When Hakeem Prime’s “Imma Let You Go” exploded—racking up millions of streams and views across platforms—it put the Boise-based artist (with Oakland and Atlanta roots) on a much bigger map. The smooth, heartfelt R&B-rap track about choosing peace over a toxic relationship became a soundtrack for breakups and self-respect. But the success also triggered a wave of people trying to claim or monetize the song as their own.
Have you wondered what happened to Hakeem Prime after “Imma Let You Go” went viral?
The answer is a mix of steady catalog growth, high-profile moments, and a long-running defense of his own music.
After the song took off—racking up multi-million streams across platforms—Hakeem found himself dealing with people trying to claim or monetize it. He sued eight artists for uploading versions of the track to DSPs under their own accounts. The final and most drawn-out case involves the ninth person, Mjxtymer3 (also known as Myxtymer3 and previously MJ 5oul). A 2022 agreement between them reportedly soured after Mjxtymer3 had commented under Hakeem’s original upload admitting the song was Hakeem’s. Hakeem had tried to help what he saw as another independent artist, only for the situation to turn into reports against his original track. Hakeem held four original copyrights. DSPs investigated, sided with the original timestamps, and eventually removed Mjxtymer3’s ability to release music under the previous name. As of 2026 the two remain in court, with Mjxtymer3 advancing a new claim about a 2020 Snapchat video that Hakeem’s side disputes because of his 2019–2021 incarceration timeline (he released the song in February 2021, while the short viral clip from the other side came in June).
While that legal process played out, Hakeem kept releasing music.
He dropped the DèTOUR II: Deluxe Edition. “Rather Die” landed on an Australian hip-hop chart at #39 and held for six weeks. “Throw It” crossed over 1 million streams. He followed with the Boise Mutation project, which included his Kendrick Lamar diss records and a “Throw It” remix. Around that period he secured major placements in The Source magazine, Thizzler, and other outlets. He sat down with What’s the Dirt for a breakdown of his second diss track, “Meet The Duckworths.” After releasing “Dysphoria,” What’s the Dirt did a live reaction to it. On the Ugly Money Podcast, Hakeem announced he was done dissing Kendrick Lamar and revealed his next album: Prime Reality.
Prime Reality opened with over 674,000 first-day streams. “I Can’t With You” climbed past 1.3 million streams, and the project as a whole surpassed 2 million streams. Shortly after, he dropped The Tonight Show with DJ Freshness which was posted by NorthCalUpNext prayzing the 13-track project on SoundCloud. He pulled “Consequences” from it onto Prime Reality and put two of the R&B cuts—“Familiar” and “Clean Out My Heart”—onto DSPs. It was around this time that more people began revisiting and appreciating the Kendrick diss tracks from the year before. Reaction videos and quotes started circulating again. RaphouseTV and LyricalWeekly.com broke the songs down.
Recently on X, Hakeem has said he’s aiming to put out more music. The reason he hasn’t been on a full tour is straightforward: the ongoing court case with Mjxtymer3 and the broader copyright defense work have required time and focus. Protecting the catalog that put him on the map has taken priority while he continues releasing independent projects.
The Credit Wars
After the track took off, Hakeem sued eight artists who allegedly tried to take credit for “Imma Let You Go” and uploaded versions of it to digital service providers (DSPs) through their own accounts. He has spent years defending ownership of the work he created.
The final and most drawn-out fight involves the ninth person: Mjxtymer3 (also known as Myxtymer3 and previously MJ 5oul / Justin Brown). According to the account of events, the two had a 2022 agreement that later soured. Mjxtymer3 had even commented under Hakeem’s original upload admitting the song belonged to Hakeem. When Hakeem heard Mjxtymer3’s remake, he decided to help what he saw as another struggling independent artist—someone in a position similar to where he once was.
That goodwill reportedly backfired. Mjxtymer3 is said to have broken the agreement and filed reports against Hakeem’s original track. Hakeem held four original copyrights. After investigations, the DSPs concluded Mjxtymer3 was in the wrong for falsely claiming ownership, citing the original creator’s timestamps. Because Mjxtymer3 had reported the song twice and was found to have misrepresented ownership, platforms stripped him of the ability to release music under the previous name “MJ 5oul.”
As of 2026 the two remain in court. Mjxtymer3 has advanced a new claim that he made a video of the hook in 2020 on his private Snapchat. That timeline is disputed: Hakeem was incarcerated from 2019 to 2021. He released his version in February 2021, roughly a month after getting out. Mjxtymer3’s short viral video of him singing the same hook came later that year, in June. Hakeem’s side maintains it would have been impossible for him to access a private Snapchat while locked up, rewrite the song, and put it out so soon after release.
Public records from the Copyright Claims Board show Hakeem Pugh (Hakeem Prime) pursuing claims against Justin Brown over the lyrics and related uses, with registration details and evidence that the work was created earlier and published first. Hakeem has publicly stated the track is fully his, that a short untagged clip caused confusion, and that he protected the work through legal channels in Idaho.
Key Achievements Since the Viral Run
- Multi-million stream catalog led by “Imma Let You Go” (5M+ Spotify, 4M+ Apple Music)
- “Rather Die,” “Throw It,” “I Can’t With You,” and others clearing or approaching the million-stream mark
- DèTOUR II / Deluxe and Prime Reality (674K+ first-day, 2M+ overall)
- Boise Mutation era with the Kendrick diss records and remix activity
- Features and coverage in The Source, Thizzler, What’s the Dirt, Ugly Money Podcast, and more
- Opened for major acts (including XXXTentacion, T.I., Russ, E-40) and played venues like House of Blues (LA) and Knitting Factory (NY)
- Recognized as Idaho’s top commercial independent hip-hop/R&B voice
- Continued independent operation with talks around platforms like Beatbread while retaining ownership
Hakeem Prime has spent the years since “Imma Let You Go” building a larger body of work, stepping into bigger cultural conversations, and fighting to keep credit for the music that started it all. The legal chapter with Mjxtymer3 is still open, but the music has not stopped.
What do you think is the real story?
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