21/07/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMPERIAL MARKETING RECORDS FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST RAPPER UPTOWN AND SOLAR STAR MUSIC GROUP OVER RIGHTS TO “SD5”
New York, NY — July 21, 2025 — Imperial Marketing Records (IMR) has officially filed a lawsuit against rapper Uptown and Solar Star Music Group over ownership and rights to SD5, the highly anticipated fifth installment in Uptown’s most successful and streamed album series to date.
The lawsuit alleges that Uptown and Solar Star Music Group attempted to coerce IMR into accepting a trade of Uptown’s 2025 release, Villainous.LowLife.Degenerate (VLD), in exchange for full rights to SD5. IMR contends that no such agreement was ever finalized and that they remain the rightful stakeholders in the SD5 project.
IMR accuses Uptown of attempting to obtain 100% ownership of SD5—despite existing contracts stating that such rights would not revert to him until 2031. According to the suit, IMR advanced Uptown over $65,000 in 2020 to fund SD5’s production, shortly after his original recording contract expired. Additionally, IMR claims to have paid over $30,000 to SLG Global’s lead engineer “ET” for work on the project.
While VLD achieved notable commercial success this year, IMR argues that SD5 has always been the primary focus of its collaboration with Uptown. The label says more than 80 songs were recorded for SD5 under their guidance and investment, making the project a “cash cow” and one of the most valuable assets in Uptown’s catalog.
The situation escalated after Uptown declined to re-sign with IMR and instead inked a new deal with Solar Star Music Group—one that allegedly granted him 99% ownership of his masters, full publishing rights, and a minority stake in the company.
In a statement, a spokesperson for IMR said:
“We’ve supported Uptown’s career from the ground up. Trying to play us out of the very project we helped build is not only unjust—it’s a direct hit to the bread and butter of our label. We will pursue every legal avenue to protect our investment.”
Legal proceedings are expected to unfold over the coming months as both parties prepare for a potentially high-stakes courtroom battle over one of the most anticipated hip-hop projects in recent years.
For media inquiries, please contact:
PR Department
Imperial Marketing Records
📧 [email protected]
📞 (212) 555-0199
