Name it the “braids and beads beef.” A sartorial scuffle erupted on Wednesday (March 20) after it appeared that Erykah Badu referred to as out Beyoncé for borrowing her signature search for the quilt of the upcoming Act II: Cowboy Carter album.
Badu, lengthy recognized for her intergalactic Afro-futuristic look, took essentially the most delicate of photographs at Queen Bey in an Instagram Story suggesting that their appears had as soon as once more crossed streams. Badu reposted s pic of the quilt artwork of the restricted version model of Beyoncé’s upcoming LP through which the singer — bare aside from a sash studying “act ii BEYINCÉ” in reference to her mom Tina Knowles’ maiden title — holds a cigar and poses together with her floor-length braids partially protecting one breast, together with pink, white and beige-colored beads forming manicured bangs.
“HMMM,” Badu commented on the picture, in response to Advanced. Badu adopted up on X with a tweet that learn, “To Jay Z. Say one thing Jay. You gone let this girl and these bees do that to me?? [laughing face emoji].” At press time it didn’t seem that Beyoncé had responded to Badu’s put up, however in response to Folks Bey’s longtime spokesperson, Yvette Noel-Schure, appeared to remark in an Instagram Story later within the day.
Schure’s put up reportedly featured a montage of Beyoncé sporting braided hairstyles all through her profession together with the phrases, “She slays. She slays. Now. Then. All the time. #criticswithoutcredentials”; Schure’s Story didn’t point out Badu by title and at press time Schure had not responded to Billboard‘s request for additional remark. A spokesperson for Badu had additionally not responded to Billboard‘s request for remark at press time.
It’s not the primary time Badu has questioned Beyoncé’s vogue sense. In 2023, Badu dropped one other “hmmm” alongside a photograph of ‘Yonce sporting a metallic high hat throughout her Renaissance tour, writing “I assume I’m everybody’s stylist. Favourite chrome mirror hat.”
It’s unclear what the ladies’s relationship is, however Bey shouted out Baud on the “Queens Remix” of her single “Break My Soul” alongside different Black feminine icons equivalent to Roberta Flac, Betty Davis and Lauryn Hill; at a Renaissance tour cease in Boston in August final yr — a day after Lizzo was sued by thee former tour dancer claiming sexual harassment and a hostile work setting — Beyoncé omitted Lizzo’s title and mentioned “Badu” 4 instances.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album is due out on March 29.
See Badu’s tweet and the Cowboy Carter cowl artwork beneath.