Chance the Rapper is suing his former manager Pat Corcoran for over $3 million. Last week, the Coloring Book rapper filed the complaint in Cook County court and accused Corcoran, who also goes by “Pat the Manager,” of exploiting his position to divert business to his own companies.
As reported by The Chicago Tribune, the complaint arrives months after Corcoran filed his own lawsuit against Chance, claiming the artist owed him $3 million or 15 percent of his net income. In the suit, Corcoran said Chance failed to tell him that he was planning on releasing his 2019 album The Big Day months early. He also claimed that Chance’s “unproductive and undisciplined” studio sessions led the album to be a “freestyle-driven product of sub-par quality.”
On Feb. 20, Chance responded to the suit.
“Mr. Corcoran has been paid in full under his management services contract with Mr. Bennett, yet he chose to file a groundless and insulting lawsuit that ignores his own improper self-dealing and incompetence,” Chance’s attorneys told the Tribune. “Mr. Bennett has moved to dismiss the majority of that meritless lawsuit and filed his own lawsuit to remedy the harm that Mr. Corcoran caused through his breaches of duty. Mr. Bennett trusts the legal system to reveal the truth of the parties’ relationship in due course.”
Chance further accused Corcoran of exploiting his position as his manager. Among several allegations, he claims Corcoran “effectively sabotaged” a deal with music distributor UnitedMasters and persuaded Live Nation to purchase wine from his No Fine Print company while the organization was promoting Chance’s tour.
“[Chance] had no idea at the time he agreed to work with Live Nation that Mr. Corcoran had used his connection to Mr. Bennett to promote Mr. Corcoran’s separate business interests,” the suit reads.
The rapper further said Corcoran was a “marginally competent business manager” at best and a “bullying and abrasive self-promoter” at worst. Corcoran is also accused of mishandling Chance’s merchandise, which the rapper says led to a loss of over $1 million in refunds, and failing to create a marketing plan for The Big Day.
Chance is seeking $3 million in total from the former manager, whom he fired last April. He is also asking for a jury trial for his complaint.