Beyoncé has removed an interpolation of Kelis’ 2003 single ‘Milkshake’ from her new album ‘Renaissance’.
The sample appears on her song ‘Energy’, a real highlight of the universally acclaimed new album. Kelis, however, saw it differently – the singer wasn’t credited on the song, and no one reached out to inform her of the sample.
Using IG to make her point, Kelis took aim at both Beyoncé and The Neptunes, calling producer Chad Hugo “an amoeba”. The row dates back to the credits of the initial song, with Kelis having previously cited her displeasure over the way the production team treated her.
She wrote: “My mind is blown too because the level of disrespect and utter ignorance of all three parties involved is astounding… I heard about this the same way everyone else did. Nothing is ever as it seems, some of the people in this business have no soul or integrity and they have everyone fooled.”
‘Energy’ boasted credits from Skrillex, Al Cres, BEAM and Nova Wav, while Kelis wasn’t mentioned in any way.
Now Beyoncé has made a slight edit to her album, removing the ‘Milkshake’ interpolation, and re-upping a fresh version of ‘Energy’. The new version is available on TIDAL now, and – one assumes – streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music will follow.
It’s not the only last minute edit Beyoncé has made – following an outcry, she removed an ableist slur from ‘Heated’.
The vinyl edition of ‘Renaissance’ is out now – it’s not yet known if these edits will follow on subsequent physical pressings.
‘Renaissance’ is out now. In a review, Clash writer Shahzaib Hussain wrote: “The word ‘genius’ isn’t bestowed upon Beyoncé the way it is for Kanye or Kendrick; if ‘RENAISSANCE’ doesn’t convince you of her merit or her unerring willingness to produce sprawling bodies of work that are editorially precise, prismatic and rhythmically audacious, nothing will.”
