Beyoncé and JAY-Z have been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit over Bey’s popular Renaissance cut, “Break My Soul.”
Per legal documents obtained by Baller Alert on Wednesday (May 22), a group called Da Showstoppaz are alleging that the pair unlawfully used their 2002 song “Release A Wiggle” on the aforementioned blockbuster. Big Freedia has also been named in the case due to her song “Explode” being sampled on “Break My Soul” — this is where the allegedly illegal sample stems from.
The plaintiffs — Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs and Brian Clark — are arguing that their “unique phrases, melody, and musical arrangement” were used on the songs mentioned above. They also claim to have never approved of the sample, for which they were apparently never credited or paid.
Da Showstoppaz are seeking unspecified damages as well as royalties and proper credit for the songs.
In other news, Beyoncé has now surpassed a whopping 1 billion streams on Spotify from her Cowboy Carter album that was released in March.
Chart Data confirmed the news in a post earlier this month, writing: “@Beyonce’s ‘COWBOY CARTER’ has now surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify.”
The record has been a major success since its release. According to Billboard, it debuted atop the Billboard 200 tally with 407,000 equivalent album units in its first week. It was the biggest sales week of 2024 at the time, though it has since been one-upped by Taylor Swift’s latest effort.
23 of the album’s 27 songs also made it to the Billboard Hot 100 chart, bringing the Houston native’s career total Billboard Hot 100 songs to 106. She is now just the 17th artist and only the third woman to score over 100 entries since the Hot 100 was launched in 1958.
Former chart-topper “Texas Hold ‘Em” lead the pack at No. 2, followed by “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus at No. 6 and Bey’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” at No. 7.
Ten other songs from the album also cracked the Top 50, including the Post Malone collaboration “Levii’s Jeans,” “Bodyguard” and a cover of The Beatles‘ “Blackbird.”
As for Cowboy Carter’s other achievements, Beyoncé and Post Malone‘s track gave Levi Strauss & Co. a massive push. Soon after the album dropped, the American clothing company altered its Instagram name to mirror the song title.
According to CBS News, their stock spiked by 20% on April 4.