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“NBA YoungBoy Hit With $1M Merch Lawsuit Weeks Before MASA Tour — Accused of Cutting Out Longtime Partner”

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 29: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Rapper NBA YoungBoy performs onstage during Lil Baby & Friends concert to promote the new release of Lil Baby's new album "Street Gossip" at Coca-Cola Roxy on November 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Key Takeaways

  • Westside Merchandising is suing YoungBoy Never Broke Again over what it alleges was a breach of an exclusive merchandise deal.
  • The company claims the rapper attempted to cut them out of the tour after receiving a new advance from another merch partner.
  • The lawsuit also accuses NBA YoungBoy of interfering with other business opportunities, including a failed retail deal with Pure Atlanta.

A Long-Simmering Conflict Boils Over

As YoungBoy Never Broke Again prepares for his Make America Slime Again (MASA) Tour, a significant legal storm has emerged. On August 8, 2025, Westside Merchandising filed a federal complaint in the Central District of California, accusing YoungBoy and his label of breaching an exclusive licensing contract Justia Dockets & FilingsBlack Promoters Collective (BPC).


The Core of the Lawsuit

According to the filing, Westside provided YoungBoy with a $1 million advance in 2023, securing the exclusive rights to sell his merchandise both online and live. The deal also mandated that the rapper actively promote the merch—especially via Instagram Rap-UpBlack Promoters Collective (BPC).

However, Westside alleges that YoungBoy failed to fulfill his marketing obligations, citing that he spent most of the contract period in prison on gun charges—even after his release and presidential pardon, no promotion occurred Rap-UpBlack Promoters Collective (BPC)HypeFresh Inc.

Timing Adds Fuel to the Fire

Tensions escalated in May 2025, shortly after YoungBoy announced the MASA Tour (set to begin September 1 at Dallas’s American Airlines Center) Rap-UpiHeartBlack Promoters Collective (BPC). Westside claims YoungBoy sent a letter terminating their agreement, citing “poor performance,” while allegedly securing a new advance from another merch provider—directly conflicting with the exclusivity clause Rap-UpBlack Promoters Collective (BPC)HotNewHipHop.

In Westside’s words:

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“YoungBoy has embarked on a nationwide 32-date lucrative tour, and defendants have obviously obtained a new advance from another company to handle the touring merchandise…” Rap-UpBlack Promoters Collective (BPC)


Collateral Damage: Pure Atlanta Partnership

The complaint also highlights a collateral fallout: a promising retail partnership with Pure Atlanta, which Westside alleges collapsed after YoungBoy publicly criticized the store’s founder in an Instagram comment, calling her “unprofessional and clout chasing”—effectively scuttling the deal Rap-UpBlack Promoters Collective (BPC).


What Is Westside Seeking?

Westside is asking the court to:


Why It Matters

Merch sales are no small change. As one industry insider told Billboard, “tour merch can easily rival ticket sales in profitability”—so being excluded from the merch stream during a high-profile, 32-date arena run is a serious financial blow HypeFresh Inc.


Timeline at a Glance

DateKey Event
2023Westside advances $1M, signs exclusive merch deal with YoungBoy.
2023–Mid 2025Westside alleges promotion by YoungBoy never materialized due to incarceration.
May 2025YoungBoy announces MASA Tour and sends termination notice citing “poor performance.”
Aug 8, 2025Westside files lawsuit (Case No. 2:25-cv-07415) seeking rights and damages.
Sept 1, 2025MASA Tour is scheduled to kick off.

Conclusion

This lawsuit frames a major conflict at the intersection of artistry, business, and legal obligation. For Westside Merchandising, it’s about enforcing what they say was a legally binding deal. For YoungBoy and his camp, it appears to be a shift towards a potentially more lucrative merch partnership ahead of a critical tour.

As of now, there’s been no public statement from YoungBoy or his representatives Rap-UpRadio 88.8 – DemoHypeFresh Inc. With the tour just weeks away, the case could move quickly—and its outcome may alter the merch landscape for both parties.


Stay tuned—I’ll keep an eye on how this unfolds as the tour launch approaches.

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