As my colleague Heven Haile identified final week, the indicators that B was buying and selling in her disco ball for a mechanical bull have been there for some time—and for anybody who hasn’t been paying consideration, she’s been sporting cowboy hats in all places to drive the purpose residence. “Texas Maintain ‘Em” is the extra overtly, capital-C Nation of the 2 singles, readymade for a hoedown; “16 Carriages” is extra of a sweeping ballad (albeit one which wouldn’t be misplaced scoring the tip of a contemplative episode of Yellowstone.)
Beyoncé hasn’t explicitly stated this herself (but), however followers have been inferring that the Renaissance venture is one thing of an act of reclamation, reorienting genres like home (and now nation) as whose origins are rooted in Black music however have since been pulled away from the middle of the tradition. She’s dabbled right here earlier than, most notably with the Lemonade observe “Daddy Classes,” however by kicking issues off with a nod to her personal Texas roots, she’s making it clear that she isn’t only a customer to this aesthetic—it’s as a lot part of her upbringing as sweet painted drops, UGK and gleaming gold grills.
However what’s thrilling about Act II is that we’re about to get a rustic venture, completed the Beyoncé Method. Up to now, which means banjo from Rhiannon Giddens, R&B legend Raphael Saadiq serving to on the pen, Hit-Boy on the boards dealing with synths, and double-time flows on a ballad. Simply think about what she has up her sleeve throughout the opposite fourteen tracks. The-Dream going for a CMA songwriter award? Jigga Man discovering a banjo pocket? Texas rapper cameos from the likes of Bun B, Slim Thug or Travis Scott? Duets with Mickey Guyton? And simply think about the kind of rodeo suits she’s going to provoke the Beyhive into displaying up in on the inevitable tour.
The probabilities are infinite, and that extends to the visuals too. We by no means did find yourself getting that Renaissance visible album, however Bey’s been having fun with these cowboy hats an excessive amount of to not movie something for Act II. The album trailer she dropped alongside the 2 singles incorporates a visible reference to Harry Dean Stanton’s slot in Wim Wenders’ traditional 1984 highway drama Paris, Texas. As soon as once more, The Carters flex that along with being musical geniuses, they wouldn’t be misplaced within the Criterion Closet. (I have to pull as much as one in every of their legendary Roc Alamo Drafthouse film nights.)
Final week following Jay-Z’s Grammys speech, the timeline debated which Beyoncé Album of the Yr snub harm essentially the most, however as she confirmed tonight—whereas watching the sport, sometimes unbothered—she’s already on to the following. Strap in, cowboys, we’ve got one other elite Beyoncé rollout on deck.