April 5, 2022
Alas, BIGBANG have finally made their long-awaited return to the spotlight with their new single, “Still Life” – a heartfelt ballad about the perils of growing up and learning from your past. As...
Read moreApril 5, 2022
Last week, Louisville heartthrob Jack Harlow dropped a 13 second snippet of a new song he’d been working on that samples Fergie’s hit, “Glamorous” and it immediately went viral on TikTok within...
Read moreMarch 18, 2022
After month’s of anticipation Japanese Girl group XGalX debute with new single “Tippy Toes”. The group consists of 7 young empowered women named Jurin, Harvey, Hinata, Chisa, Maya, Juria and Co...
Read moreMarch 29, 2022
Newly heartbroken singer Shawn Mendez performs his new song “When you’re gone” at South by Southwest. This is the debut song that came out after his break up with fellow singer Camila Cabello after...
Read moreMarch 16, 2022
Whether you’ve been a fan of Kanye West from the start, or you’ve recently watched his Netflix trilogy “Jeen-Yuhs”, you’ve probably heard his of first breakout single into the rap industry “Through...
Read moreMarch 10, 2022
Weeekly pivots away from their bubbly and upbeat sound and makes a major transformation in their edgy and ambitious first mini album, “Play Game: Awake”.“Play Game: Awake” marks Weeekly’s fourth...
Read moreMarch 10, 2022
Dare I say its, EXTRAODDINARY?Stray Kids have returned with the release of their new mini-album, ODDINARY – a collection of seven songs that proclaim the message of embracing all of the things...
Read moreMarch 7, 2022
It’s been two weeks since STAYC’s third mini album release YOUNG-LUV.COM, and we took this time to soak it all in and live our daydreams vicariously through this album. YOUNG-LUV.COM gives us that...
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In the intricate world of music creation, inspiration often blurs the lines between originality and infringement. The recent lawsuit against Beyoncé over her hit song "Break My Soul" serves as a poignant reminder of these complexities. The lawsuit, filed by members of the bounce music group Da Showstoppaz, accuses Beyoncé of illegally using elements from their 2002 track “Release a Wiggle” through a sample in Big Freedia’s "Explode," which was then featured in "Break My Soul."
Beyoncé’s chart-topping single prominently samples "Explode" by Big Freedia, a prominent figure in the New Orleans bounce music scene. Bounce music, characterized by its energetic tempo and repetitive rhythms, has been steadily gaining mainstream recognition, thanks in part to artists like Big Freedia. However, Da Showstoppaz allege that "Explode" borrows significant portions from their earlier work "Release a Wiggle," specifically the repeated chorus phrase "release your wiggle."
Da Showstoppaz members Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs, and Brian Clark claim that the lyrics and musical composition in "Explode" are substantially similar to those in "Release a Wiggle." They are calling for recognition and financial compensation, seeking to be credited for their contributions and to receive royalties from both "Explode" and "Break My Soul." The lawsuit names Beyoncé, Big Freedia, Jay-Z, and Sony Music as defendants, highlighting the far-reaching implications of such claims in the music industry.
The case underscores the importance of navigating the fine line between inspiration and copyright infringement. While drawing from existing music can lead to innovative and popular new tracks, it also risks crossing into legal territory. For music creators, producers, and anyone involved in the industry, understanding the boundaries of copyright law is crucial. Failure to do so can result in costly legal battles, damaged reputations, and financial losses. Ensuring originality and properly crediting sources are essential practices to safeguard against these dangers and to foster a creative environment that respects the intellectual property of all artists.