Beyoncé—love her or just love to talk about her—has a knack for making waves that ripple through the music industry and beyond. Ever wonder what makes her so undeniably captivating? Well, it’s not just her iconic voice or killer dance moves—it’s her genius at pulling together unlikely artists and influences in a way that feels fresh, vibrant, and downright revolutionary! Writer Gibson Johns, on X, reminds us that she makes collaboration an art form, expertly weaving existing material with new melodies while ensuring everyone gets their well-deserved credits. It’s like a musical dinner party where no one leaves hungry!
And it doesn’t stop there—her albums aim to heal the scars of cultural erasure by uplifting those who have contributed to the rich tapestry of sound. In this conversation about Beyoncé’s artistry, we dive into how her dedication to inclusion and citational ethics challenges the norms of music creation. Whether you’re a die-hard BeyHive member or just curious about the magic behind her music, you’ll find angles that could actually switch up how we see collaboration in the industry. So, shall we jump in and explore? LEARN MORE.
Writer Gibson Johns shared on X, “Part of what makes Beyoncé so unique is her willingness to bring unlikely people together in collaboration and to sample and reference existing material. This doesn’t make her work any less worthy of awards or praise.”
“Blackbird, Jolene, and Oh Louisiana are all covers. Every single song is a collaborative project with historians advising. Beyoncé’s albums are about erasure and restoring cultural memory, so she cites every single person who worked on a song as a matter of citational ethics,” another popular post read.
“She literally collabs with every feat. and gives all of her collaborators credit. This would also include any samples, interpolations, etc. look at the consistent name on every track, it says, Beyoncé Knowles. She made it clear she is on a mission for giving proper accolades,” someone wrote.
“Collaboration isn’t being lazy…. It’s inclusion. It’s inviting ppl to the table. Sharing the ideas so they can all share the win,” one person said. “she gave credit to every single person that ever gave even an idea or helped fuel her project. that’s not a crime and y’all are trying to make it one,” another echoed.