Musician Kevin McCall returned to the spotlight this week with an emotional admission that he is relying on an EBT card, publicly questioning his longtime collaborator Chris Brown about unpaid royalties. On the podcast Back On Figg, McCall held up his benefits card and asked, “Why the f**k I got an EBT card and [Chris] is making ninety-whatever-the-f**k million?” Sources say his voice cracked as he added, “Can I get $25,000 for them four songs I owe you, bro?”
That appearance sparked a swift and pointed online response from Brown. On his Instagram Story, Brown posted a black-screen message reading: “Remember this: you can’t walk across a burnt bridge. And you know what’s funnier than a troll? A BROKE ONE.”
Rift Revisited Amid Tour Success
McCall and Brown once enjoyed fruitful collaboration, co-writing and performing on hits such as “Deuces” and “Strip.” Their relationship reportedly soured years ago, with disputes around royalties and credits lingering.
Now, McCall’s revelation that he needs public assistance has brought that conflict back into focus. During his interview, he referenced Brown’s ongoing success: “Them four songs I owe you… got me on this card.” In turn, Brown’s Instagram jab reintroduced the narrative of a bridge burned and payment withheld.
Industry observers say Brown’s tour, “Breezy Bowl XX,” grossed over $240 million and sold more than 1.7 million tickets as of recent reports. McCall’s public plea for $25,000 surfaced against this backdrop of major commercial success for his former partner.
The drama spread quickly across social media platforms. On X (formerly Twitter), rapper Young Thug offered to help McCall, writing: “Kevin McCall hit me my n***a; I’ll give you the 25k you need, and I know CB would give it too; he’s a real one.” Meanwhile, fans weighed in: one user wrote, “‘You can’t walk across a burnt bridge’ noted.” Others suggested McCall’s timing was opportunistic.