Beyoncé Faces Copyright Lawsuit Over 'Break My Soul' From New Orleans Group

Da ShowStoppaz, a New Orleans-based bounce music group, are suing Beyoncé, claiming that she committed copyright infringement on her 2022 Renaissance track, "Break My Soul."

The song samples Big Freedia's "Explode," which Da ShowStoppaz allege unlawfully uses lyrics from their song, "Release a Wiggle," which was released in 2002. Like Da ShowStoppaz, Big Freedia is also from New Orleans and a key figure in the "bounce" music scene.

In the suit, attorneys for Da ShowStoppaz wrote that the "defendants used Plaintiffs' words, melody, and musical arrangement from their copyrighted works to create an album as homage to 'uncle Johnny' who exposed the music and culture of the LGBTQ community of greater New Orleans, of which three members are strongly affiliated with themselves, all displayed in its full force - the tone, actual words, melody, musical arrangement of bounce music."

Defendants in the case include Beyoncé, Big Freedia, Jay-Z, Sony Music and more.

The complaint continues, with attorneys stating that "Mrs. Carter, Big Freedia, Parkwood, Sony, and others have received many accolades and substantial profits from "Explode" and "Break My Soul" and the Renaissance album, the Renaissance World Tour,and the Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé."

Da ShowStoppaz argue that they "have received nothing - no acknowledgment, no credit, no remuneration of any kind."

In the post-chorus of Big Freedia's "Explode," she sings, "Release ya, release ya, release ya wiggle." These lyrics are a direct rip from the Da ShowStoppaz's track, spurring on the lawsuit. On "Break My Soul" Beyoncé does not sing these same lines, but Big Freedia appears underneath the intro for an outro, repeating "release ya wiggle."

"Break My Soul" was the lead single off of Renaissance. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won several awards, including a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Recording. It was heavily featured in promotion for Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé as well as the tour itself.

"Break My Soul" topped multiple publications' year-end lists as one of, if not the, best songs of 2022.

Beyoncé's most recent LP, Cowboy Carter, like Renaissance, peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album has garnered over 1 billion streams since its release in late March.

Da Showstoppaz are requesting to be credited for and receive compensation rights from "Break My Soul" and "Explode." They are also seeking royalties for future licenses on the tracks.

Tags

Beyonce, Lawsuit