May 23rd 2024.
Beyoncé is facing a new lawsuit over her hit single, "Break My Soul," which has been making waves in the music industry. The lawsuit has been filed by Showstoppaz, a talented group hailing from the vibrant city of New Orleans. Showstoppaz claims that Beyoncé has infringed on their 2002 song, "Release a Wiggle," by legally sampling Big Freedia's 2014 hit, "Explode."
Big Freedia, legally known as Freddie Ross, has also been named in the lawsuit. The band members of Showstoppaz - Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs, and Brian Clark - filed a complaint in Louisiana federal court on May 22nd, stating that Big Freedia had illegally used key lyrics from their song to create "Explode."
According to Showstoppaz's attorneys, while Beyoncé and others have received numerous accolades and significant profits for "Break My Soul," the band has received nothing in return. No acknowledgment, credit, or remuneration of any kind has been given to Showstoppaz for their contribution to the song. The attorneys also believe that any reasonable person who listens to "Release a Wiggle" and "Explode" would conclude that the songs are substantially similar.
However, copyright law does not typically protect "short, simple phrases," which may result in the case being dismissed by a judge. But the lawyers representing Showstoppaz are confident in their case, as the band holds a copyright to their distinctive lyrics. They argue that the coined term and phrase "release a/yo wiggle" has become closely synonymous with Big Freedia, contributing significantly to her fame. Yet, Big Freedia did not compose or write the phrase, nor did she credit Showstoppaz as the source, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also names Sony Music, Parkwood Entertainment, and Beyoncé's husband, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, as defendants. Jay-Z is credited as a writer on the song, and the plaintiffs claim they first learned about Big Freedia's "Explode" through Beyoncé's 2022 single. They also state that they tried to contact Beyoncé's team, but received no response.
"Break My Soul" was the lead single for Beyoncé's 2022 album, Renaissance, and it gained immense popularity. The song, which also features a sample from Robin S.'s "Show Me Love," topped Billboard's Hot 100 chart for two weeks, solidifying its success. However, this lawsuit may potentially impact the song's future and shed light on the importance of properly crediting and compensating artists for their work.
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