Copyright lawsuit over ‘Enough (Miami)’ dismissed in legal victory for Cardi B
TheGrio...
The lawsuit, filed by musicians Joshua Fraustro and Miguel Aguilar, alleged that Cardi B’s track copied elements from their 2021 song “Greasy Frybread.”
Rapper Cardi B has secured a legal victory after a federal judge in Texas dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit tied to her 2024 single “Enough (Miami).”
The lawsuit, filed in July 2024 by musicians Joshua Fraustro and Miguel Aguilar, who perform as Kemikal 956, alleged that Cardi B’s track copied elements from their 2021 song “Greasy Frybread.” The plaintiffs claimed their song had gained recognition, including use in promotional material for the FX series “Reservation Dogs,” according to Music Business Worldwide.
However, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. dismissed the case, primarily on jurisdictional grounds. The court found that Texas was not the proper venue to bring the lawsuit. Cardi B, whose legal name is Belcalis Almanzar, resides in New Jersey, while her label Atlantic Records and parent company Warner Music Group are based in New York and incorporated in Delaware.
The plaintiffs argued that Cardi B’s performances in Texas established jurisdiction, but the court rejected that claim. Judge Rodriguez noted that her concerts in Texas were part of broader national tours and did not specifically target the state. Similarly, the availability of her music through streaming platforms in Texas was not considered unique, as the same distribution applied nationwide.
Beyond jurisdiction, the court also found significant flaws in the plaintiffs’ legal claims. Notably, Fraustro and Aguilar did not have a registered copyright for “Greasy Frybread” at the time they filed the lawsuit, a critical requirement for pursuing copyright infringement claims. They only secured a copyright in October 2025, more than a year after initiating legal action.
The judge further ruled that even if jurisdiction had been appropriate, the claims would still fail due to insufficient evidence. Attempts by the plaintiffs to reframe their allegations under Texas state laws, including unfair competition and defamation, were also dismissed. The court determined that those claims were effectively preempted by federal copyright law and lacked specific supporting details.
In addition, the court barred the plaintiffs from amending their complaint again, stating that further revisions would be futile.
The ruling effectively ends the case in Texas, marking a clear legal win for Cardi B and her label.