News of December 26, 2025
Dispute Over Johnny J's Hits: Amaru Seeks Dismissal of Royalty Lawsuit
Lawsuit over “Hit 'Em Up” and “All Eyez On Me”: Johnny J's widow demands royalties; estate company Amaru asks court for dismissal.
At issue are tracks like “How Do U Want It”, “Hit ‘Em Up”, and cuts from All Eyez On Me: in late December 2025, Amaru Entertainment petitioned a Los Angeles court to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Capucine Jackson. The widow of producer Johnny “J” Jackson and her company Klock Work Entertainment are demanding royalties for recordings her husband produced for Tupac. Amaru is the Tupac estate company founded in 1997 by Afeni Shakur.
Amaru Disputes the Interpretation of the 2001 Contract
The lawsuit is based on a producer agreement from May 2001. The proceedings have been underway since October 2022 and were amended again in November 2025: according to the lawsuit, the Jackson family is entitled to a proportionate share whenever Tupac’s heirs receive licensing revenue. Amaru disputes this interpretation.
The hearing was scheduled for March 19, 2026; no decision is reported here. For Johnny J, see Johnny J.