Beyoncé and Big Freedia recently faced a lawsuit over Beyoncé’s single “Break My Soul” from her RENAISSANCE album. The New Orleans bounce group Da Showstoppaz claimed that their lyrics were infringed upon. Although the lawsuit did not directly accuse Beyoncé of copying their work, it centered on the fact that Beyoncé had legally sampled Big Freedia’s 2014 track “Explode.” Da Showstoppaz alleged that “Explode” included lyrics taken from their 2002 song, “Release A Wiggle.”
The lawsuit has now been voluntarily dismissed, according to Billboard, just a few months after its filing. The court documents did not indicate a settlement agreement, and neither party has commented on the dismissal. Da Showstoppaz had argued that the phrase “release yo wiggle” in their 2002 track was distinctive, noting its similarity to phrases used in Big Freedia’s song. However, Billboard observed that such simple phrases are generally not protected by copyright law, which may have impacted the case’s outcome.
Despite the legal matter, Big Freedia expressed her gratitude to Beyoncé following the release of the song, stating she felt “honored to be a part of this special moment.” Beyoncé’s schedule remains packed with high-profile projects. She recently teamed up with NBC for a standout introduction for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics and released an uplifting video tribute to Simone Biles’ historic achievements, featuring her track “Just for Fun” from the Cowboy Carter album.