Jay-Z is fighting back against renewed accusations from a New Jersey man claiming to be his son, calling the decades-long paternity case nothing more than harassment. The hip-hop mogul also faces backlash from Nicki Minaj over an alleged $200 million dispute tied to the Tidal streaming platform.
In court filings obtained by Us Weekly, Jay-Z’s legal team responded to a federal lawsuit submitted May 6 by 32-year-old Rymir Satterthwaite, who claims he is the result of a brief relationship between Jay-Z and his late mother Wanda in the early 1990s.
The rapper’s team emphasized that the matter has been litigated and dismissed in multiple courts. They argued that continued efforts to revive the paternity claim amount to legal abuse. According to the filing, Carter only learned about the most recent lawsuit on June 3 and requested more time to prepare a response.
Jay-Z: Decades of denial and courtroom rejections
Satterthwaite, who is not represented by an attorney, alleges that Jay-Z has spent years dodging DNA tests and using legal power to shut down his efforts. The lawsuit includes claims of emotional distress and wrongful dismissal of earlier cases related to child support and education costs.
Despite saying he is not seeking money, Satterthwaite is asking for damages linked to what he describes as deliberate legal suppression. He said in a previous interview that he has faced threats and even claimed his car was shot six times in an alleged warning to stop talking about the case.
Jay-Z’s camp has consistently denied the allegations. His representative dismissed the latest suit as meritless, stating that the fabricated claims have already been rejected by courts.
Nicki Minaj reignites drama with Tidal ownership accusation
While Jay-Z battles the paternity case, Nicki Minaj has launched her own explosive allegation. In a recent post on social media, she claimed the Blueprint rapper owes her between $100 million and $200 million tied to her equity in Tidal.
Minaj says she was offered only $1 million for her shares when Tidal was sold to Jack Dorsey’s Square in 2021. She accused Roc Nation of undervaluing her stake and said the money is accumulating interest. The rapper also drew attention to the Satterthwaite controversy, posting a reference to the case alongside a caption that read, “To God be the glory.”
Jay-Z has not publicly commented on Minaj’s accusations. However, the dual controversies are building pressure on the 54-year-old billionaire, who has largely avoided addressing either issue directly.
As court filings pile up and artists speak out, industry insiders are watching closely to see whether Jay-Z will finally break his silence in a meaningful way — or if the next blow will come from inside his own circle.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.