What's the Difference Between Bey, Kim, and Trina?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 12:17AM So I watched the “Video Phone” video yesterday. I don’t quite yet know what a “videophone” is, but maybe that’s just a sign of me aging my way out of pop culture. I’m fine with that.
And I’m not going into the Gaga vs. Beyonce debate because I think it’s clear to anyone with eyes that Gaga didn’t bring it. And while the video was a good look exposure-wise for her, artistically it was a fail.
Here’s what I do wonder though: what exactly is the difference between Bey, Lil Kim, and say, Trina? Yes, Bey sings, they rap. She can dance too and does her own beats and production whereas it’s still a big question mark if Trina and Kim even write their own lyrics. I fully acknowledge all of Bey’s talents. But content-wise, where’s the difference? Bey’s lyrics are just as materialistic, her video and stage outfits are just as scanty, and she spreads and P-pops it just as good as (if not more and better) than both Kim and Trina in their heyday.
So I’m confused. Is it that Bey cleans up nice for awards shows? That she comes from a two-parent home? That she’s from the ‘burbs? That she manages to be raunchy without cursing? That she’s light-brite and generally assessed as pretty? (just throwing ideas out there.) That she mixes her catalogue of raunch in with empowerment anthems? That she hides her raunchiest side behind an alter-ego, Sasha Fierce so it seems like it’s not really her? (Pause. You have no idea how disturbing I find it that a alleged 28 year old woman feels compelled to express her sexuality solely as a stage persona or an alter ego of said stage persona.) I’m really, really curious where the distinction lies.
And so we’re clear, this isn’t me trying to diss Bey. I’m not a hardcore Bey Bey fan, but I’ve got enough on my iPod to do a train ride to work and a three-mile run without doubling up. And though I don’t like all the content she puts out (frankly her film career is mediocre at best), I do respect a woman’s hustle and grind. I am, however, a hardcore Lil Kim fan (no pun) and can recite her debut album line for line. This is not me trying to bring Bey down, more like bringing Kim up, and Trina too, by extension.
I threw the question out on Twitter last night and expected to be stoned got the following thoughtful responses:
[Bey’s] no bird, but she is their patron saint! The next tour should be called "Beyonce Live: Where Chickenheads Come Home To Roost"
She has better marketing, and a good team behind her
She has a "voice" that will always get her a pass
I think Bey is a little more subtle in her lyrics than Kim/Trina. No vulgarity. But she is def suggestive.
think bc Bey has other stuff goin on, she's got fierce mgmt & she works that 'shy & so blessed' routine well in interviews. plus every1 knows the whole fam she comes from whereas kim and trina come off as hood chicks.
Actually, she does more poppin than all combined, but she also doesn't talk about f'ing "while her period on" (Trina) or blowjobs
Ok. But like how do you get away with lyrics like:
you like it when i shake it
shawty on a mission
wat yo name is
what you want me naked
if you liking this position
you can tape it
on yo video phone
and not be called a bird. Trina and Kim would be torn to bits for rapping about sex on tape, and they were hardly held up as role models. Let’s also keep in mind that 9/10 of Bey songs about men are for “soliders” ie, dudes with their pants sagging low and in white tees. Picture Wayne (who was in the "Solider"video), or better, Jay… but in his dealing days, ‘cause 9/10 when you see him now he’s in thong sandals on the beach or grown man sweaters around New York or Londontown. What kind of occupations to dudes you know have if they still wear white tees and sagging pants post-college?
Exactly.
And Bey’s just as materialistic as Kim and Trina as we can see from the “Upgrade You Lyrics”
Audemars Piguet watch
Dimples in ya necktie
Hermes briefcase
Cartier top clips
Silk lined blazers
Diamond creamed facials
VVS cuff links
6 star pent suites
And while she may not curse, she’s just as raunchy. Recite any double entendre on “Ego” and get back to me.
Maybe it’s because she started out pretty wholesome—despite the barely-there bedazzled “costumes.” I mean there was “Independent Women,” “Survivor,” “Me Myself and I” (I’m just gonna overlook “Bills, Bills, Bills,” an entire song about a man picking up the tab, for the sake of my argument.) There was also that song that I can’t remember the title to, but with lyrics, “girl, go put some clothes on, you nasty…” (Oh, the irony!)
But that’s evolved, into every other single being say... “ Freakum Dress” where women are encouraged to “spin it all around and then take it to the ground.” Or maybe we can refer to, “Ring the Alarm,” where instead of leaving a cheating lover, Bey decides to stay, referencing and recounting all the expensive and name-brand gifts she’ll be missing out on if she bounces. If that doesn’t sound like a bird anthem or the blueprint to a Kim or Trina verse or two, I don’t know what does.
Maybe it’s that she caters to the fellas. Let’s face it, a lot of backlash to Kim and Trina was because they cared too much about getting theirs. And they did it with a bravado that mirrored a man’s. Trina’s openeing verse on “Da Baddest Bitch” lays it all out:
All eyes on your riches
No time for the little dicks
You see the bigger the dick
The bigger the bank, the bigger the Benz
The better the chance to get close to his rich friends
Same goes for Kim’s explicit expectation on “Big Momma”:
that's how many times I wanna cum, twenty-one
and another one, and another one, and another one
24 karats nigga, that's when I'm fuckin wit' the average nigga
Both of these women have a high expectation in exchange for their services— money, an orgasm, something. Neither of these women have a “do your business and be done” situation like Mister and Ceilie in The Color Purple, or say Beyonce in “Cater to You” when she croons:
When you come home late tap me on my shoulder, I'll roll over
Baby I heard you, I'm here to serve you
If it's love you need to give it is my joy
All I want to do, is cater to you boy
Bar after bar she goes on and on about what she’s willing to do for her man (“because what she won’t “another woman is willing…”) and never, not once, asks for anything in return.
Is that it? Men are on board with her, so women fall in line?
I really don’t get it. I mean Kim wore next to nothing on stage, and was damn near stoned. Like Amber Rose, Trina got called all manner of “sluts” and “whores” for her all –Spandex, all the time get ups. But Bey shows up to sing Ava Maria, the “Hail Mary” of Catholic songs, in a leotard and veil and it’s like *crickets” from everyone, including the Catholic church. She shows up at the European Music Awards wearing red lingerie and matching garters on stage and no one bats an eye. A few years back, she gave Terrance Howard a lap dance on the stage for the BET Awards and barely a peep from anyone.
Is Bey benefitting from our relatively high shock-value, a bar raised by the antics of Lil Kim and Trina, so that she can do exactly what they did and not inspire the same level of outrage? Or is there something more to it than that?
I’m honestly confused.
Discuss.
Reader Comments (171)
....It's funny how I never hear or see the amount of posts coming down or disecting Janet..." Miss Jackson if ya nasty", about her sexual lyrics, sexual acts on stage, sub par acting skills, scantily clad stage outfits exposing a nipple ring, and masturbating on a CD. Hmmm...wonder why?<<<
she hasn't had a real hit or been relevant in the last 5 years or so. she'd be dissected to if she was still a cultural phenomenon. she's back in the spotlight as a major force b/c her brother just died.
and when she was at the top of her game; she was dissected.
i don't think anyone, especially not me, was arguing sexual content or dancing is bad for grown folk. in 150 posts that was never brought up.
I see nothing classy about most of Bey's performances. off-carpet? yep. but on stage, she's raunchier than Trina and Kim combined. I don't want anyone to change. I just want all the acts-- since they're about the same— to be viewed the same way.
No, Janet hasn't had any break out, top of the chart hits in a while. But it's doesn't matter, I have never seen as many blog sites go at her the way they do Beyonce', and like I said in my argument: Same ish, different person.
And in the article, and most responses that I read ( I don't have the time to read 150 posts), raunchiness and displays of sexuality were discussed. And I chose to bring up the points that I wanted to bring up, hence a response coming from me. I don't think Beyonce's fan base is children or teens necessarily. I grew up with Destiny's child, and I am now grown, and so are the other people who were also teeny boppers when the group came out. Point being, people are commenting that she is not a good image or role model for kids/teens/ young adults...and I don't think they are her TARGET audience.
You can have class, and still be sexy. I'm not sure why people are acting as if there has to be a huge difference between the two. Beyonce' is a classy woman, and if she wants to put on a leotard and do choreographed dances, then that doesn't take anything away from her, just as it didn't Josephine Baker or Tina Turner. Trina and Kim don't do choreography for the most part. It's just in-your-face sexual content and gestures. They will not be looked at the same because they are not the same. Listen to a Trina album, a Lil Kim album, and a Beyonce' album, and you will see the difference-if you are not just hell bent on seeing them the same, that is.
@Realistically speaking
I re-read my post & that was definitely phrased wrong. Janet's albums aren't marketed to children, but let's keep it funky, a BIG majority of the consumers are underage. It's funny to me that everyone acts like what Bey's doing is something fresh, like sex hasn't been thrown in our faces on tv/radio for the past 20 years. I remember wanting to be sexy at 12, though I'd never tell my mother about it. I grew up on Janet, Biggie, Nas, Pac, Prince, etc. lots of music that wasn't "age appropriate", but I listened and watched anyway. I don't care how good a parent you are, unless your home is cable-free & you literally watch your kids 24/7, they're going to be exposed to a fair amount of adult content because it's been the status quo for YEARS. As a kid, a parental advisory sticker told me this was off limits, so naturally I had to have it. You know it was the same for most of ya'll as well. Beyonce jiggled in front of Terrence Howard, Janet ties men up before her strip tease. I guess I'm the only one that sees a double standard here.
I can respect your argument about her labeling her alter ego as confusing to young people though. The was a bad move on her part, she should have just said she's expressing other sides of her personality like most artists to when they switch up. Ciara got heat yes cuz JT's white & she was chained on a leash?! I mean, it should be obvious why that was a hot button video. I know I'm not the only one that knows Black women's history with white men in powerful positions. Granted, Matthew Knowles did/does hustle hard for his daughter, but you can't front on Bey's work ethic. Yes, I get tired of seeing her too, but that chick is about her business. I remember watching some old DC rehearsal footage on some show when they were preteens. It looked like it was taped in their backyard and Bey's sandal flew off during the dance part, you know old girl kept going & didn't miss a beat. I was surprised cuz I know I would've been flustered at the age & it would've thrown me off, but she displayed a strong work ethic at a young age. Her motivation may have been to please Daddy, but I respected it nonetheless.
"Listen to a Trina album, a Lil Kim album, and a Beyonce' album, and you will see the difference-if you are not just hell bent on seeing them the same, that is."<<<
i have. that is the point of the post. i'm honestly baffled that people don't see the content the same. but that's wilfull.
the blind allegiance to Bey is baffling and scary. a robot is a role model for adult women.
Janet hasn't been relevant during the time everyone and their mother had a blog. Hence, why she's not discussed as frequently. That's the only reason.
people aren't arguing about class and sexy. it's class and raunchy, which admittedly is subjective. Popping your cho-cha in a leotard at every possible turn falls closer to raunchy.
Josephine's a different argument. She was vilified for the banana skirt. VILIFIED. I don't think you wanna compare Bey to her.
@truth i will NEVER knock her work ethic. Bey is a hustler. (and not some silly "diva" female-version of it either.) I don't go with the idea that Matthews Knowles is the worker-bee. He ain't on that stage sweating and rolling around and such.
@Truth
I think your response was supposed to be for me, because you replied to all the points I made.lol.
I highly doubt the majority of Janet Jackson's audience is underaged, especially with MTV banning her for 5 years after Justin Timberlake exposed her breast (that's a whole other story). Nothing about her marketing says "this is for kids." And, how many teens do you really know checking for Janet Jackson CD's? Yes, many of them have older sisters/brothers who are fans, but if you want me to believe that the majority of people buying Janet Jackson CD's are kids, I'm going to need to see the numbers to back up the claim.
I don't think anything that Beyonce has done is new. But, that's not what the discussion has been about. The discussion is about the fact that she is doing the same thing other performers have done, and while other performers got serious backlash, she's been riding away scott free. When I say riding away scott free, I mean no major political organization has been trying to censure her, no one has been protesting her concerts in the US (Beyonce had to go to a totally different country [Malaysia] for someone to protest her concert), and she has gotten around putting parental advisory stickers on her CD's.
I never said Beyonce didn't have a great work ethic, people were saying the difference between Lil' Kim, Trina, and Beyonce is Beyonce's work ethic, and I disagree. Had her father not made the deals that he made on her behalf she wouldn't be working as hard as she is because she wouldn't be getting the opportunity to. There are plenty of people who work just as hard as Beyonce who aren't on top.
It's not like Beyonce is an actress who has to rely on a film studio for a job. If that were the case then work ethic would be more significant, because without good work ethic as an actress, you're basically Lindsay Lohan. No one will cast you. As a singer, she doesn't have to wait for someone to "hire" her. So, while having a good work ethic lets your fans know they don't have to worry about not getting their money's worth, and let's the studio know they're money is not going to go down the drain (or up your nose), it's not exactly what's going to set you apart from the pack. If it were, Amerie would be on top too.
@ Belle
I have yet to hear Beyonce' say: " Yes, dick sucking comes quite natural" -Trina, " I make him eat it while my period's on"-Trina, " You don't know nan ho, that sell mo ass than me"-Trina, " Ain't nan size dick you can keep up out me" -Trina, " Come a little closer, I wanna fuck ya nose" - Trina, "Heather Hunter, Janet Jack-me
Take it in the butt" - Lil Kim, " Nigga use that tongue, click the booty, click the booty" - Lil Kim, "Can't wait to tell my girls he sucked the piss out my pussy" Lil Kim, etc, etc, etc.
I am not sure what Beyonce's CD's you have where the majority of the songs reflect this same sort of content, but i've yet to hear them. Yeah she talks a little raunchy on some songs, who doesn't?! Trina, and Lil Kim will not ever be on Beyonce's level, and do not compare. Sorry. This debate can go on an on, but that's just the FACTS. Not gonna happen. Sorry. Like I said before, I buy all 3 of these artists albums, and I respect them all for different reasons for their individual crafts. I am not downing any of them, but comparing Kim and Trina to Beyonce' is like comparing Plies to Prince.
Late as hell, but whatevs.
I love this post. I love it because these are the questions we should be asking. Many of the comments on this entry talk about the marketing, the beauty, and the booty, but I didn't see any mention of art. Or artistry. I don't wonder why that is.
Though I was a girl who rocked more Bahamadia and Lauryn than Kim and Trina back in the '90s (lawd, I'm showin' my age), I can see how the latter two can be viewed as symbols of female empowerment because they talked about doing ish on their own terms. And Bey sorta attempts to portray herself in the same fashion, but it falls short because there's so much evidence to the contrary.
And no, the Prince/Janet/Bey comparisons don't work because we actually witnessed the evolution of Prince and Janet. Bey? Notsomuch. She's done the vampy virginal sexy kitten thing since she stepped on the scene, and continues to do it now. Her lyrics still sound like they were written by Habib the cabbie, fresh from an ESL class. She, like R. Kelly, is a "paint by numbers" entertainer. Which is great for folks who don't care about the art. But for the rest of us who do? Shit's rough.
Ok, so before I comment again I want to say how bitter, hateful, and petty people sound when they make comments about someone's typos or grammatical errors. These are blog posts done in a hurry, not college essays so gtfoh here with all that "schooling or lack thereof" bullshit. This is a blog, state your opinion and keep it moving. Sheesh. U sound more ignorant when you try to point out someone else's typo as if it makes that big of a difference. People do this on blogs and articles all over the net and it never makes them look any more intellignent. If anything it makes u look bitter, petty, and rude. If that was your intention then congrats, mission accomplished...
A lot of people made the points I would have liked to have made, but this one was the most recent, most hilarious, and most importantly the MOST TRUE so I have to co-sign this one 200% lol
"I have yet to hear Beyonce' say: " Yes, dick sucking comes quite natural" -Trina, " I make him eat it while my period's on"-Trina, " You don't know nan ho, that sell mo ass than me"-Trina, " Ain't nan size dick you can keep up out me" -Trina, " Come a little closer, I wanna fuck ya nose" - Trina, "Heather Hunter, Janet Jack-me
Take it in the butt" - Lil Kim, " Nigga use that tongue, click the booty, click the booty" - Lil Kim, "Can't wait to tell my girls he sucked the piss out my pussy" Lil Kim, etc, etc, etc.
I am not sure what Beyonce's CD's you have where the majority of the songs reflect this same sort of content, but i've yet to hear them. Yeah she talks a little raunchy on some songs, who doesn't?! Trina, and Lil Kim will not ever be on Beyonce's level, and do not compare. Sorry. This debate can go on an on, but that's just the FACTS. Not gonna happen. Sorry. Like I said before, I buy all 3 of these artists albums, and I respect them all for different reasons for their individual crafts. I am not downing any of them, but comparing Kim and Trina to Beyonce' is like comparing Plies to Prince."
hahahaha! Brilliant! I love it! I love Belle's blog also (otherwise I'd write off a discussion like this as "more black women displaying frustration with social conventions and taking their frustration out on a successful and internationally-renown sex symbol of a woman like Beyonce") but since I know that Belle usually has good intentions and simply wants to make people think about things in a different and less subjective way...All that being said, c'mon Belle...really? I think you need to be real about this one. I understand that all three artists talk about sex, but the rule isn't that you can't talk about sex, or that you have to sugarcoat it with words like "ego" (although subtlety is one of the most respected and intriguing aspects of any type of art, especially music. Which is why I thought the Prince to Plies comparison was PERFECTO! lol).
I'll concede that visually Bey has shown enough aspects of her personality to balance the new "raunchy" side of herself (although that "raunchiness" is like a nursery rhyme or even a damn Christmas carol compared the shit Kim and Trina put out as singles, let alone on their albums...damn, we could quote ridiculous shit from them all day lmao!)
Bottom line the conversation we're having isn't as ridiculous when discussing visual portrayals, but when it comes to lyrics/content...c'mon now, let's not kid ourselves. I could write 20 posts detailing how objectively, subjectively, factually, obviously etc; Kim and Trina ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND LESS APPEALING TO THE MASSES AND CHILDREN than Beyonce, but I won't because many people here seem to be stuck in their ways and refusing to face reality as it pertains to the 3 artists. Lyrically/content-wise they ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING THE SAME but if you refuse to acknowledge this go right ahead and stay confused...shrug. But I laugh when people try to make socioeconomic status or color (as if any of the three is significantly darker than the other) the issues at stake here. You'd have a better argument if you said that superior beauty allows her to get away with it...Then I'd probably be more easily swayed...Oh yeah and btw I'm not really a fan of Bey, not a hater either though...
But visually you're right there's little difference in the three...VISUALLY. Their videos all sell sex (when you mute the tv and don't know that the chorus is saying "pull over that ass too fat" there's little difference in that aspect. I like that song btw lol) The FACT still remains that lyrically there's no discussion/argument here, the lyrics speak for themselves...smh @ any disagreement with this premise...lol
Okay, I doubt anyone's reading this now, but here goes. I'm not a blind Bey stan in the least, but what gets me is hypocrisy in our community. I brought up the Janet comparison because as someone stated earlier, they both had that same good girl/bad girl dichotomy. Granted Janet's relevance isn't as great because yes, the internet was not popping at the height of her stardom, but I respectfully disagree that's the only reason. I still think she was granted a pass within our community. I NEVER heard folks going in on her about her sexuality the way they do on Bey. You want to talk blind allegiance, the Jackson family has it, especially among our people. Someone said Janet was never the virginal, sex kitten out of the gate. That's subjective, I can see it from the Control album up to now. Her choreography has always had a sexual element to it. Okay, I'll acknowledge I was wrong in that the vast majority of Janet's music wasn't marketed to kids. I was speaking from my own perspective, realizing that a significant part of her fan base weren't able to purchase her music.
I wonder why Belle or any of the other posters don't acknowledge the totality of Bey's music, meaning the songs that aren't sexual. But like I said earlier they aren't front & center cuz the sex sells. Trina & Kim are one-dimensional musically, their careers are basically wrapped in sex, visually & lyrically. Like Belle said, right or wrong, Bey presents another side to her musical persona that the other ladies, frankly do not. That is a big part of the reason she gets a pass, it allows her a certain freedom that Kim & Trina don't have. I don't agree with the alter ego label, but like I said, it's been done before without the label, so...
I grew up listening to Kim & I loved her. I'm not ashamed, it was empowering to have a Femcee that was about hers just as much if not more so than the fellas. Also, the credibility issue is at play here. I'm not going to go in on all the rumors about Bey's whoredom to the top. Mostly, I see that as obvious hate because I've never seen any facts to back that up. However, like I said earlier Kim admittedly used men for $ prior to rapping & Trina is an ex-stripper. Again, not judging, but you have to acknowledge that that damages them in terms of credibility when presenting a double standard with Bey. It definitely has an effect on the way the public views them. I'm not saying Bey or any entertainer should be a role model for our kids, but she does present a more balanced image. Belle basically answered all of her own questions in the blog post. I get that Belle thinks they should all be measured on the same stick when it comes to sexuality/materialism, but the fact that we've seen another side to Bey makes any comparison between the three seem a bit off to me.
I'm glad Belle posted this as it does bring up a myriad of issues within our community. Yes, part of the reason for Bey's mainstream popularity is because of her Creole heritage & middle-class background. Let's keep it real, most Black women(myself included) don't identify with her background. I'm not saying we all were reared in the hood, but most of us weren't living in 2-parent homes with professional Blacks: doctors, attorneys, execs, etc. I liked DC when they first dropped, but was never a super fan & even back then I was shocked at the amount of hate my roommates/friends would throw at her. Yes, M. Knowles made sure she was out front in the group, but I never understood why so many of my sisters despised this chick. She's been a target since their first single dropped & has her popularity has grown so has the hate. Kim & Trina are attractive ladies as well, but less appealing to the mainstream in terms of appearance and background. Bey, in my opinion, appeals to the masses because she's sassy & curvy like a sista should be, but she's not "too hood" or "too dark". Our community is still reconciling the white mainstream standards of what's good/wholesome with the reality and the truth that ALL backgrounds/colors within our communities are beautiful.
You have perfectly voiced what I've been wondering for a while now. I remember even in her DC days hearing her get called classy and I'd be thinking "what the hell is classy about writhing about in gold hotpants and a bra top?"
I think it's because Kim and Trina come across as strong women and Beyonce comes across as submissive. It's not real sexuality she's putting out there, it's a watered down, one size fits all version of it. However much she shakes her ass wearing next to nothing, she makes it clear that she won't put up a fight with any guy who wants some.
Frankly, I find it disturbing that she is what passes for classy now. This is what my daughter is going to grow up with. It makes me shudder.
Beyonce is talented, for sure, but she's deeply dishonest about what she's marketing. If Kim and Trina are hoes, Beyonce's the woman who'll make sure you spend out before you get any but won't ever admit that's what she's doing. At least a ho is honest.
I think Beyonce's dishonesty concerning what she is marketing is pretty much why I have wanted to like her for so many years, but can't. There is nothing genuine to connect to. I didn't like "Cater to U" because although she said it was about treating someone well, I just felt like your significant other should be treating you well, too. I didn't like the Video Phone video because the whole thing was overkill, etc. Anything she has ever done reads opposite of what she says her intention is, at least for me. I don't believe her alter ego because I don't know who Beyonce is.
That being said, ultimately I feel like all three women are basically doing the same thing: selling sex to sell records. The other two women are just more forthright in their actions, and honestly I respect that more than someone telling me that black is white, up is down.
I was going to try and read all the comments but... there's no possible way I'm going to get through them. I'm sure this has all been said but I think Bey is popular because I really and truly she gives the "ideal" image of a woman.
If you remember the song Yeah... on Luda's part he said we want a lady in the bed but a freak in the sheets. f you think about the ideal mexican woman, they have to be the "virgin mother." Bey sort of caters to this ideal.
In public she is normally the EPITOME of reserved. She is very chill and lax, and soft spoken. She upholds this virgin persona so well. On stage she turns into Sasha. This is the metaphorical bedroom. Beyonce goes all out in her music she has this masked raunchiness about her that the public allows her to get by with because we know that at a drop of a hat, she can switch right back into Beyonce and sing for President Obama. I think she's the ideal woman... a woman that women want to be and men want to have....
Gays eat it cuz she is just so FIIIIIEEEEERRRRCCCCCEEEE! I love my Bey!
Belle,
All I can say is, you are right on the money and I at one time called myself a true Bey fan. Though I love her voice, her videos and songs are becoming tiresome. Come on girl, try something new. I bet if a promoter put Trina, Lil Kim and Bey on one stage, the similarities would be shocking.
Hi Belle,
Love your blog. Just curious if you've ever listened to Resentment, Satellite, Scared of Lonely or any of her other ballads? I would argue to say that those songs certainly have depth at the least. Also, she admits she knows the public loves to see her "shake her ass" but she's much more versatile than that.
B is someone who gives 200% of herself when she's on the stage...you can see the blood, sweat, and tears in every live performance, you DEF can't say the same about Lil' Kim or Trina. Not to say that B is perfect, but she for damn sure deserves more than to be compared to two women who don't bring half of she brings to the stage.
Pick up the I Am DVD or better yet check her out live. You might become a believer:)
and yes I'm a proud stan. I can't help it!! Keep up the great work.
Beyonce enjoys being raunchy and it's clear that she has a very uncreative, low brow idea of what is sexy. She also enjoys reaping the benefits of being a mainstream artist. So, unlike Trina and Kim, she creates a stage persona "Sasha Fierce" that allows her to slide by legitimate questions about her music and performance by just saying "that's not really me".
The truth is, Beyonce can't answer legitimate questions about her music and performances. Unlike Trina or Kim she can just come out and say, "I wrote Ego about my husbands big penis", or "in Video Phone I'm talking about having a dude tape record me while I bend over naked and shake my ass". She would be embarrassed to say that and that's what annoys me about her and her fans more than anything. She pretends to be this empowered, sexually free woman, but in reality she is just reaffirming every sexual convention that exist for woman, especially the Madonna/Whore dichotomy. Men like her, because her "sexual freedom" is not a threat to them and woman like her because they idolize people who please men.
For the stans, please realize that no one here is suggesting Beyonce stop doing what she does. She has a right to make music however she wants and we have aright to analyze and critique it accordingly. You can't put things out there for public consumption and not expect people to have an opinion.
Forgot to add. When you go through the trouble of creating a stage persona that's supposed to be a 360 from your normal personality, you shouldn't be surprised when your "deeper songs and ballads" fall flat. There's nothing deep about a song sung by an artists that is perceived as insincere.
Also forgot too add. Did anybody bring up Christina Aguliera? I'm not even a fan of hers, but that is a text book case of hypocrisy. Many of the people who blasted Christina a few years ago are defending Bee today. The only difference is that Christina didn't feel the need to apologize for her behavior by hiding behind some fake alter ego and evading questions in interviews.
Okay, now I'm really finished.
Add me on myspace.com/Lakelandrep my email is Ashleylewis94@myspace.com or it mighte b Lakelandrep and Beyonce is a role model Lil kim and Trina are hoez they my girlz but the hoes so stfu
I think Jay has been influencing her music. Her songs before Jay are different from her songs after Jay.