Chance The Rapper Wins in Legal Battle Against Ex-Manager

Chance The Rapper’s legal back-and-forth with his former manager, Pat Corcoran, has finally come to an end after 5 years of wrangling and lawsuits. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a Cook County jury ruled in Chance’s favor, finding that Corcoran failed to prove he was owed the $3.8 million in unpaid commissions and royalties he sought in his lawsuit against his former business partner.

A statement was issued from Precious Jacobs-Perry, Chance The Rapper’s attorney, calling it “a complete vindication” for the Grammy winner.

“The jury heard the evidence for more than two weeks and reached the correct conclusion: Mr. Bennett never agreed to pay commissions after his management relationship with Pat Corcoran ended, and Mr. Corcoran breached their contract,” she says. “This ruling is not only a victory for Mr. Bennett, it is a victory for independent artists everywhere... And, above all, we are happy for our client who has been standing on principle for years.“

Chance (real name Chancelor Bennett) filed a $1 million countersuit against Corcoran, which the jury also ruled on, deciding that Corcoran must pay Bennett $35, and recommended that Corcoran turn over the internet domain name ChanceRaps.com, which Corcoran had used to sell Chance the Rapper merchandise. Corcoran’s team treated the decision as a legal victory. 

“We respect the jury’s decision, but the message to music managers is clear: Get it in writing,” said Jay Scharkey, one of Corcoran’s attorneys. “The jury award of $35 speaks to how seriously the jury viewed Chance’s case.”

Chance and Corcoran worked together from 2012 to 2020, appearing to be an example of a successful independent artist-manager partnership without record label interference. Corcoran was terminated in April 2020 after the poor reception to Chance’s album, The Big Day. Corcoran would claim that he and the rapper had a “sunset clause” entitling him to 3 more years of earnings following his termination.