Did Beyonce Kill Neo-Soul?
The Beyoncification of the Music Industry
‘Unique Perspective’ is a bi-monthly column in which Nasirah Coleman gives us his individual insight on issues ranging from music, TV, politics, and social issues.
“Let’s take a long walk around the park after dark. Find a spot for us to spark conversation, verbal elation, stimulation. Sharing our situations, temptations, education, relaxations…elevations…maybe baby, maybe we can save the nation…”
Remember when Jill Scott beautifully serenaded us with these lyrics, and made us feel free from pettiness, superficiality, and commonalities? Branded Neo-Soul, R&B music was moving away from the fast-paced, up-tempos and cute little breakup ballads, and it morphed itself into music with messages that evoked thought, enlightenment, depth, and originality.
Lauryn Hill crushed nonsense pop in the mainstream and kicked open the door for artists with more to offer than a pretty face, a cute dance step, and short range of basic singing techniques. With the mass success of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, people began to realize that music was not just a nice melody, but more so a learning experience that could teach new outlooks on life and new ways of self-expression.
The new branded R&B seemed to be breaking down doors and overpowering the influences of cutesy pop acts such as Destiny’s Child, TLC, and even making it hard for Queen Mary to sit on her throne comfortably with the likes of Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, and Jill Scott setting new standards of excellence. R&B seemed to be making movements in the right direction and although R&B pop was ever present, Neo Soul seemed to be holding its ground as the dominant force.
However, over the years R&B pop has been chipping away at Neo-Soul’s solid front and have possibly broken down its barriers. Today, it seems as though the amazing Neo-Soul movement has ran out of gas, stranded on a deserted highway at 3 o’clock in the morning trying to hitchhike its way back onto the mainstream charts.
In the same manner Lauryn Hill crushed nonsense pop, Beyonce has struck back and smashed the Neo-Soul movement and left its stars shattered and looking for a place in the industry. It seems true that Beyonce has in fact killed the Neo-Soul star!
Although Beyonce has “Beyoncified” the industry, halted the Neo-Soul evolution, and now sets the standards for artists to be signed to a major label, she did not do it alone. The first major hint that Neo-Soul might lose its footing came about when the industry started to become less intrigued with Erykah and India’s messages and delivery and became more intrigued by a young lady’s delivery of “Awww baby.”
While Beyonce was still secluded in Destiny’s Child, Ashanti managed to be a solo pop wrecking ball, racking up hit after hit, million after million, and song after song containing nothing more than “Awww baby.”
By the time Ashanti was done saturating the industry with her weak vocals - and even more horrific dance routines - Beyonce had emerged as a solo artist. And compared to Ashanti, even she seemed refreshing. Ashanti, who cracked the door for pop R&B artists to take over again, had it blown off the hinges when Beyonce exploded onto the scene as a solo artist hitting the notes Ashanti didn’t dare—and completing the dance routines Ashanti couldn’t.
However, unlike the Neo-Soul artist, Beyonce didn’t share the industry. Not only did she eliminate other styles of R&B, including Neo-Soul, she abolished the careers of her companions in the R&B pop movement and set herself alone as the standard to which the industry had to live by. With her beauty, high-energy performances, perfect mix of pop and R&B music, and no signs of weakness, Beyonce monopolized the industry and “Beyoncified” the standard.
Where does this leave the Neo-Soul star? Erykah Badu hasn’t been active in the industry since the disappointing sales of her last album; D’Angelo has since gained 100 lbs and given up on doing music altogether; Jill Scott hasn’t recuperated from the ugly sales of her last album; Neo-Soul duo Floetry have parted ways; Musiq Soulchild is currently struggling for a gold certification on his most recent project; and we’re all still waiting for Lauryn Hill’s sanity to regain. To add insult to injury, there’s an R&B artist who attempted to jump on the Neo-Soul bandwagon at the last minute, named himself Neyo, and since the downfall of Neo-Soul music, has packaged himself as a pop artist. In fact, his latest music is so pop, it’s almost identical to that of which Michael Jackson did in his prime.
Alicia Keys has an album coming out in November. If her first single features Lil’ Wayne, Timbaland, Swizz Beats, JayZ, or Diddy on the remix, we will have confirmation that Neo-Soul is dead and Beyonce’s debut Dangerously in Love is stained with its blood.
However, with Beyonce’s take over of R&B pop and re-commercialization of the industry, she re-opened the doors for Mariah Carey to make a huge comeback and the opportunity for Diddy to resurface and start making nonsense hits again. All of these singers are resurfacing and offering nothing more than what you can get at a fast food drive-thru window: a smile, wink, and a shake. Maybe God will have pity on us and re-send Lauryn to smash this ugly state of music and deliver us from Beyonce. If Lauryn is incapable of doing it, then I’ll be convinced that Beyonce is the anti-Christ.
This is a very biased bullsh!t article. You cannot blame one or two people for a genre of music falling out of mainstream popularity. Neo-soul was a marketing term made up by record companies that a lot of artists pigeonholed into the label didnt even like. Only a few neo-soul artists had mainstream success anyway, R&B/Pop was still popular. There are plenty of independent underground neo-soul artists creating good music, you just have to stop throwing blame around and search for it and support these artists. The author of this aritcle is making it sound like Beyonce “destroyed” neo-soul on purpose, like it was her mission. I’m going to give you a list of artists that you need to support instead of blaming Beyonce for the downfall of music
Malia, Syleena Johnson, June April, Goapele, Emily King, Lina, Mystic, Grenique,Adriana Evans, Anthony Hamilton, Amel Larrieux, Joi, Ladybug Mecca, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, India Arie, Amy Winehouse, Carol Riddick, Conya Doss, Hill St. Soul, Elisabeth Withers, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Julie Dexter, Ledisi, Lemar, Vivian Green, Sy Smith, Stephanie McKay, Omar,
That article was very funny because it’s true to a certain extent. I don’t think you can blame the state of music on any one person, but I think it’s the corporations that insist in playing her songs and videos every second in addition to the record company that re-released her album about six months after the original. I would buy her music, but it’s on the radio every other song so I don’t feel the need to. Also, circumstances happen that cause groups to split and artists to stop recording and things like that. I wish Lauryn Hill would come back and grace us with her music again, maybe it’ll happen one day. I also feel that the big wigs at the record labels, radio and tv stations should give other artists a chance, maybe have an hour during the peak listening times to introduce listeners to new sounds. The web is great too because it introduced me to great new music from people like Emily King, who don’t have that overcommercialized sound of someone like a Beyonce. I think B only monopolizies the industry because the corporate people insists on bombarding us with her image and sound every day, everywhere. It comes to the point where I turn off the radio alot because they play the same four artists all the time. It’s all about who’s making money at the moment, but others should get their shot too.
Of course you can’t blame just one person for course of an entire industry. Frankly, I think it’s all about ebb and flow, trends and fads. One could say that India.Arie ruined the industry for pure pop acts in the same way that Beyonce smash crunchiness of the neo-soul wave with you high glamour style.
As the previous commentor said, I don’t feel the need to buy Beyonce music because the stuff is damn everywhere - you can’t escape it if you wanted too. But I do respect the woman and the artist that she is, even if it’s far far FAR from my own standards of excellence.
Ultimately, I wish we could just have radio that played the best of every genre or style. Then we’d have Beyonce and Badu stacked right next to each other, without all the trendy filler. Amen.
i use to like beyonce, i did not realise that she was the cause of me not hearing anymore, lauryn, jill, d?, Erykah…..dammit B. you are messing things up. she should be shot. i want my neo-soul!!!
I say Soul (new or old neo or ole) has gone inside ie underground!!! If you really want to feel it, hear it, or see it take two steps towards your local music scene. Look around you; there are E. Badu’s, Jilly’s and many more standing all around you. You don’t need a hit LP to make great soul music. Beyonce made it big cause people took the time to listen and buy her music. You have the power to make whatever music you want to hear stand up and out. The power is in your dollars, look at Amy from the UK. She’s BIG cause we buy her; no other reason. Local talent is pure, is real, is NOW, is soulful no matter what the genre!!! Get out and support.
PS… NO I am not a local artist, I just realize home is not that far away.
I initially was going to let this one slide under my radar, but after giving it another thought, I have to provide my two cents. It’s very bold to say that one artist has completely wiped out a music genre and even bolder to put it in print. I see this as a narrowed opinion of music and its consumers. Beyonce is an artist, just like Jill Scott and E. Badu, the difference is that Beyonce makes more mainstream music. Thus, more people are going to purchase/request it because it appeals to their tastes. Now if Jill Scott and Erykah Badu want to make the kind of waves that Beyonce does, than they can write (or accept songs from writers that write) more mainstream music. I mean to say that Beyonce has wipe out Neo-Soul is giving her way too much credit. If Neo-soul is “music with messages that evoked thought, enlightenment, depth, and originality.” then theoretically there should have been no reason that it could be “Beyoncified”…right? This music is powerful, how could it have been destroyed by one bootylicious ballad after another? Lastly, come on we need to stop being negative toward people who are being successful with their lives. If more people were being POSITIVE with their lives and their attitudes than we would have less problems in the world.
‘…a big fat yep…’
Although reading is essential, understanding what you read is just as important. Most of the replies to the article seems offensive, although the writer was trying to inform blacks more than whites about the significants of the subject.
I agree with you Silena. The thing is that she is being made a scapegoat for why artist are not being supported by those who supposedly love their music. yes, I know all about marketing matters but a true fan knows all about their favorite artists, when their projects come out and such. Bey does her and people should be happy that is a sistah in the industry is doing them.
Wow, are you people stupid!
The article states about what is happening in the music industry at THIS moment!
there are NO music, songs, or albums worth buying nowadays because they have absolutely no substance to them. They songs artists produce nowadays are BIG MACS SONGS!
Quick song without any substance to make a quick splash at the billboards. The same songs you will NOT listen to for longer then a week, hell 2 days for that matter.
The article states that people love Neo soul because they FELT something with the music and were touched by it just from an artist standing still in front of a mic without smoke, fire and las vegas show attributes.
Beyonce is named because she has used sex to sell records and used all the sneaky sidelines in the industry to appear to be on top. Selling sex is not TALENT, anyone can do that just as easy as anyone can become a stripper and shake their ass.
How about using real talent and skills like your mind to write song (as these Neo soul artist do) to shine. How about you let people know you know about something more then designer clothes or diamond or any other kind of brag=about luxery you can name.
I think the public also has a hand in this because they, as the article stated, thought she was new and refreshing, if they could fast forward from the first time she shaked her ass in public she would not be as famous because they would know by now that she is a dumbass and has no substance whatsoever. Basically the public created a monster by buying her record and the public (mostly) teenagers have become so addicted to this fast food music industry that they have lost their appetite for real food (neo soul).
Nowadays REAL singers that can sing and only need a mic and a stage are deemed boring or not interesting. The public is now used to flash, and shiny things like costumes and smoke and glitter to hold their attention.
Which offcourse (seen by those with a brain) are only used so that people don’t focus on the fact that singers can’t really sing or have no substance whatsoever.
I also love how black people are always telling people beyonce is being used as a scapegoat and people need to leave this poor child alone. Well i wish you would use those words for the people that actually need some shine like Jill Scott, Angie Stone and Chrisette Michele etc.
Good article!
Thank you
I love how none of the blame is being put on radio stations for not playing a lot of neo-soul, the problem of illegal downloading and bootlegging, etc…. The bad thing is that Beyonce incoporates and pays homage to retro soul in her music, and she doesn’t even get credit from some people for doing that. Also, what are the neo-soul artists really focusing on other than love/relationships in most of their songs? Jill Scott’s or Alicia Keys’ subject matter is hardly any different than Beyonce’s in her songs. It’s just put to more retro sounding music. Also, there’s definitely no problem with looking back for inspiration, but can we keep progressing R&B music and adding other elements to it? We need to keep the music innovative. It would be boring if everybody sounded the same. There is room for all different types of R&B. Beyonce is an excellent role model, and people need to lay off of her sometimes. The bad thing this is probably an African-American woman that wrote this article, and I think that it’s so sad and disturbing that we can’t support each other no better than this. We need Beyonce, Jill, India and Ashanti because they represent all facets of black womanhood.
I love Beyounce’s music, I love Jill’ new album. I’m kind of on the fence because a true musiq lover understands that the commerical market, is not a reflection of your own taste.
I do belive that the BEST artist’s allways remain underground, and we the buying public are the real root of the problem. We love then when they are struggling, and when they get thier Webley stadium audience we bitc all day and spread rumours.
I’m from the UK, I remember when Floetry were just Marsha and blonde chic from 3+1. Then they left the UK,got a deal and everyone called them sellouts. I followed them all the way,yes even now they are seperate, I still support them.
Like I said, I blame the fans, we make the difference,not the bigwigs. They can’t bring the sales to the people, we buy it online!!!!!!
I agree with Selina and the two supporters of her. Neo-soul music is in a class of its own . We all know that neo-soul caters to more intellectual people who enjoy music. It is a smack in the face to categorize Beyonce in the neo-soul category. She sings about, not so much offensive, but music that caters to the younger, still learning, what’s going on right now in the 2000’s episodes of life. Jill Scott’s newset album has been named the sexiest album of 2007. She still hold a splash of the neo-soul trend while maintaining her ability to relate to the neo-soul lovers on a more down-to-earth basis. Stop blowing up the Beyonce stuff and love the few and limited neo-soul artists that are still around. Like life, things happen. Hopefully, there will be more upcoming artists like Jill,Erykah D’Angelo, Common, Musiq, etc, that will produce more of this type. PLEASE remember neo-soul isn’t just about the talent and sound in the music, it’s about the message. Frankly, put, Beyonce isn’t preaching the same message as the other neo-soul artists. Go figure…,
The fan base that listens to soul music isn’t the same fan base that listens to artists like Beyonce, so to compare the two is like comparing apples to oranges. (Notice I didn’t say “neo” soul. There’s nothing “new” about soul music.) Even though soul music isn’t marketed to the mainsream, Most soul music fans are savvy enough to find outlets that play and sell the type of music they like to hear. For example, I tend to only listen to internet radio, which has a wider variety and is more specific to the types of artists I like. I can therefore easily pinpoint the artists who’s music I want to purchase. It’s definitely more work to seek out good music and that’s why many people who would normally love soul artists never hear or buy their music.
The careers of the two or three artists mentioned have hardly left the industry. Many of them take a break from music to do other projects such as movies, broadway, TV, producing other artists, starting a family, etc. They usually return in a year or two and put out another bangin’ CD. I think that whoever wrote this article has a very limited knowledge of the soul music industry and what motivates those artists. Most aren’t in it for fortune and fame. They are well aware of what sells and what doesn’t, and it doesn’t deter them from making the music they want to make. They take their time creating a new album. They only release their best music. Unlike Be”yawn”ce, who puts out a CD every 2 months, they see music as an art form, not just a commodity. Real soul music fans realize this and they aren’t going anywhere.
I wouldnt blame beyonce on everything, but I do understand what you’re saying. Because Beyonce has dominated I do agree that it is hard for people of a different genre to come up strong. Her music is good and its strong, and she is pretty- so the listener and the industry has defined sucess as being like her, and they have also defined a good sound as “sounding like beyonce.” I went to a high school for the arts and many of the girls wanted to “sound like Beyonce” no one wanted to be true to themselevs. Neo-soul is simply being true to who you are. People need to relearn that. I do want to see someone representing Neo Soul again to the fullest the way Lauryn Hill did. No comprimise! I’m not at all Bashing Beyonce, she is one of my favorite artists, but where has Neo- Soul gone? When will Neo- Soul have its time?
God Bless, :o)
The term neo soul or nu soul was originated by Kedar Massenburg of Motown Records in the late 90s and its a term considered to be a little vague.
The original writer surely knows that a lot of Neo soul’s audiences have historically been underground with many (mainly sistas) rising from the open mic and poetry circuit with artists like Ursula Rucker combining music prose and politics (and is about to perform in Brixton, UK). A lot of time it is both the racialised and politicised perspective that the audiences (Blak) unite with and also provides a certain creative freedom for the artist and which most white 15-20 year old just ain’t gonna buy and who form a major part of the record buying mainstream.
There is some irony as the terms R n B and Urban are now so widely used in the mainstream and many artists believe that neo-soul is just another buzz-word and have done very little to protect its perceived extinction.
I am sure Beyonce has soul she may not pull it out the bag that often but she doesn’t have to due to the Beyonce Knowles-Z, formula.
For me Soul is Soul, or maybe I’m just too old!
What makes an artist Neo-Soul as opposed to Soulful? Its not too clever to compartmentalize ourselves in an industry that has colour barred us for decades.
Beyonce has outsold Maddonna, Celine Dion, Christine, Britney and Mariaha Carey and she is managed by her father in many ways that’s cause for celebration. She is also sexy without being a video chick and intelligent. Whilst I agree her style is more Miami than Malawi- she is in essence a beautiful AFRIKAN woman doin for self and believe me, somewhere some fat music execs are just hoping that Jessica Simpson can find a couple octaves and get a little Neptunes makeover so they can get a blue eyed chick controlling the charts again!
The upcoming (Neo)Soul artists need to ensure that when they perform they have their contact details locked and a CD to buy and we need to bring a little change to the gig and purchase their stuff..Cash sales only! -no tax man! we don’t need their barometer of success and Imagine Beyonce’s tax bill!
Lets not get it twisted as a (Blak)community we spend billions both in the Europe and the States,
but we spend outside our own community so like people have mentioned support it when we can coz the music will outlive us ALL! Respect to the original poster for gettin us chattin’ and big up to my UK sis, Kunga - from London’s Southside!
“More real, less fake.”
I do not think Beyonce has killed neo-soul, as we all know Beyonce is stupid and ignorant as hell so to me her management understood her weaknesses so they capitalised on her looks by making her overexposed and her portraying sex gimmick images, and they also ensured that she adopts the white standards of beauty in order to have a cross-over appeal. Even though she can sing I think her music is just plain garbage period. Most people would rather see her shake her booty than listening to her interviews. Obviously her image distracts people from what she has to offer intellectually, this trend has been followed by many record labels in the past 10 years due to the fact that most women currently dominating the music industry are just pretty faces, with no brains and no real talent. So this works for many record labels rather they give us poor quality of music and make quick cash.
As for neo-soul artists like Lauryn Hill, that woman was naturally beautiful and sexy, but her management realised her strengths obviously her intellectual ability and limitless talent so they capitalised on that. Besides her intelligence and knowledge she was very charismatic and a non-conformist she managed to be successful without compromising herself as a black woman, with a wealth net estimated at about R56 million or more in 1999 (Source Rolling Stones). She was extremely rich even Beyonce does not make that in one year including other overexposed Hollywood actresses. Lauryn embraced her race and heritage and we loved her for that. Considering the fact that her album the Miseducation sold more that 20 million copies worldwide which is a figure that each of Beyonce’s albums would never reach. To me no one can do that except for Lauryn Hill she had qualities that most women in showbiz do not have and that made her powerful. I still believe that she can reign supreme again if she wants. The fact that Lauryn has not released an album in almost a decade, and we still talk about her that really shows how powerful she was and that she is still relevant, and how much we are yearning to see a black woman of her statute reign supreme again.
I believe that music should represent an artist, e.g. Beyonce is a bimbo so let her continue with her fake narcissist image and ridiculous music. Even though she is black I think she sees herself as white at times. Whereas, Lauryn Hill grew up in the suburbs and she went to predominantly white schools she was pro-black and still is. Lauryn became a philanthropist and a poet at the age of 13; her high school teachers have talked about how intelligent and pro-active she was at school be it sports or other activities, so her music represented who she is a person. She was inspirational; she represented hope, and she possessed wisdom and courage. Whereas, Beyonce glamorises sex and money and she is perpetuating already existing stereotypes that women have to take off their clothes in order to be successful and that they do not need an education to be achievers.
I don’t think that neo soul is dead at all. Erykah Badu and Alicia Keys is back on the pop charts, The Roots are still very involved in today music scene, and also sucessful new comers (Ledisi, Estelle, Chrisette Michell) are making headlines. I don’t think its unfair to pass such harsh judgment on Beyonce.Most don’t realize how respected Beyonce is amongst the very same neo soul artists whom careers you say she halted.I resently saw Erykah Badu shout out to her during her VH1 Soundstage performance as well as hearing Jill Scott saying positive things about her.Not to mention her single “Me Myself and I” was in heavy rotation on neo soul radio programs.I love R&B artists such as Joss Stone, Dwele, Musiq Soulchild, and Conya Doss but I’m also a fan of Beyonce’s work. I respect her as a songwriter and arranger, she works hard and is committed to her craft. Look past the glitzy image in the media and you will find her contributions to black music equally as important as Lauren Hill’s. Compared to a lot of others (Mariah Carey for example) Beyonce’s sexy image is done in a tasteful manner and is never oversexed. This R&B music you call neo soul never went anywhere if you look at the pop charts right now, I suggest you do.One thing I can say is that radio and music video station’s need to be a lot more diverse but no matter what soul will never die.
What a stupid article….there is no backing on this article besides numbers….it feels like you are blaming Beyonce for the lost interest in Neo-Soul….well sorry to break it to you honey…..but Beyonce loves Neo-Soul….she loves Alicia Keys and the gang…..this article was insulting to her fans and to the fans of Neo-Soul…..we know that these artist may be having a difficult time, which makes it more interesting/lovely to see who your true fans are
real music will continue to sell and real artists will be heard…just like brittney spears people get tired of bumble gum and lip synched music
I’m pretty sure about the aww baby, everybody knows that Ashanti is just this.
But I think Beyonce has done a great job, and instead of being blaming, you should take care about how Beyonce saves from Ashanti mackness and the soooooooooo grey D’ angelo.
While i do see your point i will have to disagree that one person(Beyonce) is responsible for what you think happened. I listen to soul music aalmost everyday and at school (im 16 in high school) I see that while the other youth are still digested in all there different genres of music, they still respect the soul music i have grown up to love. I personally listen to music that represents my emotion at the time. I will listen to “He loves me”l when i want to feel happy and complete and when i want to let go and have fun with my friends i lsten to crazy in love or get me bodied. And she can’t possibly be blamed for something that didnt happen lol And im pretty sure that all the soul artists like Beyonce. and hey at least beyonce isn’t some talentless hick that uss sex to sell her self like some of the “music” that is out right now. Ive yet to see any breast nor bare ass on beyonce so im sure that sex sells thing is not in affect. In a way i kind of look up to her as a black person in the industry that is successing and is using not only talent but intelligence to excel. You can’t be stupid and be as succesful as beyonce. lol but im just a big fan lol
I don’t give a f*ck who wrote the song she’s the one singing it. I would feel the same way if Mary J Blidge was singing it. I’m tired of hearing the same old independent, don’t need a man, can you keep up, caught em cheating so I kicked em out, all my laaaadyyys, single women, but I still love em tracks. Yes she can sing, yes she is beautiful. However these songs are repetitive, This women could put out a track with nothing on like pootie tang and all these clowns will love it just cause it’s her. Sorry but to me she’s wonderful and I respect her success but she has been working hard from the moment she could walk. Rehearsing, tours and all kinds of ish. She’s selling her listeners dreams how could she possibly know so much about relationships that single women that aren’t rich go through? She just on these tracks saying the popular thing right now. Independant women is a real big song subject on top of cheating men. It’s not innovative at all to me PERIOD!
What a weird article. Beyonce didn’t kill neo-soul. I don’t even like Beyonce like that, but neo-soul is still there, dangerously in love had some fine soulful songs on it, the PUBLIC killed neo-soul not beyonce.
shut the fuck up cause beyonce is the baddiest bitch in the game since she came out with destiny child she was just holding back with destiny child so all ya go suck a dick
BULL TO DA MUH FRIGGIN SHID!
ITS SO FUNNY HOW HOEZ ALWAYS HAVE TO BLAME BEYONCE FOR THEIR DROPPING AND FLOPPING LMAO IT’S NOT BEYONCE FAULT SOME ARTIST CAN’T HANDLE HER LEVEL. IF THEY WERE REALLY GREAT THEN THEY WOULDN’T LET BEYONCE’S COMING AFFECT THERE LIGHT. THAT SHOULDN’T STOP THEM. BEYONCE HAS WORKED SO HARD FOR EVERYTHING SHE HAS STARTING AT HER CHILDHOOD.
SHE STILL HAS TRUE TALENT. Y’ALL MAKE IT SEEM AS THOUGH BEYONCE WAS JUST LIKE THESE OTHER LIL WHACK ARTIST IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HOEZ WHO JUST CAME OUT THE BLUE AND DIDN’T HAVE TO PUT ANYTHING FORTH AND DIDNT HAVE TO WORK BECAUSE BEYONCE HAS WORKED HER ASS OFF FOR EVERYTHING! SHE DIDN’T COME INTO THIS INDUSTRY EASILY. IT TOOK HER TO GO THROUGH ABOUT 3 RECORD COMPANY’S TO GET IN…WHY? BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE TRUE TALENT AND SINGING VOICE. AND THAT IS WHAT BEYONCE HAS!
BACK WHEN BEYONCE FIRST CAME OUT THERE WAS NO “Oh We’ll sign you because you have the looks” YOU HAD TO HAVE PURE TALENT AND WORK! THATS HOW YOU KNOW BEYONCE HAS PURE TALENT. HER ANGELIC VOICE TOUCHES EVERYONE. AND SHE SINGS ABOUT MEANINGFUL THINGS. NEO-SOUL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEYONCE. THAT ISN’T HER GENRE SO WHY SHOULD BEYONCE EFFECT THEM? ALTHOUGH BEYONCE CAN SING AND HAS SANG MANY GENRE’S SHE STILL ISN’T SIGNED UNDER THAT GENRE. SO Y’ALL NEED TO FALL BACK AND STOP BLAMING BEYONCE FOR OTHERS ACTIONS AND POPULARITY.
AND DONT GET ME WRONG I LOVE LAURYN HILL AND JILL SCOTT BUT I AM JUST SPEAKING THE TRUTH!
don’t be blaming my girl beyonce for these other chick not staying relevant!
BEYONCE IS THE BEST .YOU CAN’T BLAME BEYONCE SHE IS A TRUE ARTIS AND WORK HER ASS OFF!!! IF ALL CAN’T STOOP TO HER LEVEL WHY BOTHER DO U !!! LEAVE BEYONCE OUT OF IT!!! SHE DO WHAT SHE DO AND U DO WHAT U DO!! STOP BLAMEING HER . THE MORE U BlAME SOMEONE ELES U MAKEING URSELF MORE MISERABLE !!! BEYONCE IS BEYONCE LEAVE IT AT THAT!!!
I wish everybody would stop hating Beyonce, really! She’s not the reason these artists are not a ICON like she is. I also agree with nadiagurl. She truly works her ass off. Just like any other artist. Every artist has their OWN fan base. Beyonce is just one of the few who has MILLIONS. She putting in the same amount of work as everybody else, the same amount of effort, the same amount of time, and the same amount of money into the game. No one is to blame really. Especially not Beyonce. Beyonce loves making music, so obviously she’ s going to continue making money & making music. BEYONCE IS BEYONCE! She’s Been Beyonce Over 20 Years Now. Love Her Or Hate Her, She’s Still Going To Be BEYONCE. Get Over IT!
Beyonce did kill neo soul. She truly put the music industry at an all time low. She doesn’t play any instruments, she doesn’t produce tracks, she doesn’t write most of her songs and her voice is mediocore. So what’s her appeal? She makes half naked videos. That’s it, period.
HATERS Beyonce did not kill neo soul, I mean she can’t tell us to not buy soul music right? But because we are searching for new material, that Beyonce is currently giving us, we set aside such genres. Still beyonce got some soulful songs specially in her I am.. album like Halo (rnb pop soul) and such songs with new thang in it. Even Keys now sings pop you know.
She’s a great artist, maybe the greatest of this generation