Plies Sues Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B & Others Over Copyright Infringement

Rapper Plies has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against fellow artists Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, GloRilla, and Soulja Boy. The lawsuit alleges that these artists unlawfully used elements from his 2008 track “Me & My Goons” in their own songs.

Details of the Allegations:

• Soulja Boy: Plies claims that Soulja Boy’s 2010 hit “Pretty Boy Swag” incorporates the “infrared countdown beat” from “Me & My Goons” without permission.
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• GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion: The lawsuit asserts that their 2024 collaboration “Wanna Be” also utilizes this distinctive beat.
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• Cardi B: Named in the lawsuit for her feature on the remix of “Wanna Be,” which allegedly continues the unauthorized use of the beat.
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Additional Defendants:

The lawsuit extends beyond the artists to include several associated entities:

• Hot Girl Productions: Megan Thee Stallion’s company.
• Collipark Productions: Soulja Boy’s former label.
• Universal Music Group, Collective Music Group, and Interscope Records: Record labels connected to the distribution of the disputed tracks.
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Response from the Music Community:

Producer LilJuMadeDaBeat, who has collaborated with Megan Thee Stallion, responded to the lawsuit by pointing out that the beat in question originates from Dallas rapper Lil Wil’s 2007 track “My Dougie.” He noted that “My Dougie” predates both “Me & My Goons” and “Pretty Boy Swag,” suggesting that the beat’s origin may not be exclusive to Plies.

Current Status:

As of now, none of the artists named in the lawsuit have publicly commented on the allegations. The case highlights ongoing issues in the music industry regarding the use of similar beats and the complexities of copyright law.