Four days, a locked door, and an opera that allegedly was not finished. Those are the central details of a new federal lawsuit against Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West.
North Carolina musician Chase Taylor filed the 45-page complaint in a federal court in his home state on Wednesday. He says the 2019 production of Nebuchadnezzar was far from ready when he joined it, according to Billboard.
What Is Chase Taylor Alleging in the Kanye West Opera Lawsuit?
Taylor says he was brought on for a starring role in what he believed was a completed work. After landing in Cody, Wyoming, he claims 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 pleas for unlocked doors, meals, water, and sleep for more than 150 performers were brushed aside. Musicians reportedly rested on the floor between sessions.
Money is a second front. Taylor says he accepted the job after hearing promises of strong pay, a producer credit, and future work. He adds that Nebuchadnezzar and a follow-up opera, Mary, were pitched as nonprofit religious efforts, even though audiences paid for tickets.
The complaint goes further. It claims some of his compositions and arrangements later surfaced on commercial releases, including Travis Scott’s “Telekinesis” and tracks from Vultures 2, without payment.
Taylor seeks damages for fraud, false imprisonment, and unfair business practices, along with relief tied to copyright. Ye’s representatives had not publicly responded as of Friday. The claims remain unproven allegations.
For context, Nebuchadnezzar premiered at the Hollywood Bowl in November 2019, weeks after Jesus Is King, and streamed on Tidal.
It is not the only legal headache the production has produced. 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.
