On July 10, 2025, the Ghana entertainment world was rocked when rising DJ-turned-entrepreneur DJ Azonto filed a staggering $100 million lawsuit against rapper Medikal. In court documents obtained by Pulse Ghana, DJ Azonto claims that Medikal’s latest single, “Shoulder”, illegally used the distinctive chant “Alla”—a phrase he asserts is his trademark and the “cornerstone” of his brand identity.
🔥 The Clash: Intellectual Property Meets Hip‑Hop
According to DJ Azonto’s legal team, Medikal failed to seek permission to use “Alla,” which has become synonymous with Azonto’s performances and remixes. The lawsuit doesn’t stop at finances—it also seeks diamond-studded chains, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and royalties on future uses of the chant, citing damages to Azonto’s reputation and profit potential.
In response, Medikal, known for his quick wit, fired back with online posts dismissing the suit as infernal grandstanding—plus the viral comment “Killa Ntua!” (playfully meaning “killer of stories”) . The water is officially boiling.
⚖️ What This Means for Artistic Rights in Ghana
This high-stakes legal battle isn’t just about two public figures—it spotlights the broader issue of intellectual property rights in Ghana’s music industry. As artists increasingly monetize every catchy hook, dance catchphrase, and anthem, courts may soon be asked to adjudicate what counts as creative trademark territory versus what’s culturally shared.
🎧 Cultural Chants, Cultural Clashes
Chants like “Alla” often simmer in Ghana’s vibrant street dance and club scenes before spilling into mainstream tracks. DJ Azonto’s claim raises a crucial question: Can someone “own” a chant that originates in communal spaces? The case could set a groundbreaking precedent—either validating business-centric ownership of performance elements, or affirming cultural folk-sharing as inviolable.
🧾 The Stakes Ahead
Next steps include a discovery process, witness testimonies, and expert music-licensing specialists—predicted to last months. Both artists have requested an expedited trial, citing reputational urgency as Medikal’s summer release cycles loom.
Fans of both artists have taken to X and WhatsApp groups, with no shortage of memes: some support Azonto’s entrepreneurial stance; others side with Medikal’s freedom-of-expression defense. Either way, this clash has catapulted Ghana’s entertainment law into the limelight.