Missy Elliott can finally move on from a courtroom fight that has shadowed her for years. On August 22, just as jury selection was set to begin in Philadelphia, Elliott and producer Terry Williams agreed to a settlement that officially ends their long dispute.
Get this, the case dated back to Williams’ claims that he co-wrote several tracks during Elliott’s early days with her group Sista. He pointed specifically to four songs from their 1994 album 4 All the Sistas Around Da World, alleging that Elliott later published the work without giving him proper credit or compensation. Williams even attempted to tie his argument to Aaliyah’s 1996 single “Heartbroken,” but last summer U.S. District Judge Nitza Quiñones Alejandro ruled the claim came far too late, given that more than twenty years had already passed.
But wait, Williams kept pushing forward. He maintained that he deserved recognition as a co-writer and sought damages for breach of contract and what he called unfair profit. Elliott, however, consistently denied the accusations and emphasized that the songs were her own creations.
What’s more, the case stretched on for seven years, with several shifts along the way. Lawsuits against Timbaland and multiple record labels were dismissed, and by 2019 Williams had to represent himself after his attorney stepped away. Despite those setbacks, the legal fight lingered until last week’s settlement finally brought closure.
The terms of the agreement remain private, and neither side has disclosed details. What is clear is that Elliott will not have to defend her legacy in front of a jury. With the settlement secured, she can move forward with her trailblazing career free from the courtroom drama that has followed her for nearly a decade.