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Beyoncé and Big Freedia are the subject of a new lawsuit. A group claims the two lifted elements from their project for “Break My Soul”.
As reported by Digital Music News a four person music collective feels that their work has been infringed upon by Beyoncé. Back in 2002 Da Showstoppaz recorded a single titled “Release A Wiggle” as per a suggestion from one of their colleagues. Surprisingly the song started to pick up traction in their local neighborhood in New Orleans and the group started to perform shows. The group would dissolve in 2004 after Hurricane Katrina ravished the city.
“Break My Soul” features some words from Big Freedia where she says “Release ya wiggle” multiple times on the outro. This single also samples Big Freedia’s 2014 track “Explode” where the Bounce Music pioneer says “Release ya wiggle” throughout the chorus. According to the filing submitted on behalf the group both works infringe on their break out song. “‘Explode’ infringes on Da Showstoppaz’ ‘Release A Wiggle’ twelve times,” the document reads. “As the infringing phrase ‘release yo’ wiggle’ and several other substantially similar phrases are featured prominently in the song. Any reasonable person listening to ‘Release A Wiggle’ and ‘Explode’ would conclude that the songs are substantially similar.”
Neither Beyoncé or Big Freedia have yet to publicly address the matter. You can listen to “Explode” and Da Showstoppaz “Release A Wiggle” and compare below.
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It’s a big day for Big Freedia, she she has released her highly anticipated second studio album, Central City, on Friday (June 23). Billboard News‘ Tetris Kelly caught up with the bounce icon ahead of the release to discuss the LP, as well dream collaborations and other projects she has in the works.
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“It’s been nine years since i put out an album, so to represent to New Orleans and for Central City where I grew up at, it feels great bringing it back to the roots,” Freedia said, explaining what the release of the album means to her.
She reminisced, “On Josephine Street in Central City. It’s from Big Freddy to Big Freedia, and so it’s all of that. A little bit old style bringing it back to the new and improved bounce where I’m taking it, calling it bigger bounce.”
The record hosts a series of features, including guest spots from Kelly Price, Faith Evans, Ciara, Lil Wayne and more. Of working with Tunechi of track “El Niño,” Freedia said, “I’ve been wanting to work with him [Wayne] for a long time and to finally work with another legend from New Orleans, it’s amazing.” As for who else she wants to work with? Patti Labelle, Toni Braxton, Eve and Lil Kim are all people on the LGBTQ+ icon’s list.
Up next for Big Freedia is more episodes of Big Freedia Means Business. According to the star, the show — which is returning to Fuse for its fourth episode on July 5 — is about “representing for people out there who want to start a business or are enquiring to start a business. It is about my life and all the things i’m putting out there, my makeup line, my cannabis line, the hotel, the record label, the eyewear line — I’m doing it all.”
Wath Big Freedia’s interview with Billboard in the video above.
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Big Freedia is set to retake the stage as she announces her first album in nine years, accompanied by a brand new single from the project.
The “Queen of Bounce” announced the new album Central City, last Friday (May 26), also releasing the latest single from the album, “Bigfoot”. “Bounce has been through many iterations—from Triggerman to Sissy to Cash Money Bounce—but my new album is something I call Bigga Bounce,” she said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “Welcome to Central City, y’all, where I pay homage to my city, my roots, hip-hop, and to the art of creating a new sound.” The album will be released on June 23rd.
“Bigfoot” comes in as the third single from what is now the New Orleans native’s first full-length album since Just Be Free which was released in 2014. She describes it as “a powerful anthem of empowerment and motivation,” with the opening lines booming forth. “Call me Bigfoot stepping on these b—–s necks,” Freedia declares in the first lines of the track in her signature cadence, “I got a big foot but I’m getting bigger checks/They don’t see what’s coming next.” The first two singles were “Central City Freestyle” and “$100 Bill”, featuring Ciara. Central City will have sixteen tracks in total, with Lil Wayne, Kelly Price, and Faith Evans in addition to other artists making guest appearances.
Big Freedia will also be hitting the road this summer on tour beginning in Stanford, California on June 2nd as part of the Re: Set Festival with LCD Soundsystem, Jamie XX, and other artists. The nationwide tour will have Big Freedia be a headline performer at Pride concert events in Denver, Colorado, and Charlotte, North Carolina, and conclude at the Wonderbus Music and Arts Festival on August 25th in Columbus, Ohio. Tickets for the festival are available here.
Check out the single “Bigfoot” below.
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Big Freedia is adding another achievement, as she announced her plans to open a hotel in her hometown of New Orleans.
The “Best Beleevah” rapper took to social media last Wednesday (Feb. 1st) to announce her latest venture. “This dream of mine has been in the works for a long time, I’ll be one of the first black hotel owners in New Orleans! Will keep y’all posted on the official opening date, can’t wait to see y’all at Hotel Freedia.” she wrote on Twitter.
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The “Queen of Bounce” said to the New Orleans Times-Picayune that the idea to have her own hotel came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Not being able to go out and work during the pandemic, cooking brought so much light and creativity it just really got me interested in doing a restaurant,” Freedia said. “And I always had a dream of opening a hotel, so it just kind of came together that way.”
According to reports, the hotel is a result of a partnership with developer Zach Kupperman & her manager Reid Martin. The “Hotel Freedia”, located on Decatur Street near Frenchman Street in the Marigny neighborhood, will be constructed as a micro-boutique hotel with just five rooms atop a 60-seat restaurant and music venue with an outdoor courtyard with a pool and clubhouse. The unnamed restaurant is expected to feature some of Freedia’s signature recipes.
The musical venue is slated to be Big Freedia’s home base for performances in addition to hosting local and nationally-known artists and bands. “Obviously, Frenchmen Street is all about local music so we want to have a lot of local music going on, but we’re also interested in having some national music coming in,” Martin said.
Groundbreaking is set to take place in the spring, with a goal of opening for Mardi Gras in 2024. Big Freedia elaborated on the details at a meeting of The Nieux, an NFT-based community space for artists. There, she offered attendees a discounted membership of $750 in the cryptocurrency Ethereum which gives them access to her events and the pool and clubhouse. “We’re experimenting right now,” Martin said. “For now, it’s the only way to buy a membership, but eventually we might sell using traditional currency.”
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Miss Universe heads to the Big Easy! The 71st annual Miss Universe pageant kicks off in New Orleans this weekend with new hosts and a new network.
“The City of New Orleans and the Miss Universe Organization share common values of celebrating inclusion, culture and the empowerment of women,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a statement announcing NOLA as the location for this year’s pageant.
Keep reading for details on how to watch and stream Miss Universe 2023 from anywhere.
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When Is Miss Universe 2023? Air Date, Time
The 2023 Miss Universe pageant takes place Saturday, Jan. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The big event will air live from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
Want to watch the beauty pageant in person? Click here to buy tickets (prices range from $50 and up).
How to Watch the 2023 Miss Universe on TV & Stream Online
In previous years, the Miss Universe pageant aired on Fox with Steve Harvey as host. This year, the pageant moves to the Roku channel.
How do you watch the Roku channel? You can access the channel on Roku.com, Roku TVs, Roku Streaming Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K or similar devices, Amazon Fire TVs, Apple TV and Samsung TVs (stream on both Android and iOS devices with the Roku app).
The pageant will broadcast in Spanish on Telemundo at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. If you don’t have cable, there are a few ways to watch the 2023 Miss Universe pageant online. For example, you can stream with a free trial from platforms like FuboTV and DirecTV Stream (use ExpressVPN to stream internationally).
Don’t mind paying up front? Telemundo is also available on Hulu + Live TV along with 75+ channels including ESPN, CNN, A&E, MTV, BET, ABC, CBS and Fox.
The Miss Universe 2023 preliminary competition will livestream on the Miss Universe YouTube channel on Wednesday (Jan. 11) at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. The national costume competition starts at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. on Wednesday.
Miss Universe 2022 Host, Performers, Contestants
Jeannie Mai Jenkins and former Miss Universe and reality star Olivia Culpo will host the 2023 Miss Universe pageant.
Ximena Navarrete, Big Freedia, Mara Martin, Wendy Fitzwilliam, Emily Austin, Olivia Quido, Myrka Dellanos, Sweta Patel, Kathleen Ventrella and Olivia Jordan are among the judges.
Performers for the Miss Universe pageant include Big Freedia, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Amanda Shaw, Yolanda Adams and Tank and the Bangas.
Who Is the Reigning Miss Universe?
The reigning Miss Universe is India’s Harnzaaz Sandhu. The 22-year-old beauty queen will crown her successor from more than 75 hopefuls from around the world on Saturday.
This year’s pageant will feature Miss Universe representatives from the USA, Bahrain, Panama, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam, Venezuela, Nigeria, Spain, Nepal, Myanmar, Namibia, Mexico, Kosova, Korea and other countries.
The contestants will compete in a preliminary round on Wednesday, and the semifinalists will be announced on the live broadcast. The women will then compete across the traditional swimsuit, evening gown and interview rounds before Miss Universe 2023 is crowned.
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