Dipset affiliate J.R. Writer has pursued legal action against Universal Music Group for master and publishing royalties on 2000s songs by Cam’ron and Juelz Santana.
The freestyle battler and songwriter, born Juan Rusty Brito, filed suit in Manhattan federal court on Friday (June 5), demanding what he says is his share of the master and publishing royalties of Cam’ron song “Shake” and Santana song “Squalie.” “Shake” was featured on Killa Cam’s classic fourth album, Purple Haze, while “Squalie” was on Santana’s debut album, From Me to U, which released in 2003, the year before Purple Haze.
Writer is claiming that despite being both a featured artist and a co-writer on both tracks, UMG is not paying him, saying that they need approval from the song’s primary artist or their label. Writer says that’s unnecessary since he’s credited as a writer both on the songs’ copyrights and on streaming platforms’ metadata. In addition, per the complaint, he already receives royalties from ASCAP and SoundExchange for the tracks.
Writer says that he began trying to work with UMG’s royalty helpdesk back in April of 2025 and submitted all the documentation they asked for, only to be told that they needed the aforementioned approval from the primary artist or label. He further says that he got verbal approval from someone at UMG that the situation would be remedied, only to have them walk that decision back.
Writer is asking for a full accounting of the songs’ revenues, royalties, interest, damages, and a correction of UMG’s internal records.
The rapper’s attorney, Kiara Santos, told Complex: ““Artists have been taken advantage of for too long. Our firm fights to make sure talent is appreciated and fairly compensated.”
In 2017, Writer was interviewed by Complex’s Shawn Setaro and denied being “disgruntled” as the Dipset camp began pursuing solo careers by the mid-2000s.
