Embattled Jamaican vocalist Etana took to Instagram on Thursday morning to share a letter purportedly sent to her management by a representative of VP Records despite their ongoing legal dispute.
In the communication, Richard Browne, VP Records’ A&R, pragmatically inquired about Etana recording a new single for their forthcoming Christmas album. Browne’s message read,
“I’m currently working on a various artiste Christmas album for VP and wanted to know if you’d be interested in recording one of the tracks. Somehow I’m hearing your voice for ‘Little Drummer Boy,’ so I decided to reach out.”
Acknowledging the existing strain between the artist and the label, Browne conceded, “I am aware of issues between You (Etana) and VP Records in the past. However, nothing tried, nothing done. Let me know if interested and more details will follow.”
Etana provided an ample response in the post’s caption, expressing her stance on the matter. She wrote, “The post was deleted but here it is again. The slave master has sent the house slave to the field slave but the field slave cutlass stay sharpen. Shams for the record, I am Still in federal court with VP my fight with them is not in the past. We are still in court…” She continued to address her ongoing legal battle with VP Records, emphasizing the label’s attempts to diminish her rights.
Last December, a New York judge dismissed nine of the fourteen claims Etana had filed against VP Records in a breach of contract and copyright infringement lawsuit. However, the judge granted her two weeks to amend her complaint. The dispute revolves around four contracts, including a recording agreement and a songwriter agreement with VP and Greensleeves Publishing Ltd (GPL), respectively. Etana and her company, Free Mind Music LLC, allege that VP and GPL breached these agreements by failing to pay royalties and other owed monies.
Amidst this backdrop of legal contention, the interaction between Etana and VP Records continues to attract attention and commentary from fans and the industry alike.
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