Thank you!

I <3 your username.

If I’m kind of all over the place, it’s because I’m still piecing it all together myself (what happened in the first place, the media’s response to it, and my own evolving reaction to it).

Most of the articles I’ve read have extensively quoted Kelis while providing minimal context or analysis, which implies a lack of pushback to me. Maybe that says more about the sorry state of journalism than anything else — quoting is reporting and there isn’t a lot of time for a deep dive when you have to make sure…

I am not disagreeing that Kelis got fucked over by the Neptunes (though, again, I don’t know how much she added to Milkshake, specifically, vs. some of her other tracks). And as someone who calls herself a feminist, Beyoncé probably should have been more cognizant of using an interpolation of one of her songs.

Sigh. I’m not projecting and it’s not “a big deal” to me. I’m discussing the issue with you, a stranger on the internet, as a proxy for people who undervalue the work of someone like Beyoncé just because she  does nothing personal for you.

Kelis didn’t write the song. It wasn’t even originally intended for her (the Neptunes offered it to her). Beyoncé doesn’t sample her, she interpolates the original song (and not in a particularly obvious way IMO; it’s not one of those songs that lazily lifts the original hook and adds nothing). 

What is going on here?

I’m a fan of Kelis (probably more so than most of the people commenting on this post), and I don’t think she has a case here.

Fair enough, but you’re contradicting yourself here. You don’t like her, so that’s influencing your opinion of her, just as I do like her, so that’s influencing my opinion of her.

Also, if you listen to Energy, it’s hardly “ripping off” the former song. If I hadn’t known about the controversy, I might not have even recognized the sample right away. It’s not one of those instances in which the hook of a song is entirely built on a previous megahit.

Disagree. I think you’re holding her to a different standard than you would other artists. Sampling has been a staple of r ‘n b/hip hop/dance since forever and videos are often inspired by other works.

Rist herself didn’t accuse her. IIRC, she considered it an homage and appreciated it brought attention from a whole bunch of people who otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to her work. 

The Neptunes are the only writers credited on the original track and so they are the only writers credited on Beyoncé’s track.

Kelis has had beef with the Neptunes for a long time. They are credited as sole writers on “Milkshake,” not her, and so they are also credited on Beyoncé’s track, not her.

Fair. I did say he looks super-douchey. He reminds me a lot of Ryan Phillippe.

I think some of this is supposed to be tongue in cheek — we all know attractive/successful people who’ve been victims of infidelity — but it’s definitely not hitting the mark. 

I knew about mifepristone — but only because I had to take it when I miscarried.

I actually don’t think he’s terrible-looking. Super douchey-looking? Sure. But if the idea is that someone like her should be with someone similarly conventionally attractive, it’s not like they look “wrong” together.

Donald Glover manages to pull off shirtless shorts without looking douchey (unlike every male jogger in my area). Impressive.