Break My Soul

Beyonce’s “Break My Soul” Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Dismissed

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In May, Beyonce and Big Freedia were hit with a lawsuit over the songstress’ RENAISSANCE single, “Break My Soul.” New Orleans bounce group Da Showstoppaz accused them of copyright infringement over some of the track’s lyrics. The group didn’t accuse Bey of stealing their work directly, but instead noted that she legally sampled Big Freedia’s 2014 track “Explode.”

Allegedly, that track illegally borrowed lyrics from their own 2002 song, “Release A Wiggle.” Now, the case has been voluntarily dismissed according to Billboard, less than three months after it was filed. Reportedly, the court filing didn’t mention a settlement agreement, and both parties have yet to comment.

Read More: Kanye West Tells Candace Owens That Beyonce Should Let Jay-Z Cheat

Beyonce, Big Freedia & Da Showstoppaz Lawsuit Dropped

Beyonce’s “Break My Soul” Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Dismissed
Beyoncé performs onstage during the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at MetLife Stadium on July 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood )

Da Showstoppaz previously alleged that the phrase “release yo wiggle,” used in their 2002 track, was “unique.” They noted how Big Freedia used similar phrases in her song. When the suit was first filed, Billboard noted that simple phrases like this are typically not protected by Copyright law, meaning that the group was unlikely to secure a victory. Following the release of Beyonce’s song, Big Freedia thanked her, saying that she was “honored to be a part of this special moment.”

Legal battles are far from the only things keeping Beyonce busy these days, however. Recently, she also teamed up with NBC to provide Team USA with an iconic introduction during the 2024 Paris Olympics. She later unveiled an uplifting video tribute to Simone Biles’ historic performance, which opened with her Cowboy Carter song “Just for Fun.” What do you think of Da Showstoppaz voluntarily dropping their lawsuit against Beyonce and Big Freedia over the hitmaker’s track “Break My Soul”? Are you surprised or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Beyonce Highlights Team USA’s Top Athletes In Grand Olympics Opening Ceremony Video: Watch

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Beyoncé And Jay-Z Are Getting Sued Over Alleged Copyright Infringement On A ‘Renaissance’ Song

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You may not be able to break Beyoncé’s soul, but it’s at least about to be tested: She’s currently facing a new lawsuit accusing her of copyright infringement, The Guardian reports.

Beyoncé, Big Freedia, Jay-Z, and Sony Music are named as defendants in the lawsuit, and it’s centered on Freedia’s “Explode,” which is sampled on “Break My Soul.” Da Showstoppaz claim that “Explode” infringes the copyright of their 2002 song “Release A Wiggle”: “Explode” features the phrase “release your wiggle” repeated and that part of the song is sampled on “Break My Soul.”

The suit claims “Explode” used “unique and distinctive lyrics and musical composition” originally from Da Showstoppaz and adds, “Defendants used plaintiffs’ words, melody, and musical arrangement from their copyrighted works. […] Any reasonable person listening to ‘Release A Wiggle’ and ‘Explode’ would conclude that the songs are substantially similar.”

Da Showstoppaz’s Tessa Avie, Keva Bourgeois, Henri Braggs, and Brian Clark are seeking to receive credits on both “Break My Soul” and “Explode,” and are aiming to receive royalties from the songs’ future earnings, along with damages.

Meanwhile, in more positive news for Beyoncé and Jay-Z, both artists made it onto the Apple Music list of the 100 best albums ever that has been blowing up the internet lately. Jay-S has one album on the list and Beyoncé has two, including one in the top 10.

Beyonce And Big Freedia Sued Over “Break My Soul” Copyright

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Back in 2022, Beyonce returned with her first new solo album in 6 years. RENAISSANCE was the first in a trilogy of genre experiments that saw Beyonce digging into the world of house music. The project was led off by a lead single, “Break My Soul.” The track was a smash hit commercially and an even bigger hit among critics. They praised the project for its meaningful interpolation of the genre’s history and embrace of its sonic tropes. But now two years later the song might have Queen Bea in some legal trouble.

According to The Shade Room, New Orleans bounce group Da Showstoppaz are reportedly suing both Beyonce and Big Freedia, who is sampled on “Break My Soul.” The lawsuit alleged copyright infringement of the phrase “Release The Wiggle.” It appears in a song of the same name that the group released in 2002. But the phrase also appears in Freedia’s 2014 song “Explode” which is heavily sampled in “Break My Soul.” The suit was officially filed in Louisiana earlier today. Check out the full story below.

Read More: Beyonce’s Name Added To The 2024 French Dictionary

Beyonce Sued Over “Break My Soul”

Earlier this year, Beyonce released the second part of her genre experiment trilogy. With part two she shifted her focus to country music. She had briefly experimented with the genre before on her album Lemonade but it wasn’t roundly accepted by the country music institution. That wasn’t the case with her new album Cowboy Carter. The record was a massive hit with both fans and critics that saw Beyonce becoming the first black female to top multiple country music-centered Billboard charts.

Fans have already begun speculating what the third album in the Renaissance trilogy could sound like. Genres like punk rock and folk have been heavily speculated about due to previous collaborations Bey has done. What do you think of Beyonce and Big Freedie being sued over their 2022 hit “Break My Soul?” Do you think the New Orleans bounce group who filed the suit have a legitimate complaint against them? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love” Turns 10

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Beyonce Adds Lizzo’s Name Back Into “Break My Soul” Remix Amid Allegations

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Beyonce added Lizzo’s name back into the lyrics to her “Break My Soul” remix on stage in D.C., over the weekend. She had previously etched the singer’s name out, amid a daming lawsuit over alleged sexual harassment and workplace hostility filed against Lizzo.

While a clip of the moment is circulating on social media, some users shave noted that Beyonce paused while she was Erykah Badu’s name came up. That decision comes after Badu criticized Beyonce for copying her style on the Renaissance tour.

Read More: Beyonce Responds To Erykah Badu, Seemingly Disses Lizzo

Beyonce & Lizzo At The Grammys

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: (L-R) Beyoncé and Lizzo attend the 65th. GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles, addressed her daughter’s original decision to drop Lizzo’s name in a comment on Instagram afterward. In doing so, she downplayed the significance. “She also didn’t say her own sister’s name yal [sic] should really stop,” Knowles wrote at the time.

As for the lawsuit against Lizzo, three of her former dancers made various claims about working with her. One of the plaintiffs says Lizzo pressured them to “take turns touching the nude performers” while out at a Banana-themed club in Amsterdam’s Red Light District during a tour stop in February. Another says Lizzo made them “explain her weight gain and disclose intimate personal details about her life in order to keep her job.”

Lizzo fired back at the lawsuit with a statement denying the allegations, last week. “These last few days have been gut wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing,” her statement reads. “My work ethic, morals and respectfulness have been questioned. Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”

Beyonce Performs Lizzo’s Name

@ashleyvera__

Replying to @nickiminajsfrontallobe Lizzo is back on the somg. All is well 😅 #beyonce #beyonceknowles #beyoncerenaissance #renaissancetour #renaissanceworldtour #clubrenaissance #beyhive #fyp

♬ I’M THAT GIRL – Beyoncé

“These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional,” Lizzo continued. Be on the lookout for further updates regarding the lawsuit on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Lizzo Shows Up Hyped For Beyonce Concert

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Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’ Mega-Cut Video Is A Tribute To The Bey-Hive For Their Fierce Support

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While many of the world’s biggest musical acts have super fans, none are quite as loyal as Beyoncé’s Bey-Hive (more commonly referred to as the Hive). With a thirty-year career, the singer has built an unwavering bond with her supporters that many have tried to replicate.

Even after her seventh studio album, Renaissance, leaked earlier this summer, fans waited until the album was made public as their Queen Bey intended. Now, the “Break My Soul” singer is returning the love with a super-cut mashup video dedicated to them.

The video titled “Break My Soul (Hive Certified)” features a mega-cut of the songwriter’s most publicly supportive fans. TikTok star Otakoyakisoba’s mother, affectionately known as Mama Lulu, opens the video with the viral line, “get out of here before I break your soul.” Then the party begins with a collage of fans of all ages, gender expressions, and races dancing along to the track. Sprinkled throughout the video are a few familiar faces. The music star’s mother, Tina Lawson, actress Gabrielle Union, producer Amorphous, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Yvie Oddly, and media personality Kalen Allen all make an appearance.

In the description box of the visual, she left a message for her fans, “Thank you so much for all the love and for releasing the wiggle.”

This may not be the official video fans demanded online, but it will have to hold them over until the drop.

Watch the full video above.

Will.i.am Talks Beyonce’s “Break My Soul” Remix EP: “I Inspired It”

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Beyonce’s ground breaking seventh album Renaissance is still making climbing its way to the top of the charts, two months after its release. The legendary songstress recently made history with the dance-inspired album as all 16-tracks from the project made it onto the Billboard Hot 100. On top of that, Renaissance marked the biggest debut by any female artist in 2022, as well as having the year’s second-largest sales week 

Needless to say, everyone who played a part on the classic project is currently enjoying the fruits of their labor. Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am recently spoke about working with Beyonce for the remix version of the album’s lead single “Break My Soul.” He told Metro UK that he was in France when he first heard the track, and immediately called up an electronic collaborator to send over a remix version of the song to Bey’s camp. 

Beyoncé accepts the Best R&B Performance award for ‘Black Parade’ onstage during the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center on March 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

“They weren’t thinking about remixes until I sent it,” he said of the four-track EP. “They put out a remix EP and my song’s the first one on it – and I inspired it! I can’t find the word for it – it’s like Santa Claus is real, man!” The EP also featured remix versions of BMS by Chicago house legend Terry Hunter, Honey Dijon and DJ Nita Aviance of New York City.

After dropping the remix project, the 41-year old songstress broke the Internet once again with the “Queens Remix” version of her chart topping hit, in which she pays homage to past and present Queens of the industry, including Jill Scott, Grace Jones, Janet Jackson and more. 

Aside from working with the likes of Beyonce, Will.I.Am is gearing up for the forthcoming season of The Voice UK, where he serves as one of the main judges. Check out “Break My Soul (Will.i.Am) Remix” below. 

Beyoncé’s No. 1s: Here Are All Of Her Songs That Topped The ‘Billboard’ Hot 100

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It’s pretty undeniable that Beyonce is one of the great hitmakers of our generation. But just how great of a hitmaker is she? With “Break My Soul,” the lead single from her latest album, Renaissance, burning up the chart, now might be the perfect time to reflect on all the other times Beyonce has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Beyonce’s chart history reveals that she’s had eight No. 1 hits since her making her solo debut in 2003 with Dangerously In Love, starting with that album’s first and second singles.

“Baby Boy”

The second single from Dangerously In Love saw Beyonce collaborating with dancehall artist Sean Paul and taking inspiration from South Asian musical styles. The single also appeared on Seal Paul’s 2002 sophomore album Dutty Rock. It stayed on the charts for nine weeks in total and was Beyonce’s longest-running number-one single until 2007. It was replaced, ironically enough, by “Irreplaceable.”

“Break My Soul”

It might surprise some to learn, what with Beyonce’s pop culture dominance over the past 20 years, that “Break My Soul” is actually Beyonce’s first solo No. 1 single since Billboard made the changes including streams in its charts. The highest-charting Self-Titled song, “Drunk In Love” reached No. 2, while Lemonade’s Formation peaked at No. 10.

“Check On It”

Originally recorded for The Pink Panther, this 2005 collaboration with fellow Houstonian Slim Thug wound up being placed on the 2005 Destiny’s Child’s greatest hits album #1‘s instead (as well as B’Day). Produced by Swizz Beatz, it rose to prominence due to its radio popularity — likely thanks in part to Thug’s presence, as he rode the wave of goodwill from his feature on Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin’.”

“Crazy In Love”

Widely viewed as Beyonce’s “official” debut single (justice for “Work It Out”), the lead single from Dangerously In Love was produced by Rich Harrison and featured Bey’s future husband Jay-Z. It also kicked off a wave of go-go and funk-influenced hits throughout the 2000s pioneered largely by Harrison himself as other stars clamored to repeat Beyonce’s success.

“Irreplaceable”

Penned by Ne-Yo and presaging Beyonce’s interest in country (though it was reworked as a pop-R&B ballad), “Irreplaceable” was the knockout third single from Beyonce’s second album, B’Day. After moderate success for “Déjà Vu” and “Ring the Alarm,” it skyrocketed Bey back to the top of the chart, becoming the twenty-fifth most successful song of the 2000s.

“Perfect”

“Perfect” is one of Beyonce’s two featured appearances at No. 1 on the Hot 100, as she appears on a duet version of Ed Sheeran’s 2017 hit. The third single from ÷ (at least in the United States), the duet version accounted for 18 percent of the song’s sales, pushing it to the top of the chart, becoming Sheeran’s second and Beyonce’s sixth No. 1.

“Savage”

In 2020, Beyonce scored her seventh No. 1 after joining forces with a surging Megan Thee Stallion for another Houston jam session that saw Beyonce show off her rapping chops. In addition to benefitting Houston’s COVID-19 relief efforts, the song brought a new spotlight to OnlyFans after being locked in a duel for No. 1 with another girl power anthem, Doja Cat’s “Say So” remix with Nicki Minaj.

“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”

Perhaps one of Bey’s most inescapable anthems, the second single from Beyonce’s 2008 third studio album I Am… Sasha Fierce reigned supreme throughout the year after its release, becoming a meme, winning three Grammy Awards, and spawning imitations, homages, and outright spoofs that made it nearly ubiquitous. It was also the impetus for Kanye’s infamous stage-crashing scene at the 2009 VMAs, arguably indirectly launching the decade’s worth of Taylor Swift-influenced pop music to come.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’ Stays At No. 1 On The Hot 100 Chart For A Second Week

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Beyoncé is still enjoying her Renaissance moment. While Bad Bunny just knocked the album off the No. 1 spot (down to No. 3) on the Billboard 200 chart, lead single “Break My Soul” is still on top: On the new Hot 100 chart dated August 20, “Break My Soul” is No. 1 for the second consecutive and total week.

Elsewhere on the Hot 100, it was a big week for Snoop Dogg, whose Benny Blanco and BTS collaboration “Bad Decisions” debuts at No. 10. This makes Snoop just the third artist, after Jay-Z and Mariah Carey, with a top-10 hit in each of the past four decades (’90s, ’00s, ’10s, and ’20s).

Also doing well in the current frame is Drake, whose DJ Khaled and Lil Baby collaboration “Staying Alive” debuts at No. 5. That’s now his 30th top-five song, which surpasses The Beatles for the most ever. It’s also his 59th top-10 song (which extends his record) and his 100th top-20 song, making him the first artist to reach the latter milestone.

Meanwhile, Beyoncé is getting ready to push another Renaissance highlight to the forefront: Last week, she teased an upcoming video for album-opener “I’m That Girl,” although it’s not yet clear when that video is set to drop.

Beyoncé Sent Madonna A Thankful Note After Their ‘Break My Soul’ Remix

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Madonna Beyonce Tidal launch event 2015
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So far, Beyoncé has offered plenty of ways to enjoy “Break My Soul,” whether it’s via the original version, one of the four remixes from the EP, or the Madonna-featuring “Queens Remix” of the song. After the latter version came out, Madonna got a nice gift from Beyoncé.

Yesterday, Madonna took to her Instagram Story to show off a note from Beyoncé, accompanied by some flowers. The message reads, “Thank you, Queen. I’m so grateful for you. You have opened so many doors for so many women. You are masterpiece genius. Thank you for allowing me to sing in your song and thank you for naming the remix!!!! Love always and forever, B.”

Madonna wrote on the post, “thank you!! from one [queen] to another [queen]. I love the Re-Mix! @beyonce.” She also shared another photo showing off the massive bouquet of white flowers.

As for the part of Beyoncé’s message about “allowing me to sing in your song” despite this being a remix of her own song, that’s a nod to the remix sampling Madonna’s “Vogue.”

The “Queens Remix,” true to its name, shouts out a number of prominent female musicians past and present, some of whom offered reactions to the nods.

Check out Madonna’s posts below.

Madonna Beyonce Instagram Story
@madonna/Instagram
Madonna Beyonce Instagram Story
@madonna/Instagram

Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’ Rises To No. 1 On The Hot 100 And Becomes Her First Solo Chart-Topper In Years

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Beyoncé’s new album Renaissance has been an absolute event. The instant-classic album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and now Beyoncé is on top of the singles chart, too: On the new Hot 100 dated August 13, “Break My Soul” is No. 1 for the first time.

The song, up from No. 6 on last week’s chart, is Beyoncé’s eighth No. 1 solo single and first without a featured artist since “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” in 2008. (Worth noting is that the Beyoncé-featuring remix of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” was No. 1 in 2020, while Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé’s duet version of “Perfect” topped the charts in 2017.) It is now Beyoncé’s third No. 1 without a featured artist, following “Single Ladies” and 2006’s “Irreplaceable.”

“Break My Soul” is just the second 2022 song by a solo female artist to go No. 1, after Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” which was on top for the previous two weeks.

This is the 43rd total week Beyoncé has had a No. 1 song, which is the seventh-most of all time. She’s currently behind Mariah Carey (87 weeks), Rihanna (60), The Beatles (59), Drake (54), Boyz II Men (50), and Usher (47).

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.