Source: Randy Shropshire / Getty
On Friday (July 29), the world will officially be tuned in to Beyoncé’s upcoming Renaissance album, but at least one person won’t be excited. Kelis says she was blindsided by learning that a track from the Houston superstar’s album sampled one of singer and chef’s tracks, sparking her to take to social media with complaints.
The track “Energy” from Renaissance is the song in question and it samples the track “Get Along With You,” which was produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes. The song appeared on Kelis’ album, Kaleidoscope.
“My mind is blown too because the level of disrespect and utter ignorance of all 3 parties involved is astounding,” Kelis wrote via her @bountyandfull Instagram account on the @Kelistrends fan page.
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Kelis added, “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.”
Angered for what she felt was a good reason, Kelis vehemently slammed the use of the song and called it “theft.” And in one especially pointed response, Kelis responded to a fan who suggested Beyoncé admired her, Kelis responded with, “admire is not the word.”
Given that the track is a Neptunes production and allegedly outright owned by the duo, it makes sense that their legal team saw little real reason to clear the use of the track with the vocalist. What might be at root is a lingering issue between Kelis and her former producers and label heads over what she felt was past due profits from album sales.
On Twitter, the brewing “beef” between Kelis and Beyoncé caught the eye of fans who support both of these amazing artists. The reactions can be found below, along with a response from the singer.
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Photo: Getty
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Damn bro. Queen Kelis not getting what she deserves really hurts my heart. I get the masters and initial agreement. Fuck that! IF you have the power and position to make shit right just make it right PLEASE.
— RVOL (@ReggieVolume) July 28, 2022
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beyoncé gotta buy kelis’ masters from pharrell & give them back to her cause this shit is gross.
— jzl thee doll (@jxzzhndz_) July 28, 2022
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Kelis is THEE ICON and no Kelis slander shall ever be tolerated pic.twitter.com/IZ4Ff5fkYj
— win a case (@RHOSuplexCity) July 28, 2022
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Beyoncé could of left Kelis name off it. Instead, Bey put Kelis’s name on the list of sample credits. Some hoes don’t deserve nice things. Kelis doesn’t own her masters. FACTS. Kelis needs 2 take up her misplaced anger with her former label. #Renaissance is coming, Kelis is a…. pic.twitter.com/fuzf5ewllS
— 𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕂𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕖𝕤 (@AVeryPettyBitch) July 28, 2022
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Pharrell watching Kelis fans and Beyoncé fans argue about him clearing her sample. pic.twitter.com/BwRUYzirpL
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(@dirtywhiteups) July 28, 2022
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Y’all are really acting like Kelis hasn’t BEEN talking about how wrong Pharrell did her for YEARS when it came to her music, and she’s clearly angry because he did this shit AGAIN. Had another artist that WASN’T Bey been involved, you all would be sympathetic. pic.twitter.com/XZ7T3959Bz
— AD III
/July 30th
(@anseldeangelo) July 28, 2022
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Kelis is well within her right to be mad, she’s just like….mad at the wrong person. Talk to that Happy nigga!
— Herb Ertlinger (@Juli_nPls) July 28, 2022
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If Kelis wanna be mad, let her be mad. The album already made, the checks already cleared, the least she can hold onto is her anger.
— pollution (taylor’s version) (@abbracadabra_) July 28, 2022
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Beyoncé gave Kelis Credit for a song she didn’t receive credit on when the song was released because she didnt write or produce the song.Beyoncé was the first and only one to give Kelis credit for the song, now she will receive financial benefits because of Beyoncé “exploitation” https://t.co/ynKngnz0Qm
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“well maybe she should own her masters” thee white woman herself taylor swift couldnt even get hers so what makes yall think kelis can just walk in pharrell office and say hand em over
— superstar supernova
(@cixlack) July 28, 2022
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Respectfully, almost everyone is factually incorrect
1) The Neptunes were not Diddy level executives at Star Trak, they made the music. It’s the equivalent of saying The Hitmen ripped Mase off
2) Beyoncé didnt do anything to screw over Kelis, she put vocals on a sample https://t.co/siT8tQRj5v
— From Old Harlem (@fromoldharlem) July 28, 2022
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Also didn’t kelis just lose her husband? I feel like we should be nicer.
— in a panoramic? (@_haaniyah_) July 28, 2022
14.
kelis has every right to be angry with all the hell she’s been through in the industry, especially at the hands of pharrell. she just experienced an insurmountable loss & learned w/the rest of us that the man who fucked her over is yet again making money off of her.
— Da’Shaun | they/them (@DaShaunLH) July 28, 2022
15.
How is it not Beyoncé’s problem when she is the one who sampled a Kelis song? It’s fuck the original artist if they don’t own their masters? Not even a phone call or text like “hey I love your work and I’d like to sample it”? Come on
https://t.co/bmxaY6AeUW
— Rossification
(@RossiSongo) July 28, 2022
