DJ Mustard is the subject of a lawsuit from a childhood acquaintance, TMZ reports today (December 2).
“Music composer Mike Free says he actually wrote, composed and recorded the music that ended up becoming Tyga’s hit … ‘Rack City’ … “ TMZ says. “But in a new lawsuit he says DJ Mustard isn’t giving him his due — in terms of credit AND cash.”
In the lawsuit, Free is seeking royalties and full credit on all the songs he claims to have created.
“In the suit, Free says he and Mustard were childhood friends who made a deal to share composer and producer credits,” the article says. “According to Free … he had tons of ideas for tracks … while Mustard had the connections to sell ’em.”
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Free alleges to have worked on YG’s “My Hitta,” 2 Chainz’s “I’m Different,” Jeremih’s “Don’t Tell ‘Em,” Jamie Foxx’s ”Party Ain’t a Party” and Big Sean’s “I Don’t Fuck With You.”
DJ Mustard detailed his producing process for the Big Sean song in an interview with HipHopDX in March. Mustard says he collaborated on the track with KeY Wane and Kanye West, but made no mention of Mike Free.
DJ Mustard’s music developed out of the Los Angeles party scene in the late ‘00s that birthed the “Jerk Movement.” Mustard signed as an artist with RocNation management in 2013. Both “Rack City” and “My Hitta” achieved multi-platinum status.
Later in the interview with DX, DJ Mustard says that it’s important to expand his sound while maintaining individual identity.
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“At first when I used to do beats I’d be like, ‘God, everything sounds the same. I gotta switch it,’” Mustard said. “But it’s not about how you switch it. It’s about how you change it in your own way to keep it so that it’s still you. I don’t take it for granted. I feel like God got a plan. I think it’s way bigger than me, you, YG. I think it’s bigger than all of this. You’ve got to really work and not take it for granted and really focus on your music.”
