(Credits: Far Out / Chance the Rapper)
Mon 23 March 2026 17:28, UK
After a five-year court battle in which he countersued his former manager for exploitation, Chance the Rapper has won his legal case, being awarded $35.
The saga began in 2021 when the rapper sued Pat Corcoran, initially seeking $1 million, over the fact that he allegedly abused his position as manager and damaged the star’s reputation.
This had come in response to the fact that Corcoran had earlier attempted to sue Chance the Rapper for $3.8 million, claiming these were unpaid expenses and commissions that related to aspects such as merchandise and touring.
However, after a two-week trial and jury deliberations relating to the case brought by the rapper, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, he was awarded just $35.
The main reason that the case largely failed to transpire for either party was rooted in the fact that their agreement for Corcoran managing Bennett between 2012 and 2020 was never officially put into writing.
Court documents stated that when the pair met in 2012, they only reached a verbal agreement “under which Mr. Corcoran would manage Mr. Bennett’s music career and, during that tenure, would be compensated for his services with 15% of the net profits that Mr. Bennett earned from the exploitation of his music.”
Because of this, when Bennett dismissed his former manager in 2020 due to “inattention, incompetence, betrayals, and competing business direction”, he could not successfully claim damages as the agreement was not bound in writing.
In response to the verdict, Corcoran’s lawyer Jay Scharkey said in a statement via the Chicago Sun Times: “We respect the jury’s decision, but the message to music managers is clear: Get it in writing. The jury award of $35 speaks to how seriously the jury viewed Chance’s case.”
Contrastingly, Bennett told the same publication: “I claim victory in the name of the Lord.”
His lawyer, Precious Jacobs-Perry, added, “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.“
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