Four days, a locked door, and an opera that allegedly was not finished. That is the story in a new federal lawsuit against Ye, and it is a wild one. A North Carolina musician says he showed up for a starring role and ended up trapped in a high school band room.
Chase Taylor filed the 45 page complaint in federal court in North Carolina on Wednesday, HotNewHipHop reported, citing Billboard. These are allegations only, and nothing has been proven.
What Taylor Claims Happened
Taylor says he believed Nebuchadnezzar, the 2019 production, was a completed work when he signed on. He claims that after he landed in Cody, Wyoming, he learned the music still had to be written and polished for the stage in four days.
The suit says he was taken to a high school band room and kept there. In the complaint’s words, the defendants “locked the door and ordered Taylor to work until the opera was done.”
He also alleges that his requests for unlocked doors, meals, water, and sleep for more than 150 performers were brushed aside. Musicians reportedly rested on the floor between sessions.
The Money Side
This is not just about the room. Taylor says he took the job after hearing promises of strong pay, a producer credit, and future work. He also says Nebuchadnezzar and a follow up opera, Mary, were pitched as nonprofit religious efforts, even though audiences paid for tickets.
Then comes the part that will get the music world talking. The complaint claims some of his compositions and arrangements later showed up on commercial releases without payment, including:
- Travis Scott’s “Telekinesis”
- Tracks from Vultures 2
Taylor is seeking damages for fraud, false imprisonment, and unfair business practices, along with relief tied to copyright.
Not the First Legal Headache
Nebuchadnezzar premiered at the Hollywood Bowl in November 2019, weeks after Jesus Is King, and streamed on Tidal. It has now produced more than one legal problem.
- New York composer Willie Alexander sued last year, saying he was summoned to Wyoming on short notice and went unpaid.
- His case is pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court, with a settlement conference set for January 12, 2027.
- A separate wage dispute over the same shows reportedly ended in a $1.35 million settlement.
What’s Next
Ye’s representatives had not publicly responded as of Friday. Until they do, or until a court weighs in, we only have one side of the story on the table. We will be watching to see how Ye’s camp answers, especially on the claim that Taylor’s work ended up on major releases.
The Takeaway
Whatever a court decides, the pattern of legal fights around this one opera is hard to ignore. When creative work, big promises, and no clear paperwork collide, somebody usually ends up in front of a judge.