Haitian music icon Fabrice Rouzier sues Burna Boy for alleged theft, seeks heavy damages in New York court

Haitian music legend Fabrice Rouzier has filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York against Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, Franco-Haitian artist Joé Dwèt Filé, Haitian comedian Tonton Bicha, and several major music companies, including Atlantic Records Group and Universal Music Publishing France. The lawsuit, filed on April 22, 2025, alleges unauthorized use of Rouzier’s 2002 song “Je Vais” in the track “4 Kampé” and its remix “4 Kampé II,” which features Burna Boy. ​

Rouzier claims that “4 Kampé” and its remix incorporate significant elements from “Je Vais,” including audio samples, lyrical passages, and visual imagery from the original music video, without obtaining proper authorization. Despite Joé Dwèt Filé publicly acknowledging the sampling of “Je Vais,” no formal licensing agreement was secured. The remix’s release in March 2025, featuring Burna Boy, allegedly intensified the infringement by further exploiting the original work across various platforms. ​
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The lawsuit also addresses Tonton Bicha’s participation in a live performance of “4 Kampé” in New York, where he reportedly reenacted scenes from the original “Je Vais” video. Given his involvement in the original production, Rouzier argues that Bicha was aware of the rights associated with the work. ​

Rouzier is seeking compensatory damages for financial losses and reputational harm, payment of unpaid royalties, an injunction to halt further exploitation of the disputed works, and the destruction of all infringing materials. He also requests legal recognition of his exclusive rights to “Je Vais.” ​

This case highlights ongoing concerns about intellectual property rights in the music industry, particularly regarding the protection of Caribbean artists’ works in the global market.​

Chokarella