Rapper GloRilla is fighting back against a copyright lawsuit that claims she stole the phrase “all natural, no BBL.” The suit was filed earlier this summer by Natalie Henderson, who alleges GloRilla used the phrase in her lyrics without permission. However, GloRilla’s legal team is arguing that the expression is far too common to be protected by copyright.
A “Cliche” Phrase, Not Copyrightable?
In a filing on September 8th, GloRilla’s attorneys argued that the phrase, which refers to someone with a natural physique rather than one enhanced by a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), is simply too everyday and overused to warrant copyright protection. “The phrase ‘natural[e], no BBL’… is too common, everyday, trite, and cliched to be protectable by copyright,” the lawyers stated.
The motion further contends that the phrase isn’t original and therefore not copyrightable. GloRilla’s team also pointed out that any listener would easily conclude the two songs aren’t substantially similar. They also cited seven other songs that use similar wording, suggesting the phrase is widespread.
The Lyric in Question
The specific lyric at the center of the dispute comes from GloRilla’s 2024 track “Never Find,” featured on her Billboard 200 charting album *GLORIOUS*. The line in question is: “Natural, no BBL/ but I’m still gon’ give him hell.” Henderson’s song reportedly uses the phrase as, “All natural, no BBL/ Mad hoes go to hell.” Henderson’s attorneys had previously argued that the similarities between the two songs were unmistakable, claiming a layperson could find them essentially identical.
Furthermore, GloRilla’s legal team argued that there’s no concrete evidence that she ever heard Henderson’s song, making the claim of unauthorized usage even weaker. This isn’t the first time GloRilla has faced legal challenges; she was previously sued over unlicensed samples in 2023, but that case was dismissed last year.
A Common Phrase in Music
The legal battle highlights a common issue in music: the use of everyday language and popular slang. While artists draw inspiration from the world around them, the line between common expression and copyright infringement can be blurry. GloRilla’s defense hinges on the idea that this particular phrase is so widespread it belongs in the public domain of language, not under exclusive copyright.
What do you think about GloRilla’s defense? Is the phrase “all natural, no BBL” too common to be copyrighted? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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