Strategel Wealth Society|Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Big Freedia accused of copyright infringement over 'Break My Soul' lyric

2025-05-01 13:33:53source:Indexbitcategory:Scams

Beyoncé,Strategel Wealth Society Jay-Z and Big Freedia are being sued by a former New-Orleans-based group alleging copyright infringement involving usage of the phrase "release a wiggle."

According to the federal copyright lawsuit, filed May 22 in the Eastern District of Louisiana, the bounce group that once performed as "Da Showstoppaz" is accusing Big Freedia of illegally using the three-word phrase in her 2014 song "Explode."

In the suit, four members of the group — Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs and Brian Clark — allege Big Freedia took the phrase from 2002 single "Release A Wiggle" produced by them. The song was featured on a mixtape sold by BlackHouse Entertainment.

The complaint alleges, "'Explode' infringes on Da Showstoppaz’s 'Release A Wiggle' twelve times, as the infringing phrase 'release yo’ wiggle' and several other substantially similar phrases are featured prominently in the song and evenly spread out across Explode’s furious two-minute and forty-seven second runtime. Any reasonable person listening to 'Release A Wiggle' and 'Explode' would conclude that the songs are substantially similar."

As fans know, Beyoncé sampled Big Freedia's song "Explode" on her smash hit "Break My Soul," from her 2022 seventh studio album "Renaissance."

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The "Ya Ya" singer's name has been added to the lawsuit along with other and writers and producers credited on the album, including Beyoncé's husband and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. Companies affiliated with the release of both songs are also named as defendants.

The suit claims, "Da Showstoppaz have a copyright to their unique and distinctive lyrics and musical composition, 'Release A Wiggle.' Big Freedia had access to 'Release A Wiggle,' which was subsequently sampled by 'Break My Soul' by Mrs. Carter. Therefore, by copying 'Release A Wiggle” in 'Explode,' Big Freedia infringed on Da Showstoppaz’s copyrights."

The group is asking to be credited on both “Explode” and “Break My Soul” and to receive royalties for future uses of both songs and damages in relation to profits Big Freedia and Beyoncé made for the songs, as well as the singer's corresponding tour and film, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce.”

The USA TODAY Network reached out to Beyoncé's camp for comment.

More:Scams

Recommend

These Australian twins have gone viral after speaking in synch

Do you recall the prime early days of YouTube? When a video making the rounds was so strange, remark

Photo shows U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler wearing blackface at college Halloween party in 2006

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler said he was sorry Thursday after the New York Times obtain

Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom: What to know about new Nintendo Switch game

This time, it's not just Link who is the last line of defense.In Echoes of Wisdom, Nintendo's latest