Chris Brown Reaches Settlement in Songwriting Dispute Over ‘Sensational’ and ‘Monalisa’
Chris Brown has reached a settlement with a lyricist who claimed he was denied songwriting credit and compensation for two songs that went on to become significant hits in Brown’s catalog, bringing an apparent end to one portion of a lawsuit that raised questions about authorship, royalties, and ownership rights.
According to a new court filing, songwriter Steve Chokpelle and the defendants have reached a “settlement in principle” that will resolve all claims against Brown and Universal Music Group. While the agreement has not yet been finalized in court, the filing indicates that the parties have agreed to end their dispute, effectively removing Brown and the music giant from the case.
The resolution comes just months after Chokpelle filed suit alleging that he played a significant role in the creation of both “Monalisa” and “Sensational,” two songs connected to Brown and his collaborators. In the lawsuit, Chokpelle claimed he wrote lyrics that ultimately became part of the commercially successful recordings but was never properly credited or compensated for his contributions.
Chokpelle alleged that the relationship began in 2020 while he was working alongside Sean Kingston. According to the complaint, he was at Brown’s Los Angeles home when Brown allegedly asked him to help write lyrics for a track that later became “Monalisa.”
The song eventually evolved beyond its original form and was later released in collaboration with Nigerian artists Lojay and Sarz. The record became a notable success within the growing Afrobeats market in the United States, reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats chart.
The lawsuit went further by focusing heavily on “Sensational,” one of Brown’s biggest recent hits. According to Chokpelle, he also wrote the lyrics for an early version of the song before sharing a demo with Brown. He claimed Brown subsequently decided to record the track himself and later released a version featuring Lojay that appeared on his Grammy-winning album 11:11.
Released in 2023, “Sensational” became one of Brown’s strongest commercial performers in recent years. The track reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and crossed over onto the Hot 100, helping fuel the success of 11:11 and further strengthening Brown’s standing as one of contemporary R&B’s most commercially reliable stars.
Chokpelle alleged that despite his role in creating the songs, he received neither proper authorship credit nor any share of the revenue generated by their success. His lawsuit sought a court declaration recognizing him as an author and copyright owner of both works, along with financial damages tied to royalties and other proceeds.
The filing argued that Brown and the other defendants benefited substantially from the commercial exploitation of the songs while Chokpelle received nothing in return. He claimed the records generated significant revenue, particularly “Sensational,” which the lawsuit estimated earned more than $1 million.
Brown’s legal team strongly disputed those claims.
In a motion filed earlier this year, the singer’s attorneys argued that Chokpelle’s ownership claims were filed too late under copyright law. They also maintained that Brown was not responsible for the release and distribution of “Monalisa” and challenged the legal basis of the complaint.
A judge had not yet ruled on Brown’s motion to dismiss when the settlement notice was filed this week, effectively ending the need for a decision on those issues as they relate to Brown and Universal. The settlement does not completely end the litigation.
Court records indicate that Chokpelle is continuing to pursue related claims against Kingston, who remains a defendant in the case. Kingston has not yet formally responded to the complaint.
His legal situation has become increasingly complicated in recent months. Earlier this year, the singer was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after being convicted in a fraud case involving luxury goods and services worth more than $1 million. Prosecutors accused Kingston of orchestrating schemes that allowed him to obtain high-end items, including luxury watches and a customized Cadillac Escalade, without paying for them.
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
