Robin S and Big Freedia react to Beyoncé sampling their music: “I’m honoured and excited”

Robin S and Big Freedia have reacted to Beyonce’s comeback single, ‘Break My Soul’, which includes nods to both artists’ work. 

Released on Monday 20th June, the track uses parts of Freedia’s 2014 tune ‘Explode’, alongside a bass groove reminiscent of ‘Show Me Love’, Robin’s landmark 1993 house music anthem. 

“My manager called and said, ‘Beyoncé wanted to use one of your songs on her new album’,” Big Freedia told Entertainment Tonight. Her voice previously appeared in the video to another of Beyoncé’s songs, 2016’s ‘Formation’. “I was like, ‘Holy crap, what is going on? Another one?’ I was like, ‘This is happening again?'”

“She [told] me how she’s grateful for [me] being a part of this track,” she continued, explaining that she had flown out to meet Beyoncé in her studio. “I’m like, ‘No, I’m grateful for you calling me to be a part of this track and having me on it’.”

In comparison, Robin S was informed about the sample after ‘Break My Soul’ was officially released, as licensing meant only songwriter Allen George and co-writer Fred McFarlane needed to give approval, and have their names included in the credits. According to UK TV show Good Morning Britain, her son told her parts of the early-1990s hit were being re-used. 

“[He] called me and he’s like… ‘You’re trending all over the place’… ‘Beyoncé put her song out and it’s [sampling] ‘Show Me Love’, and you’re trending everywhere,'” Robin recounted, before expressing “a lot of thanks”.

“Thank you so much for giving me my flowers while I’m still alive,” she said. “I’m honoured and excited to see what else can happen.”