GloRilla, the rising hip-hop artist, has successfully dismissed a copyright lawsuit that alleged she appropriated a viral catchphrase for her song “Never Find.” The lawsuit was initiated by Natalie Henderson, known on social media as @slimdabodylast, who claimed she originated the phrase “all natural, no BBL,” which refers to the popular cosmetic procedure known as the Brazilian butt lift.
The federal case was filed in Louisiana this past summer, with Henderson asserting that GloRilla, whose real name is Gloria Woods, used the phrase in the lyrics “All natural, no BBL/ Mad hoes go to hell.” This lyric appears in “Never Find,” a bonus track from GloRilla’s debut album titled Glorious.
Legal Arguments and Dismissal
GloRilla’s legal team countered the claims, arguing that the phrase in question is a “cliched” expression that cannot be copyrighted. They asserted that the case should not proceed based on its merits. Ultimately, Judge Lance M. Africk dismissed the lawsuit on November 21, 2023, citing jurisdictional issues rather than addressing the substantive allegations.
The judge determined that while the lawsuit was filed in Henderson’s home state of Louisiana, this was insufficient to establish jurisdiction over GloRilla, who resides in Georgia. The ruling also encompassed several music industry defendants, including Universal Music Group, Warner Chappell, CMG, and BMG, all based in different states.
Henderson attempted to argue that GloRilla’s appearances in Louisiana, including her performance at the 2025 Super Bowl and at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, established jurisdiction. However, Judge Africk found that these events did not directly connect to the claims made in the lawsuit.
Implications of the Ruling
In his ruling, Judge Africk highlighted a significant flaw in Henderson’s argument, noting that her lawyer’s purchase of GloRilla’s album at a New Orleans record store did not substantiate the claim that the song “Never Find” was targeted at Louisiana consumers. He pointed out that the song is available globally and that it was not included on the vinyl album purchased.
The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Henderson the option to refile in a different jurisdiction if she chooses. As of now, her legal representation has not issued any statements regarding the next steps.
This legal victory is not GloRilla’s first. In a previous case, a similar copyright infringement claim concerning her tracks “Tomorrow” and “Tomorrow 2” was also dismissed for jurisdictional reasons in New Orleans federal court. Additionally, she faced another lawsuit a year ago, alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and Soulja Boy, regarding the sampling of the 2008 song “Me & My Goons” by Plies. That case was voluntarily withdrawn in March.
As GloRilla continues to navigate the complexities of the music industry, this latest legal development underscores the challenges artists face concerning intellectual property and copyright claims.
