Liberian Songwriter Claims Chris Brown Owes Him Millions Over Hit Songs
R&B superstar Chris Brown is facing a federal lawsuit from Liberian songwriter Steve Chokpelle, professionally known as Mvsoo or Muse, who alleges he was cut out of songwriting credit and royalties on two of Brown’s successful songs, “Sensational” and “Monalisa.”
According to court documents filed Wednesday, February 4, in Manhattan federal court, Chokpelle claims he co-wrote the lyrics to both tracks but has not received any compensation despite what he describes as “millions in revenues, acclaim, accolades and goodwill” generated from their commercial success.
As previously reported, Chokpelle says his involvement with “Monalisa” dates back to a 2020 writing session at Chris Brown’s home in Tarzana, California, where he was present with Brown and Jamaican singer Sean Kingston. During that session, Chokpelle alleges he was asked to write the song’s lyrics. The track was later released and gained international attention, particularly after a 2022 version involving Nigerian artists Lojay and Sarz.
According to Billboard, “Monalisa” went on to peak at No. 8 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart and reached No. 38 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart. Despite the song’s success, Chokpelle alleges he was never credited and “never received any compensation.”
The lawsuit further claims that Chokpelle also wrote the lyrics for “Sensational,” which appeared on Brown’s 2023 album 11:11. According to Billboard, the song topped the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100. Chokpelle says he worked on the song alongside Nigerian producer Onyekachi Emenalo, known professionally as Krazytunez, before sharing it with Brown.
While Chokpelle is listed as a composer in some credits for “Sensational,” he alleges that he was deliberately excluded from the song’s copyright registration documents. As a result, he claims he has received “no revenues whatsoever” from the track, which the lawsuit estimates generated more than $1 million.
“Defendants sustained a tremendous benefit, and shall continue to receive tremendous benefit, by earning millions in revenues, acclaim, accolades and goodwill from the commercial exploitation of ‘Monalisa’ and ‘Sensational,’” the lawsuit states, according to Billboard, adding that the defendants were “unjustly enriched” by failing to acknowledge or compensate him.
Chokpelle is asking the court to formally recognize him as an author and co-copyright owner of both songs. He is also seeking at least $1 million in damages, citing claims of unjust enrichment and fraud. The defendants named in the lawsuit include Chris Brown, Sean Kingston, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG).
According to Billboard, representatives for Brown, Sony Music, and UMPG did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sean Kingston could not be reached, as he is currently serving a federal prison sentence following a fraud conviction in an unrelated case.
The lawsuit has drawn attention not only because of the global profile of the artists involved, but also because Chokpelle is a Liberian creative, highlighting ongoing concerns about songwriter rights, credit transparency, and fair compensation for African and diaspora writers contributing to international hit records.
