GloRilla Argues “No BBL” Lyrics Are Not Protected By Copyright

GloRilla is asking a federal court in Louisiana to dismiss a copyright lawsuit that claims she borrowed a viral phrase for her song “Never Find.” The motion, filed alongside UMG Recordings, Warner Chappell Music, and BMG Rights Management, argues that the phrase “no BBL” is too short and common to be legally protected.

The suit was brought by Natalie Henderson, also known as Slimdabodylast. Henderson’s complaint centers on her song “All Natural,” which features the lyrics “all naturale, no BBL.” She says her track gained traction on social media in early 2024 for celebrating natural bodies. Henderson contends that GloRilla’s lyric—“Natural, no BBL, but I’m still gon’ give them hell”—is strikingly similar and that the rapper and her collaborators have profited from her original work.

GloRilla’s legal team challenges the lawsuit on multiple fronts. They argue Henderson cannot prove that GloRilla had access to her song. Posting a track online, they say, does not meet the legal standard for establishing access. Courts typically require evidence that a work has been widely distributed or commercially successful, which they claim Henderson’s song does not satisfy.

The defense also disputes any substantial similarity between the two tracks. Henderson’s phrase appears repeatedly as a hook, while GloRilla’s line is used once in a different context with a distinct rhyme. The lawyers point out that expressions like “give them hell” are common across music and do not constitute copying.

Additionally, GloRilla’s team questions whether Henderson can claim both statutory and actual damages and says she has not demonstrated infringement sufficient to warrant an injunction. They also argue that phrases celebrating natural bodies are common in other recent songs and do not meet the originality required for copyright protection.

The motion asks the court to dismiss the case entirely, stating that viral expressions, even popular ones, cannot automatically be treated as intellectual property.