Jay-Z is said to have filed a lawsuit against his D’usse Cognac partner, Barcadi Limited, seeking “financial clarity.”
Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, collaborated with Bacardi through his company SC Liquor in 2011, and the two are co-owners of D’usse; the split was reportedly 50-50.
Since then, he has been seen promoting the brand, including it in his songs and flaunting it during promotional shoots for the Grammy Awards.
However, there appears to be trouble in paradise because SC Liquor now demands transparency from Bacardi, specifically how much money his cognac line makes.
According to court documents, the rapper’s company is requesting access to “all books and records,” as well as the locations of D’usse’s products and materials. D’usse warehouses, barrel storage, bottles, accessories, and other items are included.
Furthermore, SC Liquor maintains the two’s 50-50 partnership, which entitles both parties to access all of the details above, which were allegedly withheld from the rapper’s company.
According to reports, the company also stated that the suit was filed to monitor the conduct of [Bacardi’s] business to protect SC’s rights as an equal partner.
Jay-Z has ensured that D’usse will be a cognac line that no one will forget since its inception in 2012.
The signature bottle and name have become synonymous with the hip-hop community and music scene. In 2013, he was seen drinking it from a Grammy trophy after winning the 55th Grammy Awards.
The spirit is so popular that it has been mentioned in several songs over the years, including Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie,” Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love,” both released in 2013, and Rick Ross’ “The Devil Is A Lie,” released in 2014.
According to reports, a bottle sold for more than $50,000 at Sotheby’s.
It was estimated to be worth between $25,000 and $75,000.
After successfully purchasing the D’usse bottle, Jay-Z said:
“When our cellar master, Michel Casavecchia, discovered the aged liquid at the Château de Cognac and explained how truly one of a kind it is, it was important to me to honor it by doing something that would celebrate its singularity.”
The D’usse hype and clout were still present, but problems between the partners were brewing beneath the surface. There is no word on how the lawsuit will be resolved as of this writing.