Beyoncé and Big Freedia are being sued for alleged “willful copyright infringement, unfair trade practices and unjust enrichment” over their 2022 song “Break My Soul.”
According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, New Orleans group Da Showstoppaz claims that Big Freedia, and then Beyoncé, took the phrase “Release a Wiggle” from the group’s 2002 song of the same name without permission or credit to either “Break My” Soul” and Big Freedie’s 2014 song “Explode”.
According to court documents, “the use of the actual words, melody and musical arrangement of ‘Release a Wiggle’ was deliberately taken by Big Freedia in the recording of ‘Explode,’ which Ms. Carter subsequently heavily sampled in the master. recording of ‘Break My Soul’.” The lawsuit was filed in Louisiana.
Reps for Beyoncé, Big Freedia and Da Showstoppaz did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The lawsuit also alleges that Da Showstoppaz – made up of Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs and Brian Clark – was not given credit amid their massive success. “The defendants have not acknowledged their contribution, obtained permission to use their copyrighted lyrics, melodies and musical arrangements, nor compensated Da Showstoppaz,” they state.
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Showstoppaz filed a lawsuit for “deliberate confiscation of their work” and asks “the defendants to substantiate the illegally obtained profits that can be attributed to their injury, and to cease and desist from further unauthorized use of their works, ensure the right to credit and compensation, assets and interests .”
Court documents state that members of Da Showstoppaz have a “protected copyright interest” in the “musical composition and sound recording of Da Showstoppaz’s original and unique work, ‘Release a Wiggle’.”
Beyoncé samples Big Freedie’s 2014 song “Explode” on “Break My Soul,” the first single to come from her renaissance album. “Break My Soul” would receive four Grammy nominations, winning the award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording in 2023.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education