Dawn Richard Alleges Unapproved Use of Vocals by Diddy
The singer claims her unreleased recordings were featured on Diddy's latest album without her consent.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in R&B
Dawn Richard recently stated that Diddy used her unreleased vocals on his project, The Love Album: Off the Grid, without authorization. She asserts these tracks were originally intended for a previous Diddy-Dirty Money record.
Why it matters
These allegations emerge alongside ongoing legal tensions between the two artists, following Richard's testimony against Diddy in a federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial.
A federal court dismissed 15 counts from Richard's abuse lawsuit after ruling they were time-barred. The singer previously testified during a sex trafficking and racketeering trial involving Diddy.
The players
Dawn Richard
She is a singer and former member of the group Diddy-Dirty Money who has recently testified in high-profile legal proceedings.
Diddy
He is a music producer and entrepreneur currently facing federal legal challenges involving sex trafficking and racketeering allegations.
Katherine Polk Failla
She is the federal judge who oversaw the dismissal of the lawsuit brought by Richard due to expired statutes of limitations.
Angela Yee
She is a media personality and the host of the program Way Up With Angela Yee.
The details
Richard specifically pointed to the track Deliver Me on the album The Love Album: Off the Grid as containing unauthorized content. She maintains these vocals were recorded during her final period of collaboration with the producer in 2011.
Timeline
Dawn Richard last collaborated with Diddy in 2011.
The singer filed a lawsuit against the producer in 2024.
A judge dismissed the abuse lawsuit in June 2026.
Richard discussed the allegations on Way Up With Angela Yee on October 20, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The dismissal of Richard's claims highlights the impact of statutes of limitations on civil litigation in federal courts. This case underscores the ongoing legal challenges facing major music industry figures regarding historical professional and personal conduct.
These claims bring scrutiny to the production history of The Love Album: Off the Grid and the management of legacy artist materials. Listeners may view the tracks involved with increased attention regarding the professional origins of the featured vocals.
The takeaway
Disputes over legacy recordings highlight the importance of clear intellectual property agreements for artists collaborating on long-term projects. Musicians should prioritize verifying the status and release permissions of archival material before inclusion on new commercial albums.
Further reading
Find more music industry news in the R&B section.
