Hip-hop legends OutKast are taking a stage-name dispute to federal court.
High Schoolers LLC, the company controlled by André 3000 and Big Boi, has filed a lawsuit against Oakland rapper and producer Silas Wilson, who performs under the name Ovrkast. The complaint accuses Wilson of trademark infringement, unfair competition, trademark dilution and breach of contract. It was filed September 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
How the Dispute Started
According to the lawsuit, OutKast’s representatives sent Wilson a cease-and-desist letter in June 2025, arguing that Ovrkast. was too similar to the duo’s OutKast name and could cause confusion.
The parties then entered negotiations. High Schoolers LLC claims they reached an agreement for Wilson to stop using Ovrkast. and transition to OVERKXST, including changing the name across his music platforms, website, social media, merchandise and promotional materials.
The lawsuit says the deadline for the transition was extended to July 15, 2026. OutKast’s company alleges Wilson did not complete the change and continued using Ovrkast. professionally.
The complaint also references a 2025 Rolling Stone interview in which Wilson acknowledged that some people had mistaken his name for OutKast. OutKast’s attorneys cite those comments as evidence of potential consumer confusion.
Ovrkast. Disputes the Agreement
Wilson has challenged OutKast’s account of the negotiations.
After news of the lawsuit became public, he said he never signed an agreement requiring him to change his name. Wilson said the discussions were verbal and maintained that he had tried to cooperate while looking for a replacement name that worked for him.
That disagreement could become an important issue in the case. OutKast’s company maintains that the parties agreed on the material terms of the settlement even though Wilson did not sign the final written agreement. Wilson disputes that an enforceable agreement was reached.
Who Is Ovrkast.?
Wilson has developed a following as an Oakland-raised rapper and producer, gaining wider attention through his work with artists including Earl Sweatshirt. His production credits have also included work connected to Drake and Lil Yachty.
His 2020 project Try Again helped establish him in the independent hip-hop scene, while his production work has continued to expand his profile.
OutKast—formed by André 3000 and Big Boi in Atlanta in the early 1990s—became one of hip-hop’s most influential groups, earning six Grammy Awards and selling millions of records. The duo was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.
What OutKast Is Seeking
High Schoolers LLC is asking the court to permanently prevent Wilson from using Ovrkast. or other branding it considers confusingly similar to OutKast.
The company is also seeking damages, profits allegedly connected to the disputed name, legal fees and the destruction of merchandise and promotional materials carrying the Ovrkast. branding. The complaint does not specify a dollar amount for damages.
For now, the case presents two different accounts of the negotiations. OutKast’s company says Wilson agreed to retire the Ovrkast. name and failed to follow through, while Wilson maintains that he never signed such an agreement.
The federal court will ultimately decide the legal issues raised in the lawsuit.
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