Outkast Sues Ovrkast Over ‘Nearly Identical’ Name as Rapper Denies Signing Rebrand Deal

Outkast is suing rapper and producer Ovrkast over what the Atlanta duo calls a “nearly identical” stage name, while Ovrkast now says he never signed the agreement the lawsuit claims required him to rebrand.

High Schoolers LLC, the trademark company controlled by André 3000 and Big Boi, filed the federal lawsuit Sept. 16 against Ovrkast, whose legal name is Silas Wilson. The 31-page complaint accuses him of trademark infringement, unfair competition, trademark dilution, and breach of contract.

The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and assigned to U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross.

Outkast’s company alleges that Wilson continued performing, releasing music, and marketing himself as Ovrkast after agreeing to replace the name with “Overkxst.” The proposed transition was supposed to cover his streaming profiles, website, social media accounts, domain name, merchandise and promotional materials.

Wilson, however, publicly challenged a central part of that account after news of the lawsuit surfaced.

“For the record, I NEVER signed any agreement,” he wrote on social media. Wilson said the discussions were verbal and maintained that he had tried to cooperate while seeking a different name that would work for him.

The complaint itself states that Wilson never signed the final written settlement. High Schoolers argues that a binding deal still existed because the parties had already agreed on the material terms and their lawyers later put those terms into writing.

That disagreement could become significant to the breach-of-contract claim. The court will have to consider whether the negotiations created an enforceable settlement even without Wilson’s signature, alongside the separate trademark allegations over continued use of Ovrkast.

The dispute began in June 2025, when lawyers for Outkast sent Wilson a cease-and-desist letter. According to the complaint, negotiations eventually produced an agreement requiring him to stop using Ovrkast and transition to Overkxst.

Wilson’s attorney later asked to extend the deadline until July 15, 2026, the lawsuit alleges. High Schoolers says it accepted the extension and sent a final agreement in April, but Wilson did not sign it.

Two days before the July deadline, Wilson allegedly proposed alternative stage names instead. Outkast’s company says one had already been rejected during earlier negotiations and the other closely resembled another proposed name it had declined.

High Schoolers sent Wilson a breach notice Aug. 5 and gave him until Aug. 11 to stop using Ovrkast, according to the complaint. The company says he continued operating under the disputed name.

Outkast’s attorneys also point to Wilson’s own comments about listeners confusing Ovrkast with the Grammy-winning duo. In a 2025 Rolling Stone interview cited in the lawsuit, Wilson acknowledged that people sometimes read or hear his name as Outkast while saying he had not chosen it with the group in mind.

Wilson, 28, has built a growing profile as a rapper and producer, including work connected to Earl Sweatshirt and production credits on music by Drake. His continued rise has increased the visibility of the Ovrkast name at the same time the trademark dispute has intensified.

High Schoolers is asking the court to permanently bar Wilson from using Ovrkast or other branding that could be confused with Outkast. The company also seeks profits tied to the disputed name, damages, attorneys’ fees, and destruction of merchandise and promotional materials carrying the Ovrkast branding.

Wilson has continued using Ovrkast on his music and social media accounts while disputing the claim that he broke a signed agreement. His formal response in federal court will give the first detailed indication of how he intends to challenge both the trademark claims and Outkast’s assertion that the earlier negotiations produced an enforceable deal.