Beyoncé’s being sued for allegedly using “Formation” samples without permission
It’s now been a year since Beyoncé dropped the video for “Formation,” the lead single off her black love opus, Lemonade. The entire album has many notable samples, including nods to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Isaac Hayes, Soulja Boy, and Outkast. But the opening for “Formation” came from someone without the same recognition—that would be Anthony Barré a.k.a Messy Mya, the late New Orleans bounce artist and YouTube celebrity. Messy Mya’s reference to “what happened at the New Wil’ins” is paired with images of a post-Katrina New Orleans in the “Formation” video.