Who is Shawn Holley? Tory Lanez takes shot at ex attorney and Roc Nation in new song Verdict Day

Rapper Tory Lanez has released his new album titled Peterson. The album, which Lanez had recorded in prison for three weeks, came out on March 7, 2025.

The Canadian national has been in prison since 2023, after he was convicted of armed assault against fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez was sentenced for 10 years, according to a report by NBC News.

Lanez’s Peterson, which is receiving rave reviews, includes the single “Verdict Day,” which has caught the attention of fans. The track is heavy with references to the day Lanez was convicted, and particularly targets Lanez’s ex-attorney, Shawn Holley and the music label, Roc Nation. “Verdict Day,” includes references to parts of Lanez’s trial which he alleges were undermined by Holley who was his defense attorney at the time.

In parts of the track which directly target Holley, Lanez states,

“Shawn Holley that’s a name I would call special. Only a special person could rep you and wanna dead you. Go to your DNA expert and say don’t test you.”

Alleging a collusion between Holley, Roc Nation and Megan, Lanez stated in the track,

“All the information I give her is at ROC. Y'all had my lawyer in y'all pocket, she circling T's. And that's why Megan always talked like jail was certain for me”

---

Tory Lanez’s accusations against his ex-attorney Shawn Holley

Shawn Holley is a celebrity attorney who has represented entertainers such as Kanye West, Michael Jackson and Snoop Dogg, according to her law firm’s website. Holley had been representing Tory Lanez during his trial, when he was accused of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot with a firearm.

The two-week-long trial reached its conclusion when Lanez was pronounced guilty by a jury on December 23, 2022, according to The New York Times.

In 2024, Tory Lanez had filed an ethics complaint in the California State Bar against his former defense attorney Holley. Lanez accused Holley of sabotaging his legal defense strategy when criminal charges were brought up against him by Megan.

Lanez alleged that Holley’s association with Roc Nation, a music label which represents Megan, suggested that there was a conflict of interest for Holley. As per TMZ, Lanez alleged that Roc Nation is associated with the Hulu series Reasonable Doubt, which is based on Holley’s career and in which she served as an executive producer. Lanez’s allegations take into account the fact that Megan and Beyoncé’s track “Savage” was featured in the Hulu series, alongside a single by Nayanna, Holley’s daughter.

However, a report by The Root noted that Roc Nation was not associated with Reasonable Doubt in either a production or a distribution capacity.

Lanez also alleged that Holley effectively abandoned him when she quit merely 5 days before his verdict was due to be pronounced after charging him a hefty fee. The “lawyer fees” are referenced in “Verdict Day.”

Lanez also accused Holley of allegedly asking an expert to take DNA tests on a gun lightly despite Lanez insisting that he did not touch the weapon.

According to Lanez, all these facts negatively impacted his trial, and he demanded that Holley be held accountable for her missteps and her attorney fees be returned.

In a report by TMZ, Holley responded to the accusations. Slamming the rapper’s (whose legal name is Daystar Peterson) attempts to malign her, Holley said in the statement,

“Mr. Peterson brought these meritless claims to the State Bar over a year ago and they were summarily rejected and the matter was promptly closed. His actions to publicize this failed effort are likely tied to the appeal of his criminal conviction, for which I wish him well.”

As per The Root, Holley debunked any notions that she, or Reasonable Doubt, are associated with Roc Nation in any capacity.

With the release of Peterson, and specifically the track “Verdict Day,” it seems like the conflict between Tory Lanez and his attorney Shawn Holley has reached beyond the courtrooms.