While TI and Tiny are best known for their music careers, they’ve taken a more business-like approach in recent years. The two launched the pop group OMG Girlz in 2009. The group didn’t produce any major hits, but a recent lawsuit did net TI a huge payday. Deadline has confirmed that the couple won a $71 million lawsuit against MGA Entertainment after the record label infringed on their intellectual property rights.
The violation reportedly occurred after MGA launched a line of dolls that infringed on the likeness and style of the OMG Girlz. TI and Tiny were awarded $17,872,359 in actual damages and $53,616,759 in punitive damages. But this was not an easy case to win. The couple had previously filed (and lost) two lawsuits on the same issue. TI and Tiny filed their first lawsuit in January 2023. But the judge dismissed the case after the jury heard prohibited testimony regarding claims of “cultural appropriation.” A second attempt came months later, and ended in a victory for MGA Entertainment.
TI and Tiny thanked the jury for their decision.
TI’s lawyer, John Keville, released a statement after the lawsuit victory. He thanked the jury for “standing up to MGA’s intimidation and false statements.” The rapper and his singer wife have tried to remain quiet about the various lawsuits, but were candid about their optimistic outlook in reaching a court victory. “The judge remained impartial and I appreciate the diligence the jury showed,” Tiny told AllHipHop. “Now that the case is in their hands, I trust they will be fair and rule in favor of OMG Girlz.”
Ironically, OMG Girlz has been inactive for nearly a decade. The girl group was active from 2009 to 2015, briefly reforming in 2017. Since then, they’ve completely shunned the spotlight, and this big buck came from a dormant business venture. TI told a court reporter that their victory against MGA means more than this single copyright infringement case. “This isn’t just a victory for us,” he declared. “It’s a victory for all artists who have had their work stolen without their permission.”
About the Author
Elias is a music writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined the site in 2024 and covers a wide range of topics including pop culture, movies, sports, and of course hip hop. He posts HNHH articles Monday through Friday, especially when it comes to new album and single covers. His favorite artists are Andre 3000, MF Doom, pre-808 Kanye West, and Tyler, the Creator. He likes LA hip hop, but not LA sports teams. The first album he ever bought was Will Smith’s Big Willie Style, which he still says is a pretty good listen.
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