Aaliyah’s family music rights dispute has escalated into a bitter legal battle as uncle Barry Hankerson blames his own son, Jomo Hankerson, for the singer’s tragic August 2001 plane crash in the Bahamas. Jomo denies the claims and is seeking over $1.2 million in damages for alleged royalty breaches.
What began as a financial dispute over recording masters and music publishing copyrights has taken a deeply personal and explosive turn. Barry Hankerson, the longtime manager and uncle of the late singer Aaliyah, has lobbed a bombshell allegation in court documents, claiming that his son and Aaliyah’s cousin, Jomo Hankerson, bears responsibility for the fatal aviation accident that claimed the artist’s life more than two decades ago.
The Fatal Bahamas Trip and the Uncle’s Court Allegations
According to lawsuit filings obtained by TMZ, Barry Hankerson asserts that Jomo was paid to coordinate travel arrangements for a music video shoot in the Bahamas. Instead of following through on those logistics, Barry claims his son failed in his responsibility
to handle the travel plans properly.
That alleged failure led the singer to board a private jet that ultimately crashed and killed everyone on board. Barry maintains that the tragedy may have been avoided had [Jomo] followed through on his compensated task of travel coordination.
The uncle also stated that his relationship with his son was never the same following Aaliyah’s death in August 2001.
Music Catalog Dispute and the $1.2 Million Lawsuit
Beyond the tragic historical blame-gaming, the courtroom showdown centers on highly lucrative music assets. Jomo Hankerson initiated the lawsuit against his father and his record label, Blackground Records, alleging a breach of a settlement agreement governing recording masters and publishing copyrights. The catalog in dispute covers work associated with Aaliyah, Toni Braxton, DMX, and Timbaland.
Under the terms of that settlement, Jomo claims he is owed 12 percent of the money his father generated from the music assets. However, the lawsuit alleges that Barry utilized the record label to conceal funds and manufacture expenses that have nothing to do with the music assets, all for the purpose of pressuring [him] into accepting less than what he is owed.
To rectify the alleged shortfall, Jomo is seeking over $1.2 million in damages.
Denials and Accusations of Fraud
Both sides have firmly rejected the opposing claims. Barry Hankerson denied all allegations of wrongdoing in the legal filings, arguing that the settlement agreement at the core of the dispute is entirely invalid because it was executed under fraud.
Furthermore, Barry alleged that his son once threatened to release unreleased Aaliyah music if his financial demands were not satisfied. Jomo, for his part, has denied all accusations of wrongdoing leveled against him by his father. The case remains active and ongoing in court.
