Future is now at the center of a copyright lawsuit after being accused of illegally using a photo of the Atlanta Underground family’s legendary house as cover art for their release, Mixtape Pluto.
Photographer Gary C. Gomez filed a lawsuit claiming the rapper and his affiliates used his images without permission.
The photo was taken at “The Dungeon,” the basement studio where Future’s musical career first took shape. According to the complaint, the photo appeared not only on the cover of the mixtape but also on merchandise sold online and in retail stores.
The lawsuit names Titol Retail, LLC and Wilburn Holding Company, Inc. (both related to Future’s Freebandz brand) as co-defendants. Gomez said he discovered the alleged infringement in October 2023 and contacted Future’s team, but no agreement was reached.
Gomez said he never granted permission or charged any fees to use his work. He is seeking monetary damages, profits generated by the artwork, and a court order preventing further use of the image.
“Mixtape Pluto” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking Future’s third chart-topping album in 2024. The project was widely praised for a return to his early mixtape style and was viewed as a tribute to the legacy of late Atlanta hip-hop pioneers Rico Wade and the Dungeon Family.
The Dungeon was the basement studio of Rico Wade’s mother’s house in East Point, Georgia. It became the creative headquarters for Organized Noize, the production trio consisting of Wade, Sleepy Brown and Ray Murray.
The space helped shape Southern hip-hop in the 1990s, producing hits for OutKast, Goodie Mob and TLC.
The basement’s raw, unfinished look—red clay floors and minimal equipment—became emblematic of the gritty, do-it-yourself spirit that fueled the Dungeon Family collective.
The group included OutKast, Goodie Mob, Killer Mike and Young Future, who recorded early material at the space.
In 2019, Big Boi of OutKast purchased the house to preserve its place in music history.
“Atlanta is my home and I grew up in this house with the Underground Family,” Big Boy said. “We would spend hours hanging out in the basement and stay up all night writing rhymes and putting together beats. Since buying this house, I’m excited to open the doors and welcome the next generation of artists to a space that has inspired countless songs.”
Future and his company are accused of willful copyright infringement and violating federal law by disseminating false copyright management information.
