Megan Thee Stallion drops ‘Traumazine’ amid record label legal drama

Megan Thee Stallion performs during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las on May 15. Pictures: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Megan Thee Stallion performs during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las on May 15. Pictures: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Published Aug 14, 2022

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Megan Thee Stallion has released her new album, “Traumazine”, amid her record label legal drama.

The “Sweetest Pie” hitmaker has shared the follow-up to 2020’s “Good News” and the 2021 compilation LP “Something For Thee Hotties”.

The 18-song collection includes her Dua Lipa smash hit “Sweetest Pie” and Future-featuring “Pressurelicious”, plus songs with Jhené Aiko, Rico Nasty and more.

And Megan has declared herself “almost out” of her contract with 1501 Certified Entertainment as she claimed this is the final album she will release on the label.

She told her fans – nicknamed Hotties – on Twitter before her latest record’s release: “We almost out. Y’all know I always have problems with dropping my music under this label.

“[A]ll these games and having to go to court just to put out my art has been so stressful.”

She added: “Thank you hotties for rocking with me through the bull**** WE ALMOST OUT LETS STAY FOCUSED AND RUN THIS LAST ONE UP” (sic).

The 27-year-old star was counter-sued by 1501 over “Something for Thee Hotties”.

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The “WAP” hitmaker – whose real name is Megan Pete – filed a lawsuit against 1501 Certified Entertainment in February, “seeking a declaration that her album, ‘Something for Thee Hotties’ constituted an ‘Album’ as defined in the parties’ recording agreement”.

The record in question was released on October 29, 2021.

She claimed she was told on January 5 that the record was not classed as an album under her recording contract.

Her lawyers said in the filing: “1501’s new position, taken months after the album’s release, is clearly a ruse in an effort to try to take further advantage of Pete, at great expense and not in good faith”.

However, 1501 disagreed and filed a fresh lawsuit claiming the release was “made up of 21 recordings and includes spoken interlude recordings on which MTS does not appear as well as several previously-released recordings”.

They argued that the “Savage” hitmaker was only featured on the whole release for less than 30 minutes and that her contract with them includes a clause which states that for it to constitute an album it “must include at least 12 new master recordings of her studio performances of previously unreleased musical compositions”.

However, her side insisted she was told that it would only have to be 45-minutes long.

She took to Twitter to call out the label for allegedly telling her she doesn’t make enough money for them one minute and wanting to make more money from her the next.

She wrote: “First the man over my label said I don’t make him any money … now he counter suing trying to keep me on his label because he wants to make more money lol if I ain’t making you no money why not just drop me?” (sic).

In 2020, Megan accused the label of blocking the release of her new music.

The “Hot Girl Summer” rapper explained that she tried to negotiate aspects of her contract with 1501 after signing a deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation management – who enlightened her to some of the clauses in the deal.

Megan said at the time: “I’m not a greedy person. I’m not a person that likes confrontation. I’m nice and I’m real family-oriented.”

The track-listing for “Traumazine” is:

1. “NDA”

2. “Ungrateful” feat. Key Glock

3. “Not Nice”

4. “Budget” feat. Latto

5. “HER”

6. “Gift and A Curse”

7. “Ms Nasty”

8. “Who Me” feat. Pooh Shiesty

9. “Red Wine”

10. “Scary” feat. Rico Nasty

11. “Anxiety”

12. “Flip Flop”

13. “Consistency” feat. Jhené Aiko

14. “Star” feat. Lucky Daye

15. “Pressurelicious” feat. Future

16. “Plan B”

17. “Southside Royalty Freestyle: feat. Sauce Walka, Big Pokey, Lil Keke

18. “Sweetest Pie” feat. Dua Lipa