Pitchfork.com
Chance the Rapper has emerged successful in a years-long legal battle with his former manager Pat Corcoran.
A Chicago jury rejected Corcoran’s $3.8 million claim against the artist, bringing an end to a dispute that dates back to 2020. The case centered on an alleged verbal agreement from 2013, which Corcoran argued entitled him to a 15% share of profits across the rapper’s business ventures, along with a three-year sunset clause that would continue payments even after the end of their work together.
However, attorneys for Chance, Chancelor Bennett, maintained that no such terms were ever formalized in writing. That absence ultimately proved crucial in the legal battle. After more than two weeks of testimony in Cook County, jurors sided with the artist, dismissing the former manager’s claims in full.
The jury also ruled in favor of Chance on a countersuit filed in 2021, which accused Corcoran of interfering with business relationships and failing to uphold his obligations. Yet despite seeking $1 million in damages, the rapper was awarded just $35, a symbolic figure that underscored the difficulty of quantifying the alleged harm.
Corcoran, who was dismissed in 2020 and replaced by Chance’s brother and father, argued he was owed millions in unpaid commissions. Meanwhile, the artist’s legal team painted a different picture, alleging that the manager had already been overcompensated.
Testimony from Chance’s father, Kenn Bennett, added further context, describing internal frustrations during the release of the 2019 album “The Big Day.” According to Bennett, efforts to sustain momentum behind the project were met with inaction, signaling a turning point in the partnership.
In the end, the case serves as a cautionary tale for the industry: even long-standing business relationships can unravel without clear, written agreements.
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