Singer Kelis was left fuming after she voiced her grievances over Beyonce sampling the former’s single ‘Get Along with You’ for her new song ‘Energy’ that will be featured on her upcoming album ‘Renaissance’. The song ‘Get Along with You’ credited to Pharrell and Chad Hugo from The Neptunes originally featured on Kelis’ 1999 debut album ‘Kaleidoscope’.
A fan page pointed out how they were excited about the collaboration between Beyonce and Kelis but the latter was quick to respond that it was not a collaboration but a theft. The 42-year-old crooner from her chef Instagram account @bountyandfull commented on the fan page that admire was not the word when a fan stated “I always felt like Beyoncé really admire Kelis.” Kelis later took to her original Instagram account to express her frustration. For the unversed, Beyonce’s Renaissance’ is all set to release on Friday, July 29.
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Kelis drags Beyonce, Pharrell over sampling ‘Get Along with You’
Kelis, while commenting on a fan page stated, “My mind is blown too because the level of disrespect and utter ignorance of all 3 parties involved is astounding” adding, “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.
Again, replying to a fan, the ‘Milkshake’ hitmaker stated that it was ridiculous when an individual pointed out how Beyonce earlier sampled ‘Ring the Alarm’ way back in 2006. Kelis later took to her Instagram and captioned a video, “I said what I said, cause it’s the truth. You don’t have to like it or agree. Facts are facts. If you’re a sheep keep it movin this convo will be over your head. I didn’t ask for this, but I’m not afraid of it either.” The hit single ‘Get Along with You’ is credited to Pharrell and Chad Hugo and it is unclear whether Beyonce was legally obligated to clear the sample with Kelis before the release of ‘Renaissance’.
Kelis posted another video on Instagram and captioned it, “I just heard the record everyone is saying has my sample . But it’s beyond this song at this point. This was a TRIGGER for me.” She continued, “Milkshake alone is one of the most licensed records of our generation. I am a creator, I’m an innovator, I have done more then left my mark on an era of music and style that will go down in history” adding, “But there are bully’s and secrets and gangsters in this industry that smile and get away with it until someone says enough is enough. So, I’m saying it today. I’m coming for what’s mine and I want reparations. Peace.”
‘It's not about me being jealous’
In the videos posted on Instagram on July 28, Kelis said Beyoncé should have at least reached out to her about sampling her song. She continued, It's not about me being jealous. Jealous of someone using my song? That's the dumbest, most ignorant thing I've ever heard” further stating, “It has to do with the fact that, from one artist to another, you should have the decency and common sense and the courtesy to call. She claimed that she does not consider Queen Bey’s song ‘Energy’ to be a collaboration because the definition of collaboration means that we are working together. She added, “There's no working together if you are not even checking to see if everything's cool, she added. That's a problem. Kelis had also dragged The Neptunes in 2020 over sharing of profits. In an interview with The Guardian, the singer claimed, “I thought it was a beautiful and pure, creative safe space. But it ended up not being that at all. I was told we were going to split the whole thing 33/33/33, which we didn’t do.”
‘Kelis is more than entitled to be annoyed’
Social media users thronged Twitter as Kelis called out Beyonce and Pharrell over song credits. “Kelis deserves so much more than people belittling her imprint on music, gaslighting her about being swindled, and a flood of emojis in her comment. She’s been telling that story about Pharrell for some time. And truly trying to use her grief to say she’s lashing out is nasty af”, said one furious individual as another chimed in, “Folks are gaslighting Kelis & trying to invalidate her feelings. But any person would be upset to see their work as an artist constantly being stolen or not receiving credit. Like, yeah, The Neptunes owns her masters. But that’s the whole point. They exploited & stole from her.”
The next one claimed, “I love beyoncé with my entire heart and soul but kelis is 100% right and you can’t deny it. i hope they work things out because i know the song will be great because they’re both amazing artists. F**k pharell’s punk a**.” One user posted, “Kelis is more than entitled to be annoyed. Beyoncé (or her people) should’ve picked up the phone and called to give her the heads up. And the Neptunes need to relinquish her masters and stop being greedy and petty. That’s it. That’s all.” Another shared, “I mean, Kelis is not wrong in how she feels or what she says. You can still love Beyoncè and empathize with Kelis and her frustration with how she keeps being treated.” One user added, “Sampling her work without permission and the persons getting paid is Pharrell and Beyoncé not Kelis - I’d be outraged as too. It’s always uplift and protect Black artists until it’s Black artist being scammed by Black capitalists they worship.” And, one concluded, “Someone at Parkwood shoulda called Kelis. Pharrell and Chad deserve a mighty a** whooping for how they played her. It’s that simple. I’m glad Beyoncé credited her so she’ll get a coin, but I think what Kelis is asking for us simple: respect, consideration, & maybe a lil revenge.”
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