Lefty Gunplay responds to publishing royalty allegations over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘tv off’

Rapper Lefty Gunplay, whose real name is Franklin Holladay, recently responded to claims made by Audiomack cofounder Brian Zisook on X (formerly Twitter).

On February 16, Zisook alleged that Gunplay had not been earning publishing royalties from his collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on the track ‘tv off’ from Lamar’s ‘GNX’ album.

Zisook claimed that Gunplay was not registered with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO), preventing him from collecting royalties for the song and his other works. He also explained that U.S. songwriters have three years to claim their royalties before the funds are redirected to major publishers.

The next day, Zisook updated his post, stating that “various associates” informed him that Lefty had signed up with BMI, which would allow him to start collecting his royalties.

Lefty, who gained recognition for his feature on ‘tv off,’ responded to the viral thread, which had garnered over three million views. He seemed to confirm that he was now signed with a PRO. Mike Chehade, creative director at OTR Records, also clarified that business related to ‘tv off’ had not been fully finalized.

Following the release of ‘tv off,’ Lefty’s streaming numbers surged by 84%. The song has sold two million units in the U.S. and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.