FSXP

No, you was actin like Kendrick can't do numbers without Drake when he's put up numbers that have competed with and even surpassed him at points. That's why Drake can't get out of this one. Kendrick got the numbers just like him.

Bro, this is Kendrick Lamar what do you mean? He's literally the most successful rapper after Drake of his generation.

That's what got Drake in a tizzy. Not Like Us is HAWT. Once he heard that, he knew he had to tap out cause that's going to be everywhere for the summer.

This is essentially the crux of the Drake/Kendrick beef. They've disliked each other and thrown shots for a decade. Drake is insecure because he doesn't feel a natural part of the culture (which is why he runs through every up and coming artist to use their sounds), and he had to prove himself as more than the soft melodic rapper. But that's what made him so likable to pop audiences. Aubrey wants to sit with Jay, Nas, Biggie, Pac, Wayne etc. but people don't give him that naturally. Kendrick has garnered acclaim, sales and the GP and Hip-Hop fans rightfully praise and put him with the greats. That's irritated Drake for years cause he feels like he got the numbers with the greats and he should be there. Kendrick simply just don't like and don't respect him. (Drake so obviously annoyingly seeks validation and we all know he has helps with his lyrics) People forget that when Macklemore beat Kendrick at the Grammys and apologized to Kendrick, Drake was upset cause he felt like he should have apologized to everybody in the category (NWTS was there) and not just Kendrick. 😭

All of this was avoidable for Drake. The Like That verse was not a verse to get tilted over. It was everything that we already knew from the last decade of subs. Kendrick don't mess with Drake. He thinks he's above him in talent and artistry and that he's #1. The issue is that Drake is basically a grown incel at this point too connected a certain demo. Drake's ego is also ridiculous since post-Views and that Meek beef. (which in hindsight is hilarious cause we know Meek is dumb) He can't punk out cause he's spent the last 5-7 years claiming the top spot cause he got the numbers. He even whined about nobody making it a big deal that he was artist of the decade cause the culture doesn't care. Drake was never going to win cause he's simply not a better rapper and artist than Kendrick and he got too many skeletons atp. Well all this to say is, Kendrick just saying the quiet part out loud. Drake is weird, Drake is phony, and he's insecure. He's only become more weird with time and more fake hard so it was only a matter of time.

Sabrina should continue to do what she's always done musically. She's pretty versatile and there's no reason to lock herself into something.

a section of Swifties consider anybody remotely similar in success in any avenue as a threat. Beyoncé/Taylor have practically driven pop culture for the last two years so I'm not surprised. The only problem is that Beyoncé so obviously doesn't care about commercial success to the same extent as Taylor & her artistry is so different that they'll come off as dumb

I'm quite certain that P4K has a team that listens and give their score then someone writes out the review. So, the score isn't indicative of one person's opinion. Personally, I think TTPD + Anthology isn't bad, but It's not great. I think an editor was needed. I also think maybe Taylor needs to ask herself "what am I trying to say?" or "what's the purpose of this album?". Midnights wasn't particularly great either but I do think I left with something. The concept was very clear. I also think it executed it well as a pop album. I cant say the same here. You really start to look around wondering what am I doing here.

Cowboy Carter is not going to win. While it's probably Beyoncé's most digestible album to #that demographic, the album goes against the establishment. By the end, it's basically turning everything that country is on its head. It's not impossible. It will likely be the most monumental album of the year + its success is amazing for a woman of her age, her career length, AND the fact that it's a complete genre change in many ways. I just think the academy have practically placed a narrative that Beyoncé with all the side awards is enough to award her visionary art without AOTY. Taylor + TTPD is also unlikely cause Midnights won & the narrative was used mostly on that album. But, I don't think it's impossible if she dominated enough of the conversation like The Eras Tour did. IMO, Billie or another random person has the biggest chance.

Saturn as a wedding song is hilarious. Sonically, it does sound very pretty and does sound romantic, but I'm pretty sure that song is about an existential crisis. 😭

You may be right cause if she remains above 40K a day since April 1st, she's pushing close to 450K actually.

If the thread needs a serious answer, this is the one. Beyoncé was not considered a lot of people's pick. ATRL might be built on Britney's massive success and popularity, but the most asked question since Y2K is who could even succeed Madonna in terms of a generation defining female popstar. Beyoncé having the success she does through re-invention and versatility irks them cause they thought their fave would reach that level of critical and commercial success at the same time like Madge did at one point.

Yes, it's called Beyoncéitis. https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Beyonceitis

I would not be shocked if Beyoncé did Flamenco and My Rose by herself. The harmonies and melodies are so Gift from Virgo

Also, I know dual singles can be killer in these times but…I think we might need to pull it out again. 😭 II MOST WANTED/JOLENE BODYGUARD/LEVII JEANS Cause there's absolutely going to be US favorites vs Global favorites.

The 2nd day hold is great. That places it with the smash albums. I think we'll see the stand out songs form throughout the week but I think II Most Wanted, Jolene, Bodyguard, and LEVII JEANS are all showing potential. I also would look out for Tyrant too, that's probably the song her usual demographics are leaning towards. IMO, Beyoncé really mastered mixing an experimental listen with great songs that can be singles on this album.

Neither are winning. They won't give Taylor AOTY back to back without a strong narrative. Fearless was an underdog story with the writing talent to back it up. 1989 was the switch genres completely story with the success. Midnights was the Eras Tour + Midnights success put together. That was unprecedented in the streaming era. TTPD will need to shift the industry for them to consider. Beyoncé is simply so beyond the AOTY that they won't give it to here. CC is absolutely epic. It's another amazing re-invention with the quality to back it BUT, they've clearly shown that they simply believe that Beyoncé is not AOTY deserving for various petty reasons.

still increasing on AM. (Explicit and Clean versions are still separate)

She's smashing

She performed exactly how it would fit for her. I wouldn't take most of the twitter critiques serious though cause if Beyoncé sung it 100% the same, they would say she's desperate, she's a bird, and that she's begging somebody when her man already cheated. So the conversation would basically remain the same.

So many of the songs are up and down my FYP on Tik Tok. I'm hoping several songs latch on streaming (they don't necessarily need to be chart hits) for longevity first week.

Somehow, she keeps winning, and they just can't stand it.

Future x Metro is a hard obstacle. The fact that it's #1 on AM with a Clean version at #6 means it's still doing amazing numbers on AM cause they're so Hip Hop leaning. This album is amazing and there's so many great songs that I'm hoping for great longevity.

Beyoncé puts the work in to make thoughtful art and music consistently. If more artists did what she did, we wouldn't get the weekly "why are there no new music superstars" threads.