Grammy-winning South African artist Tyla is facing a fresh lawsuit over her global 2023 hit “Water,” with two songwriters accusing her team of cheating them out of rightful royalties.
Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro, who co-wrote the chart-topping track, filed a lawsuit on Friday, July 25, in Los Angeles, alleging that producer Sammy SoSo (Samuel Awuku) orchestrated a “nefarious” scheme to take sole credit for the song’s production, cutting them out unfairly.
The lawsuit also names Sony Music Entertainment, parent company of Tyla’s label, Epic Records. This marks the duo’s second legal move after voluntarily dropping a similar suit filed in March.
Zucca and LoMastro claim they were key contributors during a March 2023 L.A. session that produced elements used in “Water,” but were only offered 10% publishing shares each, while SoSo secured 15% and production credit alone. The complaint accuses SoSo of misleading them into signing off on the lopsided deal.
“Although plaintiffs tried for months to resolve the matter, Awuku refused to cooperate and instead engaged in a pattern of deception,” the filing states.
The lawsuit alleges the track has earned over $10 million since release and could reach $50 million in lifetime revenue. The plaintiffs now seek official producer credits, a revised royalty rate of 12.5% each, and producer fees retroactively.
Neither Tyla, SoSo, nor Sony Music have commented publicly on the new allegations. “Water” peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Tyla her first Grammy for Best African Music Performance.
Watch the video for ‘Water” below.
