Flo Milli is currently facing a copyright lawsuit concerning her hit track “Never Lose Me,” which has garnered significant attention since its release. The song reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the standout tracks from her sophomore album, Fine Ho, Stay, released in March 2025.
The lawsuit, filed by Baltimore artist Shamar Deal, claims that Flo Milli, whose real name is Tamia Monique Carter, used a beat that was supposedly licensed exclusively to Deal years prior. The suit also names Detroit rappers Babyface Ray and 42 Dugg, alleging that they sampled the same beat from a track titled “Youu,” which Deal purchased on Traktrain, an online platform for rap instrumentals. According to the lawsuit, Deal secured an exclusive 10-year license for the beat.
The legal issues stem from the fact that Gerreaux Katana, the producer of “Youu,” allegedly relicensed the beat to Babyface Ray and 42 Dugg in 2023, violating the original contract. This re-licensing led to the creation of the track “Ron Artest,” which Flo Milli then sampled for “Never Lose Me.” Deal asserts that both tracks infringe upon his rights, as he is the only artist legally allowed to use the beat.
Deal’s attorney, Larry Zerner, stated, “As plaintiff currently holds the exclusive right to the composition, the incorporation of the composition in Ron Artest and Never Lose Me constitutes copyright infringement.” The lawsuit seeks at least $1 million in damages and also names EMPIRE and Sony Music as defendants.
“Never Lose Me” has achieved remarkable success, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart and earning nearly 947.5 million official on-demand streams worldwide, with over 531 million coming from the U.S. The legal dispute adds a significant wrinkle to what has become one of hip-hop’s biggest hits in the past year.
As of now, Flo Milli, Babyface Ray, and 42 Dugg have not publicly commented on the lawsuit. The outcome of this case could have important implications for all parties involved, especially given the song’s popularity and the ongoing challenges related to copyright in the music industry.
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