royalty checks in several years, TMZ reported.
Drayton charged that even though he co-wrote more than 50 songs for Public Enemy, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, his partner has continued to be paid over the time while he has not, TMZ reported.
He also claimed that his voice and image were used without his consent on the new Public Enemy album "Nothing Is Quick in the Desert," TMZ said. Drayton charged that he eventually received $7,500 for the album after requesting $75,000.
Drayton also complained about not being paid for action figure merchandise worked out by producer Gary G-Wiz, TMZ noted.
Ridenhour responded on Twitter in a series of tweets Thursday, complaining about the attention of the lawsuit, and tweaking his partner about joining Public Enemy in fundraising efforts for Hurricane Harvey victims.
Ridenhour and Drayton, joined Norman Lee Rogers as Terminator X and Richard Griffin as Professor Griff, to create Public Enemy in 1986 after Ridenour developed his Chuck D persona at Long Island's Adelphi University in New York, according to their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame biography.
Public Enemy is credited with influencing artists and bands from across genres, including Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails and Ben Harper, per the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.