated with verbal agreements in hip-hop collaborations, potentially influencing how artists structure future collaborative projects. The situation underscores a growing trend of artists resolving disputes through legal channels rather than traditional industry mediation.
Music industry analysts suggest this lawsuit represents a broader issue of artists seeking to protect sync licensing rights that could generate substantial income if the track is used in television, film, or commercial productions.
Industry insiders recommend that artists in similar situations consider leveraging editorial playlists on streaming platforms to maintain visibility during legal disputes.
Neither Cam’ron nor J. Cole has issued public statements regarding the ongoing litigation as of November 2025, and the matter remains unresolved in court.
The lawsuit comes amid separate controversies surrounding J. Cole’s mixtape, which significantly included tracks addressing his feud with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar.
