Nigerian music star Burna Boy is facing a lawsuit in a New York court filed by Haitian music legend Fabrice Rouzier, who accuses him of stealing elements from his 2002 track “Je Vais.”
The lawsuit, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, claims that Burna Boy and French-Haitian singer Joe Dwet File (whose real name is Joe Gilles) used Rouzier’s composition, sound, and video material without permission in their recent collaboration “4 Kampe II,” which was released on March 28, 2025.
According to court documents, the infringement began in late 2024 when Gilles released the original “4 Kampe,” which allegedly drew from “Je Vais.” Rouzier states that he issued a cease-and-desist letter to Gilles, who reportedly admitted to using Rouzier’s material. Nevertheless, Gilles proceeded to release the remix featuring Burna Boy, which allegedly includes lyrics and melodies that are strikingly similar to “Je Vais,” including the French line “Chérie, ou sou sa kampe.”
Rouzier accuses both artists of knowingly profiting from stolen work, resulting in lost revenue, a damaged reputation, and missed opportunities. He claims that Burna Boy was fully aware of the infringement but chose to participate in the remix anyway.
The veteran Haitian musician is seeking compensatory and exemplary damages, legal fees, and an injunction to prevent any further use of his likeness or music in “4 Kampe” and “4 Kampe II.” He is also requesting that the court order the destruction of all infringing copies of the videos.