Bad Bunny loses millions in a lawsuit alleging plagiarism of "Safarea"

Bad Bunny, one of the most famous Latin artists in the world, was accused of committing plagiarism with his song “Safaera.” Unfortunately, his song that obtained the number one spot in streaming reproductions in 2020 has also caused him the most financial losses, after Missy Elliot claimed it plagiarized her song "Get Your Freak On."

The 50-year-old rapper said that Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio used a sample of the song without permission, specifying that a guitar riff in "Safarea" was the same as one she had composed. 

Part of his album "YHLQMDLG", "Safarea" premiered as a duet with Ñengo Flow and Jowell & Randy, and quickly became popular. The song even has a TikTok challenge with it, which consisted of recording parents' reactions when they heard the daring lyrics.

Despite the fact that Bad Bunny lost the lawsuit filed by Missy Elliot and the label AOM Music was practically unknown until now, Jowell revealed the details of the lawsuit during an interview with the YouTube channel Molusco TV. 

"If the song [Safarea] had been a normal song from anybody out there, nobody would have gotten into it. That song f#ck$! up because it was too successful. Somebody went and said to Missy Elliott, 'aren't you listening?'"

Jowell, who co-wrote the lyrics to the controversial track with Bad Bunny, explained that they were forced to give royalties to Missy Elliott, giving up practically all of the royalties. "We went all the way down with that song, we had to give it up."

"They kept everything. What happens is that legally they can't take me out, because I wrote it, so they gave 1% to me, 1% to Randy, and they kept everything. Even Bad [Bunny] gets paid 1% too," he added.

Jowell said that after Missy Elliott asked to be repaid with millions of dollars, Noah Assad, founder of the record label Rimas Entertainment, had to intervene to reach an agreement between the celebrities.

Jowell said that after Missy Elliott asked to be repaid with millions of dollars, Noah Assad, founder of the record label Rimas Entertainment, had to intervene to reach an agreement between the celebrities.

Although Benito has been singled out for using musical fragments of well-known compositions (such as Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved", Cosculluela's "Contra la pared" or Plan B's "Guataba"), Bad Bunny has managed to achieve worldwide fame.