Lola Young is taking a stand to protect her music. The fast-rising British singer-songwriter has filed a legal claim against Carter Lang, the American producer and co-writer behind her breakout hit “Messy.” Young, 24, lodged an intellectual property claim in a London court this month after Lang asserted he should receive songwriting credit on four of her songs. Lang – best known for his work with SZA, Post Malone and Doja Cat – collaborated with Young on several tracks for her 2024 debut album and 2025 follow-up, and is officially credited as a co-producer on “Messy” itself. But Young vehemently disputes that Lang contributed to the additional songs he’s now staking a claim to.
In a statement, Young’s legal team “strongly refuted” the producer’s assertions and said they had “no choice but to respond” with court action after months of unresolved dispute. “We will not allow Lola’s reputation and integrity to be called into question – particularly so long after the sessions took place and agreements were put in place,” Young’s lawyers declared. They emphasized that Lola Young “has always been authentic in her songwriting process and acknowledges songwriting contributions where appropriate,” adding that they look forward to the truth being established in court. Young herself has not commented publicly on the case, but sources close to the singer say she was frustrated by what she views as an attempt to unfairly cash in on her success.
It’s unclear if “Messy” – Young’s chart-topping, platinum-certified single – is among the four songs at issue, or if the dispute centers on other tracks from her albums. The legal claim, filed jointly by Young and her publisher Sony Music, comes at an already tumultuous time for the rising star. Just last week, Young canceled a string of U.S. shows after collapsing on stage due to exhaustion. Despite the setbacks, the BRIT Award nominee remains one of the UK’s most buzzed-about new voices. By taking on a former collaborator in court, Lola Young is sending a clear message: she’s determined to defend her art and authorship, no matter how messy the fight becomes.
