Kut Klose’s Deal With Keith Sweat: The Deal That Silenced Their Rise

In the landscape of 1990s R&B, few girl groups showed as much promise as Kut Klose. With sultry harmonies and undeniable talent, they seemed poised to make a lasting mark. But behind the scenes, a devastating business decision quietly stifled their trajectory. In 1994, the group signed what would later be revealed as a deeply unfavorable seven-album deal with Keia Records, an imprint owned by R&B star Keith Sweat under Elektra Records. The consequences of that contract would haunt the group for years.

Despite hiring an attorney, the trio signed a rare 2-in-1 recording and publishing contract—a move that not only bound them creatively but also cost them their publishing rights for just $1. Yes, one dollar. The contract essentially stripped the group of long-term earnings and control over the very music they had written themselves.

In a 2021 interview with Halftime Chat, group member Tabitha shared her painful hindsight, suggesting that their attorney may have been in cahoots with the label. “In this business, a lot of entertainment lawyers and label executives are friends. They play both sides,” she said, reflecting on how naive they were as newcomers in a ruthless industry.

Though Kut Klose penned much of their own material—a rarity for many R&B acts at the time—their hopes of renegotiating the contract were dashed. Despite the success of their debut album Surrender, released in 1995, and their memorable collaboration with Keith Sweat on "Twisted," the group never got the chance to release a follow-up album under that deal.

The Kut Klose story is yet another cautionary tale in the music business—of talent sacrificed to bad deals, legal entanglements, and an industry that too often prioritizes profit over artistry. While their voices may have been dimmed by that contract, their experience continues to educate and resonate with artists seeking to protect their creative legacies.

Today, their story serves as both a warning and a lesson: own your pen, read the fine print, and always question whose side your lawyer is really on.