A new Verzuz battle is brewing. Timbaland and Swizz Beatz sued Triller Tuesday night for breach of contract, claiming they are owed more than $28 million by rising TikTok rivals.
Timbaland and Swizz Beatz launched the series on Instagram shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March 2020. It started as a remote competition and after restrictions were lifted, it became live in-person events streamed in real-time on the social platform and Apple Music. Dozens of artists have been featured throughout the series, including Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Alicia Keys, RZA, and Ludacris. A match between ’90s icons Brandy and Monica filmed at Tyler Perry Studios drew more than 1.2 million concurrent viewers.
Triller announced in March 2021 that it would acquire Verzuz for an undisclosed sum in a deal that made Timbaland and Swizz Beatz shareholders of its parent company, Triller Network.
It is now clear that the total was in the mid eight-digit range. It should be paid in installments: the first upon closing, another shortly thereafter, and two more on the first and second anniversaries of the deal. Triller made the first two scheduled payments, but the company defaulted on its agreement in January 2022, according to the lawsuit filed by attorneys for Singh Singh & Grape in LA County Superior Court.
Timbaland and Swizz Beatz entered into a settlement and payment agreement with Triller in February. Under its terms, Triller was to pay them each $9 million no later than March 17 (and sooner if the company should reach a minimum funding threshold). After that, Triller paid them $500,000 on the first of the month for 10 months. That timeline would be accelerated if the company secured $100 million in funding or if it completed its proposed merger with SeaChange International. An additional $120,000 was pinned for producers’ legal fees.
According to the complaint, Triller was again in default with the agreement. It didn’t make the $18 million in March, nor any of the $1 million monthly installments. Timbaland and Swizz Beatz sent a reminder and payment request in April, but Triller still hasn’t paid.
Notably, their settlement agreement included a waiver of defenses. The Complaint cites the Agreement: “If Triller breaches any payment obligation under this Agreement and fails to remedy the situation within five (5) days of receipt of written notice of such breach, the entire unpaid amount that remains due under this Agreement, expedited and due and payable immediately and with respect to any such breach, Triller hereby permanently waives all claims and defenses of any kind, both legal and equitable (“Claims and Defense(s) Abandoned and Released”), except therefor In fact, a timely payment was made by Triller.”
It also states that “the prevailing party will be awarded its reasonable attorneys’ fees.” With Triller’s only defense under the settlement being “timely payment,” it’s hard to imagine the duo not prevailing.
Timbaland and Swizz Beatz are seeking $28,095,000 in damages plus attorneys’ fees and costs and interest before the verdict.
Triller, which rose to prominence as a video-sharing app, has since acquired a majority stake from Ryan Kavanaugh’s Proxima Media and expanded into live events, including a boxing league called Triller Fight Club.
Triller is no stranger to litigation, having feuded with TikTok and a podcast duo, and faced (among other things) a since-dropped biometric protection class action lawsuit. Neither has Kavanaugh, whose bankrupt Relativity Media has been embroiled in legal battles including a lawsuit from investors, a contractual dispute against Netflix, and claims of a duel with a ousted executive.
Triller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.