WHAT'S GOOD YA'LL!!! In the words of my friend Clio, "The Yee-haw revolution is upon us!"
I have so many great things to say about this album and not only because I dip my toe in the Beehive, but because of what this opens the door to. For the longest time throughout history people have always had a fascination with the American cowboy, however, like all American history, the story of the American cowboy was heavily whitewashed. Black Cowboys in the American West accounted for up to an estimated 25% from the 1860's to the 1880's. Cowboys like Nat Love and Mary Ellen Pleasant, despite their extraordinary talent regularly encountered racism when passing through settlements, where they were separated from their white counterparts and outright banned from others. So how befitting for the Texan born and raised Beyoncé to honor the legacy of the black Cowboy for her 8th studio album.
The Black Country singer, much like the black cowboy, despite vocal ability, their presence within this genre has been a long fight for visibility. When Beyonce released her first two singles, before the release of the album title, I was very thrown off, excited, but a country album? Was not expecting it! Quite often not only does the industry pigeonhole artists, but shamefully so do we, the fans. I will admit I didn't like the singles at first, I only listened to them once and never went back. However, as the social media roll outs kept coming, so was the anticipation .
As I have mentioned before, I do love me some country music! I was put onto the genre at a very young age! My favorites growing up have all been white artists and it never really dawned on me how much I too always viewed country as a white peoples genre due to that fact. I couldn't have been more wrong. In 1927 as 'hillbilly music' began to emerge along came a black man named Jimmy Rogers. Jimmy Rogers is best known for his distinctive yodeling and regarded widely as the "Father of Country Music". Now how are we the originators but still being alienated from a genre we created!
In 2016 Beyonce released her 6th studio album, 'Lemonade'. Within the album Beyonce had introduced us to her country side with 'Daddy Lessons'. That same year Beyonce performed at the CMAs' joined by The Dixie Chicks, now known as The Chicks. That experience brought about enough criticism that it inspired the creation of Cowboy Carter. And how dope is that? Too often being Black in America we are forced into uncomfortable spaces and moments and no one else but us truly gets it because it always seems like we are the only ones forced into discomfort. But what I love about us is how we always turn our darkness into triumph, how do we do it? We should be the villain of every story and yet we persevere and prove our counterparts wrong time and time again.
Here's the thing, you aint gotta like Beyonce ok, but I think anyone can respect the art, the process and the iconicness (my word) of this album! Let me explain even further if you still ain't hip!
Not only has our good sis given us a history nod to the black cowboy but also to the black country singer, and the staples/icons of country. Beyonce did her history ok, because my thing is if you gonna dip and dabble in another genre that's not typically your own you better do your research!! Act II consists of even more great features! From rising Black Country stars like, Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tierra Kennedy and Rhiannon Giddens. And even if you don't know their music everyone knows country icons Dolly Parton and Willi Nelson, they too appear on the album ya'll! I used to really love Miley Cyrus' version of 'Jolene' but I promise Beyonce does not disappoint! Speaking of Miley, she appears on track 16, II Most Wanted. Who knew a song collab with Beyonce and Miley Cyrus was what we were missing from life! Variety notes that this song interpolates Fleetwood Mac's " Landslide", and it is such a beautiful ballad.
Lastly but certainly not least, there are nods to Nancy Sinatra, Patsy Cline, the Beatles and Buffalo Springfield, a 1966 protest song known for its chorus. You also get a super cute appearance from Rumi Carter and The ICONIC Linda Martell was not only honored with her own track but was also a feature! I wrote about Ms. Martell before but to refresh your memory, Like quite a few black artists Linda Martell started out in R&B, however in 1969, while singing on a South Carolina Air Force base Martell was heard singing country songs and was offered a chance to record a demo. Linda Martell became the first commercially successful Black Female country music artist. She was also the first black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry. Due to taunting and professional conflicts Linda Martell put country music away in 1991. And while she has picked up music again since then it is such an honor to see an icon given her flowers on a platform as big as Beyonce's.
My favorite songs are American Requiem, Spaghetti and Ya Ya. While the album is labeled a country album as Beyonce stated on social media, 'This aint a country album, this a Beyonce album' and that it truly is! With various mixes of genres you also get heavy influences of Tina Turner and Prince, I mean I honestly have no complaints. I also saw the Renaissance Era as a continuation of getting to know Beyonce. Lemonade while filled with bops, its the visuals that will stand the test of time. Beyonce takes us back to her Alabamian/Creole roots within the visuals. She also takes us on her journey of being a mom, wife, daughter, sister, entertainer and how heavy it all can be. With Renaissance both ACT I and II we head back to Texas. The state that made her. ACT I and ACT II seemed to be healing albums, dedication albums, recognizing not only the people who have helped her along the way within her family but those within the industry who have provided guidance and inspiration to do what she does.
I could go on and on about this album honestly, because I keep wondering how Beyonce does it? But I just want to end with this, fan or not if you learn anything from this as an artist that is to not limit yourself! You are an artist first and foremost, whatever genre you choose does not have to be the end of it all. You're an artist not the genre, do you! Now go enjoy the album ya'll!
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