Nas’ Mass Appeal Settles Racial Discrimination Lawsuit by Former Executive

Mass Appeal, the record label and media company co-founded by rapper Nas, has settled a 2023 racial discrimination lawsuit filed by former head of development Melissa Cooper. Cooper, a white executive, alleged that she faced racial animosity and discrimination from former content chief Jenya Meggs, who is Black, including being disparaged in meetings and removed from major projects like the Hip Hop 50 Live Concert before her termination. After Cooper's firing, she received text messages from Meggs containing racial insults, which she reported to CEO Peter Bittenbender, who allegedly took no action. Mass Appeal, Bittenbender, and Meggs denied the allegations, asserting that Cooper was fired due to financial reasons and that the contentious messages were taken out of context. The settlement was reached in June 2025, resulting in a joint motion to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, though the terms remain confidential. Nas was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and both parties bore their own legal costs.