A producer who worked on Ye's biggest recent records says he never saw a royalty check. Then, hours later, he said it's getting handled. Both parts matter, so we're giving you both.
## What he said On Oct. 3, producer Digital Nas announced he's retiring from music. Per Complex, he claimed his deal with YZY gave him "0 royalties" and no publishing. He says he worked on records across Donda, Donda 2 and both Vultures albums, and he named "Hurricane" and "Carnival." He also said he couldn't reach anyone on the YZY staff, so he asked Ye to call him directly. The money, he said, is the reason he can't support his family through music.
HotNewHipHop ran the same story under a headline saying he alleges he wasn't paid at all. Later that same day, Complex reports, he apologized for airing it publicly, said "It's getting handled now," and said he's taking a break from social media. Complex found no official response from Ye or YZY.
## The paper trail This didn't start Friday. Digital Nas had already complained publicly about being left off the credits for "Carnival," the Vultures 1 record that earned a Grammy nomination, per Complex. He's credited on "Paperwork." And in December 2024, HipHopDX reported, citing a Billboard story, that more than ten producers on the Vultures albums lacked signed agreements and hadn't been paid. Music lawyer Bob Celestin told the outlet he had clients in that position. The report said Ye's team offered flat-fee buyouts without royalties, and producers turned them down.
Nobody has proven anything here in court. These are one producer's claims, a 2024 trade report and a stated resolution we can't verify. Keep it that way on air.
## Why every beatmaker should care Look, this is the part we live in. A hit record has a lot of hands on it. If your name and your percentage aren't on paper before the session, all you've got is a text message and a prayer. The flat fee feels good on Tuesday. On a record that goes platinum, that same fee is the whole story of your career.
Get splits in writing before you send the stems. Know the difference between a one-time fee and points. Ask who owns the master and who owns the publishing. We broke the basics down in Producer Points and Splits 301. Read it before your next placement.
## The read Ye is the greatest of all time to a lot of us, and the music speaks for itself. The business side is a different conversation, and producers are the ones who keep having it in public. If it's "getting handled," good. Handle it on paper this time.
## Sources - Complex, Oct. 3, 2026: Digital Nas Claims He's Received '0 Royalties' From Kanye West - HotNewHipHop: Digital Nas tag, Oct. 3, 2026 - Complex: Digital Nas on the "Carnival" credit snub - HipHopDX, Dec. 5, 2024: Kanye West Still Hasn't Paid Many Vultures Producers