Beyonce recently released her new, in your face, trash talking single "Bow Down/I been On" on her website iam.beyonce.com. On Monday, March 18, 2013 just days after, Keysha Cole tweeted:
First "Women need to Stick together" now bitches better Bow. Smh. But it's all G! Chicks stay shooting the shit. But when I speak my mind its a prob.
As usual, the talented and beautiful Bey set ablaze a wildfire of admiration from true fans, confusion from jealous admirers, and controversy from those that love to hate her. Multiple social media and internet blogs are buzzing with discussions around her constant use of the term "B--ches" and some are confused about why she would tell admiring fans that loved her when they were little, to bow down now.
However, Bey is very clever, all the lyrics and artwork accompanying the song give clear biography in short of where she comes from, what she's done, what she's been through, who she is now, and why she's willing to take it back to the hood to protect hers.
So if Bey is not addressing her true fans or jealous admirers, then who is she referring to? Beginning with the cover art for "Bow Down," which is a home photograph of Bey at around 12 years of age. She's standing in front of a huge collection of trophies she'd already acquired during her young years performing. The idea produced there addresses those she was competing against and won! To those who are still performing desiring to achieve the level of success as Bey, yet are catty, critical, and conniving Bey says:
“I know when you were little girls you dreamed of being in my world. Don’t forget it , don’t forget it. Respect that, bow down bitches.”
The message sent could be translated as a reminder that she was on top then and she's still on top because she is simply the best.
The average person gets the fact that regular citizens often grapple in the dog eat dog world, yet it appears for celebrities its more like lion eat lion and we know at any given time their can only be one king of the jungle. At this time Queen "B" is on top and has worked so hard to get there she will not be knocked down easily, so she's bringing it. Trash talking is a traditional and effective technique in any type of competition, and Bey is bringing her offensive "A" game to competitors laying in wait to pounce. It's that simple. The movie and music industry is about entertaining and experienced professionals are keen at engaging their audience. Bey is no exception, she's telling those that want her spot to back down, she's winning right now! For the general public, outside of the entertainment business to take personal offense as if Bey is addressing them, Evelyn Lozado of reality show, "Basketball Wives" might respond with "Don't flatter yourselves, you're a non-Facta..."
Now Keysha Cole on the other hand, along with many other entertainers might have some legitimate cause to feel slighted by Bey's new song. While Keysha is an amazing talent, she just maybe one of the people Bey is addressing, since she has yet to see the level of success and following of Beyonce. Overall, that world is a like being in a den full of lions constantly fighting for the crown. Cole's tweets about Bey's swaggering musical message comes just over a month after Keysha criticized the Destiny's Child Superbowl performance also sparking further interest as to whether there is beef between the two.
However, it's easy for those distant from the level of success Beyonce has achieved or watching from the television to peg Bey as a sweet, pretty, and simply talented diva. Yet the quality and amount of work she puts out speaks volumes about her work ethics, she's apparently a beast. Her new song however, reminds competitors not to let the pretty face and smooth taste fool them. "Bow Down" is laden with the gritty flavor easily identifiable as a reminder of where she's from. The chopped and screwed medley ensures those that may have forgotten, remember quickly that the fame and success she celebrates today is a result of her journey as a child performer in the 90's from the rough downs of "H" town where the gutter technique of chopping and screwing was introduced by the legendary DJ Screw during her early years of performing. Well before she was known by first name only, Bey was grinding hard with an obvious passion to make it to the top.
Beyonce, the individual may be a mystery to some, yet who she is, is prevalent in her career and business success. She chops and screws her own voice towards the end of the song and gives shot outs to highlight some of the early work she was already doing when her "want to be" competitors had none. Other cover art that accompanies her new work are those of her dressed as royalty, decked in gold, holding a scepter and titled, "The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour." The Ultimate message lies there in, Beyonce alone is world renown for her individual hard work and talent, now a proud mother, happily married to Jay-Z aka Hova meaning "God"of Rap, bringing her full circle she boldly dons herself as reigning Queen.
Check out Geto Boys featuring Beyonce and Latavia in "Gangsta Put me down" from 1998.
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