Bad Bunny Hit with Lawsuit for Unlicensed Afrobeats Sample
Title: Bad Bunny Faces Legal Battle: Afrobeats Artist Accuses Him of Under-Credit on Hit Song
In a saga that highlights the often murky waters of music copyright, Bad Bunny finds himself on the other side of a lawsuit stemming from accusations made by Afrobeats artist Mr. Eazi. After over two years of negotiations and public outcry, the founder of the record label emPawa Africa has initiated formal legal action against the Puerto Rican reggaeton star over the alleged unauthorized use of a sample.
Back in February 2023, Mr. Eazi escalated his complaints, asserting that Bad Bunny’s hit song “Enséñame a Bailar” not only interpolated but also sampled “Empty My Pocket” by Joeboy—a rising star under the emPawa banner. Eazi contended that these creative decisions were made without the necessary permissions, leading to a lengthy standoff.
Despite the critical acclaim and Grammy nod for Bad Bunny’s album, Un Verano Sin Ti, Mr. Eazi and his team led by producer Dera have been vocal about their attempts to resolve the issue amicably for nine long months. "The team at emPawa Africa have attempted to sort this issue amicably since May of last year," Mr. Eazi stated. “But the intent of Rimas Music is clearly to blatantly appropriate young African creators’ work for their gain without attribution."
On May 2, Dera officially filed a lawsuit against Bad Bunny, claiming the artist’s team had “stonewalled” efforts to give both Joeboy and Dera proper credit. “It is not very often that a musical artist of Bad Bunny’s caliber uses someone else’s music without permission, and then ignores the person’s efforts to resolve the problem,” said Dera’s attorney, Robert A. Jacobs. “Such a response is especially surprising when the unauthorized use pervades the entirety of the musical artist’s work. Unfortunately, these are the circumstances here.”
The legal tug-of-war has drawn attention not just for its star power, but also for its implications in the broader conversation about cultural appropriation in the music industry. Bad Bunny’s team previously asserted that they had acquired permission for the sample from Lakizo Entertainment, a distributor involved in the song’s arrangements. However, legal troubles between Lakizo and emPawa have suspended the track from streaming services, complicating the narrative further.
With Dera’s lawsuit now front and center, the stakes have been raised considerably. “Despite plaintiffs’ cooperation, these defendants stonewalled plaintiffs after receiving the requested information,” Dera’s legal team noted. "Making clear that plaintiffs’ only option for obtaining redress for the violation of their rights would be through the courts."
As the legal discourse continues to unfold, the industry watches closely, poised to see how this high-profile case will shape the future of artist collaboration and credit. Is this the start of a necessary reckoning in an industry rife with power imbalances, or merely an isolated incident? Only time—and the courts—will tell.
In a world where musical lines blur and influences intermingle, can artists be held accountable for making waves in someone else’s pool? The answers might resonate far beyond this case.
