Jamaican dancehall singer Cutty Ranks has filed a lawsuit against Payday Publishing, alleging the company underpaid him at least $3 million in royalties from El Chombo's 2018 hit 'Dame Tu Cosita.' Ranks claims Payday failed to deliver on licensing agreements promising him at least 75% of the song's composition royalties. The suit seeks damages and legal fees.
Cutty Ranks, born Philip Thomas, co-wrote and featured on 'Dame Tu Cosita' with El Chombo for the 1997 album Cuentos de la Cripta 2. The track gained massive popularity two decades later through a viral social media video featuring an alien dancing to it. In 2018, French label Juston Records commissioned an extended version, which was remixed with Karol G and Pitbull. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart and No. 36 on the Hot 100 that year. Around the same time, Ranks entered licensing deals with Payday Publishing—formerly Ultra Music Publishing, owned by Patrick Moxey—under which the company agreed to administer his composition rights and pay him at least 75% of royalties. In a lawsuit filed on March 25, Ranks alleges Payday breached these agreements by failing to remit payments and provide accountings. His lawyer, Catherine Gibson, stated in the filing: “Plaintiff and defendant had an agreement for defendant to provide certain percentages of net sums received under the agreement. Defendant has failed to remit such sums and has failed to provide an accounting of such sums.” Ranks sent a notice of default to Payday last year without resolution. He now seeks at least $3 million in damages for breach of contract, plus reimbursement for legal fees. A representative for Payday did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company rebranded from Ultra Music Publishing last year following a trademark dispute with Sony, which acquired Moxey's Ultra Records label in 2022. El Chombo is not a party to this lawsuit. This marks another legal dispute involving 'Dame Tu Cosita.' In 2021, Jamaican producers Steely & Clevie sued El Chombo, claiming the song infringed their 1989 track 'Fish Market' and alleging they originated the reggaetón dembow rhythm used by artists including Bad Bunny, Drake, Daddy Yankee, Luis Fonsi, and Justin Bieber. That case remains ongoing.
