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Beyonce is at the center of a $20 million federal lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday (Feb. 7) in New Orleans, claiming the pop star's "Formation" and "Lemonade" music videos used the voice of the late New Orleans bounce rapper Messy Mya without consent from Mya's estate.
The distinctive voice of Messy Mya, whose legal name was Anthony Barre, can be heard in both Beyonce's projects and was imitated while Beyonce was on tour, the suit claims.
Barre's sister and sole heir, Angel Barre, is suing Beyonce, Parkwood Entertainment, Sony, "Formation" director Melina Mastoukas and a co-producer, marketer and publishers of "Formation" and "Lemonade." Angel Barre's lawyers have asked for $20 million in damages for "willful copyright infringement, false endorsement, unfair trade practices and unjust enrichments," according to the lawsuit.