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It’s here. Beyoncé’s latest album, Cowboy Carter, dropped at midnight (ET) on Thursday night, Friday morning (March 29) and had social media users basically christening it a greatest of all time project before actually finishing the project.
Seriously. At 12:15 people were acting like Bey save music itself dispute their. being a whole hour of music left if you hit play on the album exactly at midnight. But such hyperbole should have been expected since the moment Mrs. Carter announced the new project in viral form during the Super Bowl.
What we get was a 27-track album that runs for an hour and 17 minutes and the guests, featured on the tracklisting, include Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Linda Martell and, wait for it, Rumi Carter. The Carters always make sure their seeds get those publishing credits, early.
Oh yeah, she’s reportedly in Japan.
Check out some of the more audacious reactions to Cowboy Carter in the gallery.
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Lyft, a major player in the rideshare market, proved that someone on its marketing team is most certainly a part of the Beyhive in classic fashion. After another rideshare social media account offered a discount on rides for fans going to Act II: Cowboy Carter listening parties, Lyft upped the ante in a major way.
With us being a neutral party, we won’t say the other rideshare company’s name although it won’t be hard to figure out as this story goes on. As it stands, the company in question offered a 16 percent discount on rides for fans on X (formerly Twitter) who wanted to attend listening parties for the latest album from Beyoncé, Act II: Cowboy Carter.
Lyft, taking note of the offer replies under the tweet from the other company writing “crumbs were left,” a nice little jab that we’ve seen in times past between major companies via their social media accounts.
After a fan suggested that Lyft sweeten the pot, the company responded by offering 50 percent off rides for those going to those aforementioned listening parties.
Now how is that for customer satisfaction?
While we don’t know if the other company is going to fire back just yet, for now, Lyft is the grand champion of the people AND the petty but the true winners are fans of Beyoncé who get to hear Queen Bey shift the culture once again with her latest album.
The singer recently suggested that while country music influences Act II: Cowboy Carter, this is still very much a Beyoncé album. We heard that. Also, we have to score a win for Lyft’s marketing team.
To take advantage of the 50 percent off rides with Lyft, use this code: SPAGHETTI24.
Check out the reactions to the playful back and forth on X and don’t forget, Act II: Cowboy Carter drops Friday, March 29.
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Photo: Getty
10. Okay, let’s not get carried away LOL
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Beyoncé made a lot of noise when she released her latest country singles “Texas Hold ‘Em,” and “16 Carriages.” Things went into overdrive yesterday (March, 27), when she dropped the entire tracklist for her upcoming album Cowboy Carter as it featured some very recognizable names and titles.
The Queen B had her Beyhive buzzing ridiculously on social media after revealing the titles on her eighth solo studio album. Not only will it feature Dolly Parton, but apparently Beyoncé will have a cover of Dolly P’s classic hit “Jolene.” That title alone had her followers swooning as they await the midnight release of the album March 29. Though we don’t know if Dolly P will be featured on “Jolene” or one of the many other songs, the fact that this collaboration will be happening for Beyoncé’s country album is amazing enough in itself.
Serving as a follow-up to 2022’s Renaissance, Act 2: Cowboy Carter will introduce Beyoncé to a country crowd that may not be too familiar with her talents, but according to Variety, it’s something that the Houston native was inspired to do quite some time ago after an incident that didn’t make her feel “welcome” in the genre.
Per Variety:
She was likely referring to her 2016 performance at the Country Music Association Awards, where she duetted with the Dixie Chicks (as they were known at the time). The appearance caused controversy in the country community, particularly on social media, and some expressed displeasure at the fact that she was given such a prominent spot at the show.
In a long note posted on Instagram, Beyoncé explained that this incident inspired her to study the origins of country music. “It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed… and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she said. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.”
Even if the album is a classic and goes diamond we really don’t expect Beyoncé to get any Country Music Awards for it. Just sayin’.
What do y’all think of Beyoncé’s upcoming album? Will you be listening to it when it drops March 29? Let us know in the comments section below.
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The promotional efforts for Beyoncé’s forthcoming country album are well underway. However several museums have denied any involvement with her Cowboy Carter projection.
On Wednesday, March 20 advertisements for her newest project were projected onto the walls of multiple iconic institutions throughout New York City. “This is not a country album. “This is a Beyoncé album. Act ii Cowboy Carter 3.29” read on the facade of the Guggenheim. Additionally photos of the album imagery were also displayed on the exterior of The New Museum and The Whitney. While at first glance it seemed like there was some sort of deal struck between her record label and these institutes that is not the case.
According to The Gothamist the stunt came to the Guggenheim as a surprise. “The Guggenheim was not informed about and did not authorize this activation,” a spokesperson said in a statement via email to the news publication on Thursday, March 21. But they also added that the “Halo” singer and her fans are welcomed to attend their upcoming Jenny Holzer installation. On Thursday, March 21 they referenced a lyric from “Texas Hold ’em” in a social media post about a painting by Franz Marc that featured horses.
In an Instagram post the Houston native detailed how this effort came about. “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t” she wrote. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé’s first ever country album is slated for a March 29 release.
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The esteemed publicist for Beyoncé fired back at Erykah Badu recently over claims the superstar copied a style of hers for the Cowboy Carter release.
There might be a slight bit of beef down in the heart of Texas as Erykah Badu feels that the latest artwork release by Beyoncé for her upcoming album, Act II: Cowboy Carter, took from her own style. It began as Beyoncé shared artwork for the limited edition version of her release. The photograph shows the singer in the nude, standing tall while draped in a banner emblazoned with “Act II Beyoncé” (an homage to her mother Tina Knowles’ maiden name) with a lit cigar while wearing a hairstyle of long braids.
The image didn’t sit well with Erykah Badu, who posted the image on her Instagram Stories with a simple caption of “Hmmm.” The “Window Seat” artist added a little bit more shade with another post on the social media platform, which featured a photo of her rocking a braided hairstyle with white translucent beads which she pinned to the top of her grid. The 53-year-old artist flaunted the hairstyle last month during her birthday concert in Dallas.
The message wasn’t lost on the legion of Beyoncé fans known as the BeyHive, and they promptly let her know in the comments of the post. “No disrespect Beyoncé not trying to copy you, and on top of that, it’s a damn hairstyle that has been around in the Black community for a while!!” one user wrote. Yvette Noel-Schure – who’s worked extensively with Beyoncé for 20 years – laid down the definitive word with her own social media post, a montage reel of the superstar’s looks from her rise with Destiny’s Child to now, including her Lemonade album cover where she also famously wore braids. “She slays. She slays. Now. Then. Always.” Noel-Schure captioned the post.
The reaction did prompt a somewhat comical response from Erykah Badu, this time in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “To Jay Z . Say somethin’, Jay. You gone let this woman and these bees do this to me ??” she wrote. There hasn’t been any response yet by Jay-Z or Beyoncé. Act II: Cowboy Carter will be released March 29.
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Azealia Banks was once considered one of the best women rappers of her generation but has achieved more notoriety lately for her fiery rants against the culture. Once more, the Harlem artist aimed barbs at Beyoncé and Jay-Z, sparking outrage and criticism from the Beyhive and beyond.
Beyoncé put the world on notice after sharing details behind her upcoming studio album, Act II: Cowboy Carter, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2022’s Act I: Renaissance. The Houston superstar explained in detail the impetus behind the album and expressed gratitude for having her song “Texas Hold ‘Em” going No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first Black woman to do so via a country music song.
Azealia Banks took to social media and had plenty to say about the rollout of the upcoming album, taking shots at Beyoncé’s husband in the process.
“Wow we didn’t even try to put even a little effort into a more artistic title?” Banks wrote via her Instagram Stories feed on March 19. “Sis I live for whiteyonce Donatella Bianca Bardot DOWN, But I’m kind of ashamed at how u switch from baobab trees and black parade to this literal pick me stuff.”
Banks added, “Like u do lame stuff like bring out some black listed white women (Dixie chicks) at the country music awards and they would never ever do the same for you. Ur always sharing ur platform with white women who are so jealous of you but have such a long history of sabotaging other black womens careers.”
Caught in the fray was Hov with Banks saying, “Ugh I’m so saddened by Jay-Z and his overstrategizing everything beyonce to the point where it’s clearly his influence and not the real Bianca Bardot. Someone tell Jayz his strategies are corny and beyonce has better ideas.”
Okay, then.
On X, formerly Twitter, reactions from all sides to the comments from Azealia Banks poured in. Some suggested that Banks focus on putting out new music while others agreed with some of her points, albeit some did so with reluctance.
We’ve got those reactions listed below.
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Source: Andreas Rentz / Getty / Erykah Badu / Beyoncé
The Beyhive has had enough of Erykah Badu coming for their queen Beyoncé.
Erykah Badu is feeling the sting of Beyoncé’s fans after she accused the Houston singer of swagger jacking again.
The “Bag Lady” singer took to her Instagram Stories to insinuate that her fellow Texas native bit her hairstyle on the alternate cover of her upcoming album, Act ii: Cowboy Carter.
Badu’s claims came on Wednesday, March 20, after Beyoncé shared the alternate cover to her new album. On it, the “Take My Soul” crafter is naked, covered by a sass saying “act ii BEYINCÉ,” while rocking braided hair with beaded bangs and holding a lit cigar.
In her post, Badu reposted the photo with the caption, “Hmmm.”
The hive, as expected, did not care for Badu accusing Beyoncé of biting her style. Badu hilariously hopped on X, formerly Twitter, asking for help from Beyoncé’s husband JAY-Z, of all people, writing in the post, “To JAY-Z. Say somethin Jay. You gone let this woman and these bees do this to me??”
Erykah Badu Has A History of Calling Beyoncé Out
This is not the first time Badu has claimed she has served as an uncredited style inspiration for Beyoncé. She also called out Beyoncé for biting her style regarding the hats worn during her performance.
During her Renaissance World Tour, Beyoncé wore metallic wide-brimmed hats during her performances, something Badu was also known for.
In that post, Badu also wrote “Hmmm” underneath a picture of Beyoncé and then shared a photo of herself wearing a hat during a similar performance, writing, “I guess I’m everyone’s stylist. favorite chrome mirror hat.”
Beyoncé seemingly saw the disrespect, and during a tour stop in Massachusetts, she had some time for Badu, replacing the lyrics on the “Break My Soul” (The Queens Remix)” saying “Badu, Badu, Badu, Badu,” instead of Badu, Lizzo, Kelly Rowl.”
Well, the Beyhive has seen and heard enough and is currently dragging Badu.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
1. Fair question
3. Interesting observation
4. An excellent breakdown of the madness
6. Seems to be true
The cover art for Beyoncé‘s upcoming album Cowboy Carter has stirred up some interesting discussions, most recently and notably from Harlem rapper Azealia Banks. The opinionated MC took to Instagram Stories on Tuesday to give us all a little lesson in cultural criticism.
First, Banks takes aim at the album’s title, writing, “Wow we didn’t even try to put even a little effort into a more artistic title?” Now, to be fair, we don’t know what Beyonce‘s thinking is as it pertains to the title. Some fans believe it’s a play on words. Obviously, Carter is her last name through marriage to rapper/businessman Sean Carter, aka Jay-Z, but it’s also the last name of the family widely seen as the first family of country music. It could be anything or nothing at all. The only person who knows is Cowboy Carter herself.
Trending on Billboard
Banks then takes issue with the cover’s overall aesthetic, asking, “how u switch from baobab trees and black parade to this literal pick me stuff,” referring to the Grammy Award-winning single from The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack Beyoncé executive produced back in 2019. It seems all the Americana imagery is too on the nose for Banks and misses the mark, as she accuses Beyonce of being in “white woman cosplay” and “reinforcing the false rhetoric that country music is a post civil war white art form. And subsequently reinforcing the idea that there is no racism, segregation, slavery, violence, theft, massacres, plagues, manifest destiny craziness that form the bedrock of epithets like ‘proud to be an American,’ or ‘god bless the usa.’”
As if that weren’t enough, Banks also brought up the 2016 CMA Awards performance Beyoncé did with The Chicks (then called The Dixie Chicks), writing, “u do lame stuff like bring out some black listed white women (Dixie Chicks) at the country music awards and they would never ever do the same for you.”
It’s all…a lot. You can check out all of what she wrote below. But it’s interesting to see Banks read so much into the album title and cover when Beyoncé herself took to Instagram on Tuesday to explain to fans why she decided to make Cowboy Carter.
Beyoncé didn’t mention the 2016 CMA Awards specifically, but she did write that the album “was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed.” And while Banks believes Beyoncé is unaware of the genre’s history, Bey explained that after the experience of not feeling welcomed she did “a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.” Similar to 2022’s Renaissance, on which she worked to reclaim Dance music, many feel she will be doing the same with country on this project. But hey, like she said in her IG post, “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.”
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Beyoncé has captured the attention of the masses once more with the earlier announcement of her upcoming eighth studio album, Act II: Cowboy Carter. Taking to Instagram, the Houston superstar shared the backstory of the creation of the project and what inspired the new creative direction.
On Tuesday (March 19), Beyoncé froze the world in its tracks and issued a massive statement concerning Act II: Cowboy Carter, the followup to 2022’s Act I: Renaissance. The entertainer says that the album was five years in the making and was inspired by a negative moment she experienced.
From Instagram:
Today marks the 10-day countdown until the release of act ii. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of the supporters of TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and 16 CARRIAGES. I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.
This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.
Queen Bey goes on to add, “I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop.”
As it stands, the ending sentence is perhaps what got the Beyhive most excited.
“This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all,” she wrote.
Act II: Cowboy Carter drops on March 29.
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Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
Beyoncé debuted the title and artwork for her upcoming country music album, bringing joy to her legion of fans on social media.On Tuesday (March 12), Beyoncé revealed the name of her highly anticipated album project, Cowboy Carter on her website. The site’s homepage features a photo of a horse saddle with burnished silver, with a red, white, and blue sash draped over it with Cowboy Carter emblazoned on the sash. The country music album is the “Act II” of her Renaissance album from 2022.
The superstar is already seeing the demand for the album grow by the day, fueled by the release of two singles from the album – “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em”. “Texas Hold Em” is currently leading on the Hot 100 charts and made Beyoncé the first Black woman to have a single debut at number one on the country music charts. Even adding more fuel to the frenzy was a recent statement by country music legend Dolly Parton about her iconic hit “Jolene”. “Well, I think she has! I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about that,” Parton said to Knox News, adding: “I love her! She’s a beautiful girl and a great singer.” She also defended her against critics, saying: I think we belong wherever we can do good, and her song is number one across every chart in the whole world, I think. So, I mean, who can argue with that?”
The website’s merchandise section also featured a series of limited edition CDs with alternative cover photos that showed half of Beyoncé’s face, and four vinyl variant releases in black, red, white, and blue. A box set edition boasts a bonus track and t-shirts with the album title design on its chest. The news got her legion of fans known as the BeyHive in a frenzy, especially on social media platforms such as X, formerly known as Twitter. Cowboy Carter will be officially released on March 29.
We’ve gathered together some of the more striking responses to the album title below.
1. Strong Black Lead
2. TV_Jessica
3. Brock Lee Florets
4. Bounce To The Next
6. Brandon B
7. Beythoven
8. Chef Brigette