Chris Brown Settles ‘Sensational’ and ‘Monalisa’ Songwriting Royalties Lawsuit

Chris Brown has reached a settlement in principle in the copyright case over ‘Sensational’ and ‘Monalisa,’ drawing a quiet line under a dispute about songwriting credits and royalties that had pushed two of his recent records back into the legal spotlight.

According to Music Business Worldwide, the notice filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on June 8 says the agreement will remove Brown and several Universal Music entities from the lawsuit brought by songwriter Steve Chokpelle, who alleged he was not properly credited or paid for work tied to the songs. Billboard also reported the settlement this week.

The filing says the claims against Brown and the Universal companies are resolved ‘in their entirety.’ Terms were not disclosed, and the court was asked to pause the case for 30 days so the agreement can be reduced to writing before a stipulation of dismissal is filed.

The settlement does not extend to Sean Kingston, who was named as a co-defendant in the suit. The notice leaves the claims against Kingston, his company Time Is Money Entertainment, and unnamed defendants unresolved for now.

For Brown, the move closes one of the more public royalty disputes attached to his recent catalog. For the wider R&B world, it is another reminder that credits, splits, and publishing paperwork remain as consequential as the record itself.