Award-winning South African singer Tyla is facing a lawsuit over the production credits and royalties of her breakout hit “Water,” which earned her a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance. The legal dispute, filed in a U.S. court by music producers Olmo Zucca and Jackson LoMastro, names Tyla, British producer Sammy SoSo (Samuel Awuku), and Sony Music Entertainment as defendants.
Zucca and LoMastro allege that they collaborated with SoSo and fellow producer Rayo (Rayan El-Hussein Goufar) during a March 2023 recording session in Los Angeles, contributing significantly to the creation of the song. While they are officially credited as co-writers, the two claim they were unjustly excluded from receiving co-producer credits a move they argue has damaged their professional reputations and hindered future opportunities.
According to the lawsuit, SoSo intentionally sidelined them by entering into a direct agreement with Tyla that credited him alone as the song’s producer. The suit further claims that SoSo misled Zucca and LoMastro into signing a contract that granted them only 10% publishing royalties each, compared to his own 15%, terms they now label as exploitative.
Efforts to resolve the matter privately were reportedly stonewalled by SoSo, whom the plaintiffs accuse of “a pattern of deception.” A key moment cited in the lawsuit was a May 2024 meeting between Zucca and Epic Records president Ezekiel Lewis, during which Lewis allegedly revealed that SoSo had not disclosed the involvement of other producers.
Zucca and LoMastro are now seeking proper recognition as top-line producers and an increase in their royalty share to 12.5% each. They argue that their exclusion has caused them real financial harm and reputational injury.
The lawsuit also emphasizes the commercial success of “Water,” noting that the song has spent 29 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 7, and is expected to generate over $50 million in revenue over time.
As the legal battle unfolds, it casts a shadow over one of 2023’s most celebrated African music hits.
