"Don't Take Away My Perreo": Bad Bunny Hit with $16 Million Lawsuit Over Iconic Vocal Sample
"Don't Take Away My Perreo": Bad Bunny Hit with $16 Million Lawsuit Over Iconic Vocal Sample
The global juggernaut that is Bad Bunny is starting 2026 under a legal cloud. The Puerto Rican superstar, currently riding high on the success of his latest project DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, is being sued for a staggering $16 million by a woman who claims her voice was used without her consent on two of his biggest tracks.
The lawsuit, filed on January 5, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, names Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny), his longtime producer Roberto J. Rosado (aka La Paciencia), and his record label, Rimas Entertainment LLC, as defendants.
The "WhatsApp" Receipt
The plaintiff, Tainaly Y. Serrano Rivera, alleges that the dispute centers on a specific, high-energy vocal line: “Mira, puñeta, no me quiten el perreo” (“Look, damn it, do not take away my perreo”).
According to court documents, Serrano recorded the phrase in 2018 via a WhatsApp voice note at the request of producer La Paciencia, while the two were reportedly fellow students. Serrano claims she was never informed that the recording would be used for commercial purposes, nor did she ever sign a contract, license, or authorization agreement.
A Legacy of Millions
The sample in question has become a staple of the Bad Bunny "lore," serving as a pivotal transition point in his discography:
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"Solo de Mi" (2018): The line first appeared at the end of this track on his debut album X 100pre, which has since surpassed 540 million streams on Spotify.
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"EoO" (2025): The sample was reused last year at the 1:05 mark of "EoO," a standout track from his latest Grammy-nominated album.
Serrano’s legal team argues that the unauthorized use of her voice constitutes a violation of Puerto Rico’s Right of Publicity and Moral Rights statutes. They contend that her identity has been exploited commercially across streaming platforms, worldwide tours, and merchandise without a single cent of compensation.
Déjà Vu for the "King of Latin Trap"
If this feels familiar, it’s because it is. This is the second high-profile "voice memo" lawsuit Bad Bunny has faced in recent years. In 2023, his ex-girlfriend Carliz De La Cruz Hernández sued him for $40 million over the famous "Bad Bunny, baby" tagline.
Serrano is being represented by the same legal team that handled the De La Cruz case. While Bad Bunny has previously described the "Mira, puñeta" sample as the "perfect transition" in interviews, that artistic choice may now cost him millions.
Neither Bad Bunny nor Rimas Entertainment has issued an official statement regarding the $16 million claim. As the "Super Bowl LXI" halftime show rumors continue to swirl around the artist, this legal battle serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of sampling in the digital age.
