Beyoncé‘s surprise Super Bowl drop of two new country songs, with the announcement of a whole album to follow, thrilled most viewers — but not Azealia Banks.
Banks hit social media on Monday (February 12) to share that she wasn’t feeling the Queen Bey’s new direction.
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“I love you…but them r&b runs over the leslie feist back beats is giving pickmesha… . Nothing country about it,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories.
“You’re setting yourself up to be ridiculed again,” Banks continued. “There’s a theatrical element to country music !!! Them critics are not just going to accept an ugly blond wig and bullying from jay-z !!! It’s giving big time musical grift… [Y]ou’re just really not hitting the button.”
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Banks also unfavorably compared Bey’s country effort to a similar pivot by singer K. Michelle, who made her own move to country in March 2023, telling People at the time: “Country music is who I am.”
Michelle has since performed at the Country Music Awards, though she has not yet released a full-length project in that style.
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“K.michelle this is your turn to really execute,” Banks wrote. “It’s no shade but K Michelle truly understands the assignment… Beyoncé…you will gag when k Michelle tears it.”
See her full post below.
Azealia Banks tears into Beyoncé over “lazy” country pivot: “You're not hitting the button” pic.twitter.com/7q6AQAbtVF
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) February 12, 2024
Prior to Azealia Banks’s outspoken message, K. Michelle expressed her feelings about Beyoncé’s new songs.
“I’m one of the greatest African American country singers of all times with no album even out,” she wrote on X in response to Bey fan who, in light of the Lemonade icon going country, asked: “Has anyone checked in on @kmichelle[?]”
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“Yall been mentioning me ALL night,” the singer continued. “I’m just happy to be spoke about in my genre. I love Bey and will be supporting her like i always do.”
Beyoncé announced the arrival of Renaissance: act ii in a multi-layered reveal that started with a new Super Bowl ad for Verizon. In it, Beyoncé and the network’s now iconic “Can You Hear Me Now” tech try a number of different schemes to see if Queen Bey can “break the internet” once again.
The commercial ends with the former Destiny’s Child star blasting off to space as a fictional news anchor announces her plans to deliver the first live performance from space. In the last few seconds of the ad, Bey says: “Okay, they ready, drop the new music.”
The surprise Verizon ad had the intended effect of driving fans to her socials as they looked for additional hints as to how to access Beyoncé’s latest offering. Moments after the ad premiered, she delivered with a Texas-themed trailer for the new project, which is set to arrive on March 29.
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She also released the first two singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” which are available on all streaming platforms.
