So let me start by saying a couple of things. I was super reluctant to write this, but then after giving it a serious amount of thought, I’m like, “I’m gonna do this”, so here we are. Also, I’m not a member of the #BeyHive, nor am I some madly obsessed Beyoncé stan, but I do believe she is an amazing talent, as well as arguably the most influential artist of all-time, right after some guy named Michael Jackson. This thinkpiece is geared towards everyone who has a problem with her new video for, and Super Bowl performance of “Formation”.

First off, “Formation” is a banger; a whole one. As electrifying as she is, Beyoncé rarely makes a song that moves me, but this song did just that. Mike Will Made-It spazzed on the production, and Swae Lee finally got the chance to show the world how good of a songwriter he is, as “Formation” is filled with catchy one-liners.

“But Chico, it’s the video that has everyone upset; not the song. Dude, she drowned a police car! That’s so harsh!”

Look. “Everyone” isn’t upset. The only ones who felt some kind of way about this video were racist white people and crooked police apologists. I read a quote from some lady who is the wife of a police officer. It said something like, “As the wife of a police officer, I am offended by this entire video”. Word? Drowning a cop car is offensive? Writing “Stop shooting us”, as a message to the police who kill unarmed black men, almost daily is offensive? A kid dancing in front of police, who are wearing riot gear is offensive?

The fact that there are people who watch that video and feel like the imagery is more problematic than the actual issues Beyoncé is addressing, is problematic in itself. I even saw an article that shamed Beyoncé for shedding light on Hurricane Katrina! They basically told Bey it wasn’t her place to say anything about something that not only affected the people of New Orleans, but people of color everywhere.

As for the Super Bowl performance? Beyoncé shut that shit down, then she threw up the Black Power fist. Ok, so? A Detroit police officer (who is clearly a dumbass) compared that to the KKK, saying, “If the dance troupe at the top is okay for this year’s half-time show, then the one at the bottom should be okay for next year, right?”

No, jackass.

Black Power isn’t and was never designed to be malicious, like White Power is. Have you ever seen a white person get lynched in the name of Black Power? Do black people burn crosses in your yards, in the name of Black Power? Hell no! Because we love us some Jesus! We ain’t burnin’ no crosses! The point I’m trying to make is that one can’t be compared to the other, unless you enjoy reaching.

At the end of the day, Beyoncé did her thing. She made an amazing song, while using her influence to open people’s eyes to the injustice that has been plaguing people of color long enough. Don’t be mad; because now it’s you who looks racist, not her. Like T.I. said, “how you gonna protest our protest?”

The post Dear White People, Chill Out On Beyoncé appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

By now we all know that tomorrow night, along with Coldplay, Beyoncé will be making an appearance at Super Bowl 50. Today however, Beyoncé treats her fans with a surprise video for a previously unreleased song titled “Formation”.

Set in New Orleans, in a post-Katrina backdrop, “Formation” sees Beyoncé at the most risqué point of her career, yet. She addresses Illuminati accusations, police brutality and is accompanied with narration by popular New Orleans transgender rapper Big Freedia.

It is unclear if there is anything else on the way from Beyoncé, so for now enjoy “Formation” and tune in to Super Bowl 50 to see more of her.

The post New Video: Beyoncé returns with “Formation” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.