Los Angeles (Celebrity Access) – Cardi BThe Grammy-winning rapper known for chart-topping songs is facing a lawsuit from Texas musicians Joshua Frastro and Michael Aguilar. The pair accuse Cardi B’s latest single “Enough (Miami)” of illegally using a beat from their 2021 song “Greasy Frybread,” which gained recognition after being featured on the FX series Reservation Dogs.
You can read the lawsuit here, filed a lawsuit against Cardi B, her collaborators and Atlantic Records (a Warner Music subsidiary), claiming Enough (Miami) stole the beat from “Greasy Frybread” without permission. Fraustro and Aguilar argued that their use of beats was so obvious that they didn’t feel the need to compare tracks or explain how Cardi B’s team accessed their music. The document states bluntly: “Defendant Cardi B and other defendants used the song on her new album without permission. Cardi B’s song “Enough (Miami)” was released on Atlantic Records on March 15, 2024 .
Fraustro and Aguilar are seeking an injunction to stop the release and performance of “Enough (Miami)” and substantial damages for the alleged infringement. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of multiple counts of copyright infringement.
Adding to the legal battle, the ownership and creation of “Greasy Frybread” has also come under scrutiny. This track is composed by Stan Jordy and was released on his label Tattoo Muzik, which lists several songwriters and contributors. According to Spotify points, Bobby Wilson, Kyle Calley, Sterling Harjo, and Tommy Pico is a co-author. In comparison, Aguilar’s producer goes by the name Kemika1956 and is considered a producer, not a songwriter.
In the American Music Rights Organization’s database, Wilson, Culley, Harjo and Pico are listed as co-writers, but Fraustro and Aguilar are not mentioned. This discrepancy led Fraustro and Aguilar to seek a court declaration establishing their copyright ownership of “Greasy Frybread.”
The lawsuit against Cardi B is part of a growing trend in the music industry. Disputes over the ownership and use of stems, beats, and loops are becoming increasingly common. As the industry moves forward in a complex environment of collaboration and sampling, clear attribution and permissions are critical.
