Kanye West has been accused of locking musicians in a room to complete his 2019 biblical opera.
In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in federal court in North Carolina, musician Chase Taylor alleged that he was recruited for a major role in what he thought was a completed opera, Nebuchadnezzar.
However, when he arrived in Wyoming with less than a week before the production’s premiere at the Hollywood Bowl, he was ushered into a high school band room and allegedly locked inside with other performers. He learned the opera was far from finished, and he was allegedly expected to compose a lot of the music and get the show “performance-ready in just four days”.
“Defendants locked the door and ordered Taylor to work until the opera was done. To secure Taylor’s compliance, defendants including West promised lucrative compensation, producer credit, and future work,” his lawyers stated, noting that the credit and future work never materialised, reports Rolling Stone.
According to the lawsuit, West and his team allegedly didn’t provide enough food and water for the number of people involved in the show.
“Taylor objected to the abusive conditions and asked defendants (through West’s producer) to unlock the band room doors, provide sufficient food and water, and provide appropriate time off for the musicians to sleep. Defendants ignored these requests,” they argued.
Taylor also alleged that the Stronger hitmaker incorporated his compositions and arrangements into other songs, such as Travis Scott’s Telekinesis, without his permission or compensation.
The musician is seeking a court ruling recognising his copyright, a share of profits from the allegedly infringing songs, and damages for alleged fraud, false imprisonment, and unfair business practices.
This is not West’s first lawsuit over Nebuchadnezzar. Fellow musician Willie Alexander made similar allegations in his complaint and sued the rapper for negligent and intentional misrepresentation, misappropriation of his likeness, and false promises. A settlement conference is scheduled for 12 January.
Separately, the Touch the Sky hitmaker agreed to pay $1.35 million (£1 million) to settle a class-action lawsuit representing hundreds of people involved in the production. The settlement was approved in July 2025, and more than 600 people received cheques.
