Bad Bunny is finally facing legal heat over a long-standing copyright controversy involving Nigerian Afrobeats. Over two years after questions were raised about his 2022 hit Enséñame a Bailar, the song’s producer, Dera, has filed a lawsuit, alleging that Bad Bunny and his team used parts of Joeboy’s Empty My Pocket without proper clearance or credit.

The legal battle traces back to early 2023, when Mr. Eazi, the founder of Joeboy’s label emPawa Africa, publicly called out the reggaeton superstar for unauthorized sampling. At the time, Mr. Eazi claimed that his team had made repeated attempts to resolve the matter amicably but got no real cooperation from Bad Bunny’s camp. “The intent of Rimas Music is clearly to blatantly appropriate young African creators’ work for their gain without attribution,” he stated.

The dispute became even more serious on May 2, 2025, when Dera, the producer behind Empty My Pocket, took legal action. According to Billboard, the lawsuit claims Bad Bunny’s team continuously ignored attempts to settle the issue behind the scenes. “Such a response is especially surprising when the unauthorized use pervades the entirety of the musical artist’s work,” said Dera’s attorney Robert A. Jacobs.

Although Bad Bunny’s representatives previously argued that they obtained permission from Lakizo Entertainment, Dera’s legal team insists Lakizo had no authority to clear the sample in the first place. The song’s removal from streaming platforms in the past year further highlighted the complications tied to this case.

The lawsuit now aims to hold Bad Bunny accountable for what Dera’s camp describes as blatant copyright infringement. As the court process unfolds, it’s a powerful reminder of the growing need to protect African creators in the global music scene.

For more stories like this, visit NaijaBeats.com