B (2:59)

She did.

A (3:00)

She dropped it. It was like a. It was a. Now remember, like she performed with Coldplay and brutal Mars. And then at the end, like, there was an ad that was like formation World tour. Before we knew what the album was like. We didn't know what it was. It was. I think formation had just dropped. We didn't get full lemonade yet. We just got like four Formation World tour coming and I was like, in.

B (3:17)

I was so deeply sick to my stomach that I did not take myself to the Formation world tour. Okay.

C (3:24)

Oh, same.

B (3:25)

I'm getting too far, you guys. Obviously we're talking about Lemonade today. Okay. Obviously we're talking about lemonade. You already know all the housekeeping stuff. Rate review, do all the things. I really just want to jump straight into it. I'm gonna give a brief summary of what I think lemonade is. Is about. Usually I'll do these off the cuff. Nadira, like, I'll, like, you know, like, try to do something off the cuff. It's usually kind of bad and also kind of funny because I'm, you know, like, doing it off the cuff. Today I wrote something out because this deserves reverence and respect. So I don't have time to be funny. I don't have time to be cute.

A (3:57)

It.

B (3:58)

It's very serious to me.

C (4:00)

So lock in.

B (4:01)

Lemonade is an album by cultural phenom and generational talent Beyonce, Giselle, Knowles, Carter, where she takes us through a deeply tumultuous and traumatic time in her marriage to Jay Z, including accusations of infidelity and lying. Throughout the visual story, poems and lyrics, she weaves in references to black American history, generational curses and triumph, telling rich, complete, compelling story, period.

C (4:26)

Ate that.

A (4:27)

Wow.

B (4:27)

Thank you.

C (4:28)

Ain't that so bad?

B (4:30)

Thank you so much. And another thing, if I did a good job, I want six stars today. Thank you very much. Put lemons. Six lemons in the comments. That's what I want.

C (4:40)

Yeah.

A (4:41)

Today I think you deserve. Most of the time, I'm like, let's give one or two. But today, no.

B (4:45)

Most of the time, no no, you're right. No, you're right. But today I was inspired because I consumed excellence for the last two hours preparing for this podcast. So, okay, I'm just getting some. Some quick. Some quick notes out the way, and then we could really get to it. So Beyonce kind of describes her own experience with Lemonade and creating it in 2018 in a vogue article that she wrote. She says, quote, I come from a lineage of broken female male relationships, abuse of power, and mistrust. Only when I saw that clearly was I able to resolve these conflicts in my own relationship. Connecting to the past and knowing our history makes us both bruised and beautiful. I researched my ancestry recently, and I learned that I came from a slave owner who fell in love with and married a slave. I had to process that revelation over time. I questioned what it meant and tried to put it into perspective, and I now believe it's why God blessed me with twins, male and female. Energy was able to coexist and grow in my blood. For the first time, I pray that I am able to break the generational curses in my family and that my children will have less complicated lives, period. Goat. Yo, She's a goat. Because what was that about?

C (5:56)

What?

B (5:57)

What? Okay, and then. And then, last thing, last note. Before we get into it, Melina Matsukis, director of Formation music video, said that Beyonce explained to her the concept behind Lemonade, stating, quote, she wanted to show the historical impact of slavery on black love and what it has done to the black family and black men and women, how we're almost socialized not to be together. That's it. That's it.

A (6:23)

With that added context, it makes the. The Eliminate the Visual album so much more impactful because, like, I don't think I hadn't read that article. And, like, having that added context because there are certain, like, interludes with, like, romance and, like, I was thinking it was specifically tied to her relationship with Jay Z or her mother and father's relationship, but, like, how it is, like, a kind of look at all black, how it is so layered and, like, obviously the slavery roots are just very present in it, but, like, it's even deeper than. Than I thought. I. I understand why she doesn't do, like, in person interviews. I think it's because she's so thoughtful.

B (6:59)

Yeah.

A (6:59)

That in person interviews don't allow her to be as thoughtful as she actually is. And I think she really takes time to actually say it. And so when she does speak, it's like. Like, literally, it's like, oh, that is so, so insightful.

C (7:13)

Right?

A (7:13)

Yeah.

B (7:14)

She's a writer. I appreciate that at the end of the day. So, like, yeah, when she takes pen to paper, whether that is in prose for a Vogue article or in songwriting, it's going to be really powerful. That doesn't always come across when you have to speak off the cuff, especially not to bring astrology into it. Virgo is known for that. They're like, Mercury rules. Like, a Gemini's Mercury ruled. A Virgo is Mercury ruled. Beyonce's a Virgo. But, like, Virgos are more cerebral, like, thought based, whereas Gemini's Mercury is more speech based. So, yeah, that lady don't want to talk to us. She's more deep than. Than she can get across in her. In her voice like that, you know,

C (7:50)

so she go right to us so much. If I. I'm done talking. I don't talk, please. You know, I mean, no more.

B (7:56)

Y' all don't need any more words for me. Go listen to that music. Go stream that out.

C (8:00)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I.

A (8:03)

Okay. So I wonder with Lemonade, because have they ever explicitly addressed their personal relationships? Because part of me is like. Because she's a storyteller and, like, now we are 10 years removed, we've seen her put storytelling into her albums without it being directly tied to her personal life. Yeah, I wonder how much of this is actually personal. Like, I think in the moment, we all took it to be, like, Bible literal. Like, oh, Jay Z cheated. Yada, yada, yada. Now that we're removed, I'm like, I don't know how true. You know what I mean? Like. Or true to their real life. Obviously, every relationship has its ups and downs, but the more I think about it, and even watching again last night, I'm like, I don't know if this is just art to reflect broken relationships in general. Like, it's not about me and Jay Z. It is about the struggle of love in general. And I do think the fact that they don't address it, like, makes me wonder. Like, oh, maybe it's not that, but who knows? I mean, obviously that's all speculation, but,

C (8:53)

you know, that's honestly what I love about both of them is you'll never know. Like, Jay Z, I think he was. It was an interview he did with B Dot and Elliot Wilson after 444, where he kind of also talks about having to go to therapy and, you know, addressing the marital stuff. Like, he does talk about it. But again, like, I remember. I remember when this came out and I was talking to my dad about the album. I was like, this happened. This happened. He was like, did it? And I'll never forget him saying, like, did it happen? He's like, or is it just art? He's like, do we know? And that has stuck with me. And I love that about both of them. Them is that they're going to speak to you through their art, but they're never going to give you much. You're never really going to know their personal lives. Whatever people say about them, they're not going to confirm or deny. Like, that is such a. It's just such a great way to live, especially in a time where there are so many eyes on you and people want to make up so many things about you and people want to

B (9:46)

assume, like, so true.

C (9:48)

Just so much.

B (9:49)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I agree. And also, I like to think that this is a true story. I do like to think this is a true story.

C (9:58)

Yeah.

B (9:58)

I like to think it only because, like, we get Beyonce's perspective on Limited, and then we get Jay z's perspective on 444 of the same relationship and the dynamics that were playing out. Who was right, who was wrong, who's apologizing, who's. Who's not apologizing. And we kind of see, you know, both sides. Also in this Vogue article, question mark, I can't remember where I read it. I was preparing a lot. Jay Z says that Lemonade was filmed. Recorded. The album was recorded in, like, 13 different studios across the world. And at some point, Jay Z and Beyonce had put up two studios in Paris, I think, for them to record music both separately and together. And Jay Z said that acted sort of like therapy sessions for their marriage. Which, again, I'm like, they all but told us, in my opinion. I'm like, they, of course, because it's not like them to go and be like, yeah, this is about this. But they all. They might as well, you know, have told us.

C (10:57)

Yeah, yeah.

A (11:00)

I. Part of me still, like, I still am on the fence where I'm. Wow.

B (11:04)

And because they.

A (11:05)

They're also so. They're also so meticulous about branding and marketing.

C (11:10)

Yeah.

A (11:10)

That, like, I think it is also a part of the brand is like. Like you were saying to Dear. Like that it's like we will never know. And it, again, it keeps us talk.

C (11:17)

We are.

A (11:17)

Granted, I think we will be talking about this album regardless of if it was, like, rooted in some level of scandal.

B (11:23)

Yeah.

A (11:23)

But, like, they're good about getting us talking without ever having to really tell us anything.

B (11:29)

It's really true.

A (11:30)

Yeah. And I love that about them.

B (11:31)

And a lot of artists can't move like that anymore. That's why we see artists turning into influencers little by little. Killing me and I have mixed.

A (11:41)

I would argue that a lot of artists now are influencer first, and I think some of that is industry. Like, they kind of have to be. Like, a lot of industry won't back them without it, but I do. One of my favorite things about Beyonce and even like a Zendaya or artists like that is that, like, I don't know much about you. Like, like, as a real. Like, as a human, I think that's my favorite thing. I think I'd rather not know and have a level of mystique where some artists who are so social forward, it's like, oh, I like you. But it's like, it makes me. I'm less excited when things come out because, like, I already know kind of what's going on, you know?

B (12:14)

Yeah. I feel torn somewhere in the middle. So for context, Lemonade is where I felt like Beyonce took a decided turn away from sanitized, clean, good girl image. And that had kind of started on Self titled, which was the album right before this one that had already kind of started with the feminism of self titled and people feeling up in arms about that. And then there was Lemonade, where it was mad pro black. Very.

C (12:41)

Yes.

B (12:41)

She. She was. She was in her cursing bag on this one like she had never been before. And that's when I said, oh, the image is shifting. She's no longer willing to be quiet to make everybody else happy or to not ruffle any feathers. She just. She's deciding to speak up for what she believes in, how she feels, what's actually going on in her life. Question mark. Question mark. Question mark. Yep. I appreciated that a lot. Now as we get into 2026 and things are shifting a little bit and we see Beyonce sitting at tables with Jared Kushner and stuff, I feel in a place. Oh, yes, I did happen to do.

C (13:17)

Yeah, girl, I. I didn't remember that picture. I totally forgot.

B (13:21)

Oh, yeah. You know what I mean?

A (13:23)

That's how talented Beyonce is. It makes you forget.

B (13:26)

I need you to tell me. I do need you to tell me something, though, because all I have to go off of now is the political stances you made 10 years ago. And that picture is from last year. So, like, now I need you to tell me something.

A (13:42)

I. I will give that caveat, I think, specifically in terms of social issues. I do appreciate when celebrities speak up. Yes, I I think before, I was speaking mostly about, like, personal stuff, because I think the Internet demands so much of your personal life that I. I like when they don't give that, because I like. I love that you hold on to a level of that. But you. I agree with you in terms of, like, standing, because especially in this specific political time, I do think you have to kind of, like, make. You have to pick a side. There is no apolitical things anymore or just kind of because of where we are. And hopefully some of that is addressed on the new album.

B (14:15)

But I hope so. I really hope. And I believe. I really believe in Beyonce. Like, I believe in Beyonce bad. Yeah, my fingers are.

C (14:24)

I just feel like even. When did y' all both go to the Cowboy Carter tour?

B (14:29)

I didn't go to Cowboy Carter.

C (14:30)

I. I went three times. Did you not go together?

B (14:32)

No, you won together.

C (14:35)

Okay.

A (14:36)

That's right. I also went twice. So I'm with you, Nadira, and I love even.

C (14:39)

That show, to me, was everything. And again, I. I'm a big fan, Y' all know, Speak up. Let, like, come on. What do you think? What are our thoughts? Let's say it. Let's make sure. But I left that show feeling like, oh, my God. Beyonce was talking to us, like, through the. Like, I really left that show, and I went three times, sat in a different spot every time just because I was like, I want to be in here feeling this message and hearing this. Seeing her sing with the Jimi Hendrix version of this, like, all of the things that were happening, I was like, oh, she really is talking to us this way. But it's something that I always have found very interesting, especially. Yeah. With someone like her. We're like. We have all these older interviews. People love seeing the video of her, like, talking about whales. Like, we. We go to all these old videos of her because she does not do interviews anymore. And I just wonder. I would love to know what is in her head when, like, she gets approached for something or someone is like, hey, would you love to come talk and do this? Like, I would love to see the wheels turn and go inside, like in spongebob with the files running around. Like, what is she thinking when she's like, no, I'm actually not gonna say anything. Like, I'm so intrigued by that. I would just love to know what the thought process is there, because she does speak to us through her music. She's also very calculated. She's gonna come out with Kamala, you know, like, we know where you stand in that front, but There are other things where you kind of just like, I feel like Beyonce thinks this because she made this song, but she'll never talk to you and tell you.

B (16:13)

Yeah, she'll never.

C (16:14)

It's so fascinating to me. It's so, so fascinating. Yeah. Just. I'm always intrigued by it. I'm just like, dang. Like, I get that. Yeah.

A (16:23)

I do also think she is an artist who speaks in her performances. I mean, obviously in her music. But I think her performances and visuals often speak to us even more so than her actual songs. Because I think back to Homecoming, which was just like. That was obviously Coachella, and it was just like, the greatest hits, but the way she did it.

C (16:43)

Yeah.

A (16:43)

Because I was there for the first performance, and I remember legitimately, I. I remember I was also high, so let me get that. But I remember crying. Like, I remember turning to my friend and crying, because I was like, oh, she loves us. It was specifically after she did the black national anthem.

B (16:59)

Yes.

A (17:00)

And I remember being like, oh, like,

B (17:02)

that's one of my.

A (17:03)

It's for black people. And you, like, distinctly love us in a way that I. And I don't know that other artists are that visually conscious, and I do. There are times where I'm like, I don't know that it matters. There are times where I'm like, is this performative? Where, like, this sells? And, like. Because obviously, a lot of this is, like, post Black Lives Matter. And so I'm just. I'm opening the room for that critique because I'm like, it is. There are critiques of her where it's like, this is something you're doing now because it's profitable, and it's, like, it works. I like to believe that, like, the. The. The way she does it makes me think that it's more than just, like, a gimmick. And. Or at least the people around her, it's more than just a gimmick. Like, somebody over there. If it's not Beyonce, somebody gets it. And I appreciate that. And even if she chose that person, that means she gets it on some level.

B (17:51)

Yeah.

A (17:51)

So, yeah, I feel like we.

C (17:54)

Go ahead.

B (17:54)

Nadir.

C (17:55)

No, I was gonna say Nina Simone said an artist is supposed to reflect the times, and a lot of our artists today. I say this a lot when I hear music, and I love music. I love. I listen to all the things. You don't always have to have a message. But it's very interesting to me when somebody never reflects the times. And I will say that the thing that I've always loved About Beyonce, take the standom. And the hiveness aside is that it seems like she is reactive. So if something is happening in the world, it's kind of like, well, now I'm really bothered by this based on everything we've been seeing in the streets. Now I want to go and talk about this, but it is an interesting. It's interesting because again, like, these are celebrities, really famous people, and when things come out, those are valid questions to ask and consider.

B (18:39)

It is. It is real. And I have an overall issue with the idea of performativeness because I feel like it is most commonly associated with, with black people when somebody does something good regarding the black community, you know, or. Or a marginalized community in general, but especially the black community. Like, like, ah, this is performative. This is performative. What even. Okay, so say it is performative. What's so bad about showing blackness in a. In a positive way? There is no downside. Even if it is performative, there literally is no downside. So I don't care about that critique in particular. Yeah, very much. Because what art do you make?

C (19:19)

I hate that.

B (19:20)

You know what I mean? What kind do you make? Right?

A (19:26)

Whoa. Shots fired. I mean, no, that's. That is very, very fair.

D (19:38)

Thank you to all the Max Fund members who supported us during MAX fundrive. You're helping us as we try to put more good into the world. And as part of putting more good into the world, we've opened our annual post Drive. Char Max Fund members, at $10 per month or more can purchase Max Fund Drive keychains featuring designs for shows across the network. And all members can buy our charity exclusive keychain starring Mikey, our little microphone buddy from this year's Max Fund Drive. This year, we've decided to send the proceeds of the charity sale to the center for Constitutional Rights. They're dedicated to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change, tackling issues like human rights abuses, racial injustice, and sexual and gender based violence. These folks are fighting to make things better. So to get your keychains and support the center for Constitutional rights, head to maximumfun.org charitysale and if you're not yet a member, you can still get in on this. To support the show you're listening to and get access to bonus content and the charity sale, just click the link in the show notes. The sale is live now and it ends on Friday, May 15th. That's MaximumFun.org charitysale and thanks again.

A (20:50)

Say, what's the trivia show where dreams Come true.

C (20:52)

It's gotta be Go Fact Yourself.

A (20:55)

Legend in the house. We quiz celebrity contestants about topics they love, then bring out surprise experts to delight and amaze. And then finally tell us why you know and love the lyrics to the song Knockin Boots by Candyman.

C (21:09)

Joining us tonight is a rapper and producer. It's Candyman.

A (21:16)

This is among the greatest moments of my life.

B (21:19)

This is one of mine, too. I love it.

C (21:21)

That's Go Fact yourself.

A (21:23)

Twice a month, every month here on Maximum Fun. At the end of the day, if it's raising, like, even when people talk about performative men reading, I'm like, yeah, but if it makes people read, like, Kaisanat, what Kaisana was reading on the Internet, I'm like, yeah, but if he makes little boys read, what does it matter?

C (21:40)

It.

B (21:40)

Yeah. That's awesome.

C (21:42)

Open your dictionary.

B (21:44)

Hello. Hold it upside down so you start holding upside right?

C (21:48)

Yes.

B (21:48)

Right?

A (21:49)

And shut. I've never heard that. Is that an expression?

B (21:52)

I love that.

A (21:53)

Start holding it upside down until you start holding it upside right.

B (21:57)

What the is that? That was straight from the dome, baby. Thank you.

A (22:02)

I believe it.

C (22:03)

I thought. I believe.

B (22:05)

Oh, it didn't eat. It didn't eat. Like, I thought. That's fine.

A (22:09)

Crazy to me is that Lemonade. When I. Because I watched Lemonade, the film last night, and it clicked in my brain that, like, in terms of albums, that was 10 years ago, and this was the last visual we got. We have not got a vision from Beyonce.

B (22:25)

I wrote that in my. I said, the reason that we ain't got no visuals, because Lemonade was so crazy and so otherworldly that it's like, yeah, that's the last visual I'll leave y' all with. Actually. Yeah, there's.

A (22:35)

Yeah.

B (22:35)

Yeah.

A (22:35)

Like.

C (22:36)

And honestly, do we count.

A (22:37)

I don't count Homecoming because it's a live album.

B (22:39)

No.

C (22:40)

What about Black is King?

B (22:42)

I associate it with Lion King. You know, I do, too. It'd be like if I was counting that Kendrick album from Black Panther. Black Panther in his. Like, I'm not. You know, I agree.

A (22:58)

I also. I did go back, and I do like the gift.

C (23:01)

Yes, for.

A (23:01)

Or no. The gift of Black is King.

B (23:03)

It's called. It's called the gift Blackest King. Isn't it?

C (23:07)

Sorry. The album is.

B (23:08)

Yep.

A (23:08)

And it is listed in Beyonce's albums. And I hate that because I'm like, stop. Like, it is. That is a Lion King album. And no, I just hate that it's listed, like, stop it. Is it. That is a movie soundtrack. And I don't need it. When I'm scrolling through Beyonce, I'm not thinking about the gift. I don't want that. And so, yeah, no, that was ancillary to the Lion King. The mouse. The mouse said, you're going to get in this booth and make it a fucking visual.

B (23:34)

And if I'm being fully transparent, I don't like those visuals anywhere near as much as I like Lemonade's visuals. And maybe that has to do with me being black American specifically, but I'm like, the way that I watch and resonate with Lemonade's visuals as, you know, all of us, descendants of. All of us here, the three of us here, descendants of slaves, it just.

C (23:56)

It just.

B (23:56)

It just hits. It smacks. It smacks in a very crazy way.

C (24:01)

Little daughters of the dust sprinkled in.

A (24:05)

There were so many things. I like it. Like, the. The poetry didn't connect for me when I watched it in 2016. I was again, like, I was just. I don't think I. I was, what, what? 20 something? 20 whatever. 24, something like that. So I don't think I realized how deep a lot of the prose and poetry in it are. Yeah. Watching it again last night, I'm like, wow. Like, there's just so many things where I'm. Is profound. Like, it is. This is like art in a way that, like. And again, I. If I ever made music, and when I do make silly songs, it is purely for fun. So I'm not even someone who doesn't like just purely fun joy songs.

B (24:38)

Yeah. Thank you.

A (24:41)

I do. But I'm just like, I. I think that most. When people try to compare Beyonce to other people, it pisses me off because something like Lemonade exists. I am. I like Taylor Swift. I have fun with Taylor Swift. They. I'd like. I think her visuals can be fun and cute, but when you try to put her next to a Beyonce, where I'm like, Beyonce literally makes art, even like Lady Gaga makes art, but it's different. Even that type of art is different. And I'm saying what Beyonce does is like. I'm like, oh, this is like, different depth of profoundness. Yes.

B (25:08)

Yeah.

A (25:08)

It is art that makes you move. And like. And like you were saying, Nadir speaks to culture in a way that I think Lady Gaga does, but it, again, it feels more theater, kid. It feels very theater, which, again, beautiful art, very fun, but it doesn't feel like it is speaking to a specific culture or like, like, really moving me in a way that I'm like, wow, I feel activated to be better in life. Does that make sense? I always leave a beyond experience feeling like, oh, I need to improve.

B (25:35)

I'm activated. Like today my head has been tingling like I had chills for an hour straight watching Lemonade. It's. It's actually insane. Okay, so, Ryan, you said that you were at Red Robin Grad School 2016. Were you in Missouri? Were you in LA?

A (25:52)

I was in Missouri at this time.

B (25:53)

Okay. When. When it dropped. Nadira, where were you when Lemonade dropped?

C (25:57)

I was on Busch campus at Rutgers New Brunswick when it dropped. I'll never forget that. And I saw people posting GIFs of her in the yellow dress. And I usually. I mean, I've kind of become an album skipper. I know some people hate that. If I see a song and I was like, this is the best song. I'll go to that first. And I played hold up and I played it like 20 times.

A (26:19)

Whoa. Wow.

C (26:21)

Like, I was like, this is amazing. And then. Yeah, then I watched it listen to everything else.

B (26:28)

Wow.

C (26:29)

That's. Where.

A (26:29)

Where were you, Sequoia?

B (26:31)

Yeah, where were you in D.C. first of all, I lived in D.C. briefly. 2016 was a. I know people say 2016 was like the best year for me. It really was. Like, I spent the summer in D.C. it was black as hell. I was 21. It was. Oh, my God. It was a time. Beyonce's Lemonade had dropped. I was staying with one of my friends in her studio apartment. We were sharing her studio apartment. I was paying her a little rent on the side. She was a beehive member down, and I wasn't quite. So she turns on homecoming. She's like, oh, my God, Beyonce's thing drop. She turns it on. I'm like, cool. Like, what are we watching? She turns it on. I'm like, am I being radicalized? Am I being changed? I feel like I'm beginning to chemistry. Like. Like the chemistry of my brain begins altering. I'm like. I'm like, oh, my God, this is insane. Also, I was going through or I was considering breaking up with my long term boyfriend at that time. I think we had been together for about four years. And the lyrics just were really speaking to me. There was no cheating. The reason was not cheating, but the lyrics were just like, really speaking with me. Her going back and forth about, like, does she want to stay with this person? Does she want to leave this person? Like, it feels like you got it. For me, it was really crazy. A very crazy time in my life.

A (27:57)

I. I feel like this. I didn't realize that this was also 2016. I mean, I guess I did, but I didn't think about it in the context of like, what a great year. But that was such a great year specifically for music. And I forgot that this is in that.

B (28:08)

Yes.

A (28:09)

Because this is also Drake's views, if I'm not mistaken. Real bad.

B (28:13)

And I enter down like, yeah, yeah,

A (28:15)

I forgot that this is like in

B (28:17)

that collection of music because it transcends that. I hate to say it, but what is 2016? It transcends like, feeling like 2016. It doesn't feel like 2016. It feels timeless.

A (28:26)

It does. I, I, I know we'll get to rankings eventually, but re listening to this, I was like, oh, this is her best work. I like, let's get to it now.

B (28:38)

Oh, Nadira.

A (28:39)

No, cuz, okay. Cuz I'm like, okay. I remember we were talking about this somewh. Remember if it was on this show or freshly popped. But we were talking about Beyonce albums and I remember ranking Lemonade quite low. Like I was like, n whatever. I think I was confusing it with self titled. Cuz I do like self titled. But I think self titled doesn't hold up in a way that this does. Self titled was fun for the shock of it all because she literally changed the way music is released. And that is why self titled is great. I think the actual music on subtitled is fine. It is very fine.

B (29:10)

Yes.

A (29:11)

Lemonade again changed things.

B (29:13)

Okay,

C (29:15)

we're alive.

A (29:17)

Lemonade. It changed music in terms of like, oh, there's a visual for every album. Or not even. It's like, it's literally a visual album. But that music holds up so well and feels so timeless. And she can perform all of these until the end of time. I think any of these songs she can perform for the rest of her life in a way that I don't think some of her music is that. And I was torn. So let me pull up my rankings.

B (29:38)

Okay.

C (29:39)

I can't wait.

A (29:40)

Because I know I'm in the minority here. So Cowboy Carter, I think it is the Beyonce effect is whatever the she drops last is gonna be my favorite album. So now that I have listened to Lemonade, it is number one. I think actively it is also her best work. I think it is the best story. It's a tight album. It is her best work. I love Cowboy Carter. I know nobody else does.

C (29:59)

So that is, I love it. Thank you.

B (30:02)

Oh my God, thank you, thank you,

A (30:04)

thank you, thank you. Because people try to shit on it, people. And I'm like, no. Also story wise, great production.

B (30:09)

Great.

A (30:10)

Like, it is the way she flips. And I'm like, y' all are crazy. Y' all on cowboy Carter.

B (30:14)

Her.

A (30:14)

The way she bl. Her. Sorry. Because I heard buin. Have you heard spaghetti? I'm like, oh, my God. Y' all are crazy. Like sweet honey bucking the way she flipped. Sorry. That is number two only because I do think lemonade is, like in terms of cultural impact. It has a bigger cultural impact, but it is just as good as cowboy Carter in terms of the way she blends genre and like. And sounds great. Like, I. I don't love a ballad, but these two albums have ballads that I love. Then I'm gonna put Renaissance at number three because I went back and looked. I was like, do I like renaissance that much? I like every song on that album but two. And I was like, oh, I can't not have it this hot. When I looked at my likes, it's all liked. Then we get to 4. Underrated, because I think that's when she stopped being pop and she kind of was like, she was four is what made her become who she is today. I think it's the first time she was making music that is similar to what she makes right now. And it was different we to Sasha Fierce, Beyonce. We were used to Beyonce, which was very commercial. And four is not a commercial album. And I think that's why people didn't like it at the time. But if you go back, that is.

B (31:16)

I'm telling you.

A (31:17)

Okay, so lemonade, Cowboy Carter, Renaissance, 4B Day, Self Titled. And then these last two can honestly be there. I'm saying Sasha Fierce before I say crazy in love, and that is because they're dangerously in love. Dangerously in love is low for me. Bottom, and immediately I was like the bottom. And I will tell you why.

B (31:38)

Is shaking.

A (31:39)

Y. Y.

B (31:40)

Not watching, Listening. She's shaking.

A (31:43)

So crazy in love or dangerously in love is last for me because I don't like a ballad. I'm sorry. And when I. I don't think I remembered how R and b heavy that album is, really.

B (31:53)

R B.

A (31:54)

Dangerously in love is arguably her most R and B album. I think it is. And that is not for me. I'm not cutting that on. I'm cutting on crazy in love, and then I'm turning it on. I'm not cutting that on. I'm not going that on. This might make more sense, like, in 15 years when I'm cleaning the house and I need to have some, like, background R and b. On. Maybe I'll turn it on then. But I'm not doing that right now. I'm sorry. I'm not. So, yeah, Dangerously Love is definitely the bottom for me. It used to be Sasha Fierce, which immediately I knew was going to be out because Sasha Fierce but when I look back, does have hits, and I have to give her that.

B (32:28)

That is why

A (32:32)

I do think that B Day and self Titled similar. Like, I think that they are both good albums, but they're just like, songs that they are just. I think they're just radio hits. I think that's both. Well, not even subtitles. Yeah. But that's me. Okay. So, yeah, lemonade, Cowboy Carter, Renaissance 4. B Day, self titled I am and then Dangerously in Love.

B (32:52)

Okay.

A (32:53)

Bottom tier.

B (32:53)

All right, Nadira, you up next. What you. What you got?

C (32:58)

B Day is my number one.

B (32:59)

Okay. Number one. Okay.

C (33:03)

I used to be in the basement every day. Speakers connected to the walls. I was doing the routines.

B (33:10)

Yes.

C (33:12)

All of the songs that had videos. Green Light, Freak Em. Dr. Any song that had a video, I put it on the big TV when the TVs used to still be

B (33:20)

on the floor, and I would death.

C (33:25)

That is my number one. Number two is Dangerously in Love. I love R B and I love real R B, not the new rhythm and vibes. That's R and B. That's real R and B. I like rhythm and blues. Yes.

B (33:40)

Bleons.

C (33:42)

I love that. My number three is Renaissance.

B (33:45)

Okay.

A (33:46)

Okay.

C (33:46)

Yeah. Just.

B (33:47)

Yeah.

C (33:48)

Literally, like, you. Every single song. Like, I. I love every song.

B (33:51)

Yeah.

C (33:52)

Cowboy Carter is my number four. Even though maybe it's recency bias, I do kind of feel like it is her best album. I. From the storytelling to. And maybe I was doing my ancestry at the time that this came out as well. So when she's talking about, like, you know, just like the different things that she's dealing with and her family and the experience, and you're hearing the banjo and you're hearing the southern twang. Like, all of that. As I'm like on ancestry.com I'm like, yes, this is. This is hitting. So, yes, that is definitely my number four. Even though I think it's her. I think it's her best.

B (34:23)

Okay.

A (34:24)

I'm like, her winning album of the year for that also made sense for me. People argue that she deserved it. For others, I will make the for sure or the argument for eliminate. But to me, I was like, it makes sense that she won for this. This is. This is certainly her album of the year. Like, I'm Aligned with you there. Her best of her best work.

C (34:38)

And then my five is Lemonade. Lemonade also should have won album of the year. I don't care what anyone says now. Lemonade. I texted Sequoia about this earlier. Lemonade. To me, I can acknowledge when an album is very, very good musically, even if I don't love it.

B (34:56)

Okay.

C (34:56)

So I might not go back to it a lot, but I know, like, no, in the rankings, this is where it should be. Lemonade is not an album I go back to very frequently. I love hold up. And when I hear her perform some of the songs, I'm like, oh, this. This hit. But I do not play it. I don't play it. But I love the visuals. I love what it represented. I love the storytelling, and I also love the story. I loved watching people, even myself included, people argued about Lemonade for weeks, about what she was supposed to do, what Jay Z was supposed to do, who was right, who was he, all of those. I love an album that told a story still today, but the story didn't wrap up in a nice, nice, neat way for people. I love that it was a complicated story. I love that. I mean, we can have all the thoughts in the world about relationships and cheating. Obviously, we know what you should be doing, what you shouldn't be doing. But there was something so great about hearing, like, a raw album from a black woman, from her perspective that, yeah, it was raw. Some songs are really, really hard. Some songs are really sad. Some are really tough. Some songs at the end where she gets to the redemption and you're like,

B (36:02)

like, oh, the cracks in her voice.

A (36:05)

I was just about to say, even vocally, I think she was so used to being polished perfect. And I remember, like, hearing is it sandcastles?

C (36:12)

Yes, yes.

A (36:14)

She cracks on that itches. And I'm not used to hearing Beyonce be imperfect. And something about that. I'm like, it did so much for me.

B (36:21)

My God. Okay.

C (36:23)

And then 6, 7, and 8. Super quick. Beyonce 4, and I am Sasha Fierce. All great. All have hits on them. Just not. Not something I revisit. I will say, though, I said this about four, maybe last summer, and my sister was like, what? You need to go back and listen to it. So I did. There are songs on it that I do love. And I remember, like, oh, I really love this. School in life, I believe is on fours. Yeah. Like, that's a hit. I used to do a routine of that as well. So. Yeah. But no, and I love Beyonce. Yeah.

B (36:55)

What do you guys want to go

A (36:55)

Back through forest track list, because I'm gonna say love on top, Party school in life Countdown. I care. One plus one.

C (37:02)

You lost me.

A (37:05)

Are you crazy? Four has. Four has more.

C (37:08)

You lost more than it does.

B (37:12)

I love countdowns, but I hear it. Could not like it. I get it.

C (37:16)

Yeah. When I hear it, I'm like, oh, this is cute, but am I playing that on my own? No. Love on top, Party school in life. Dance for you. Rather die young. That's the one. My sister was like, come on, Nadira. Like, you gotta. Yeah. One of my younger sisters, she was like, you gotta lock in. And I was like, oh, you're right. Yeah.

A (37:32)

One plus one didn't do it for you either. I also love one plus one. That does. I don't love End of Time.

C (37:37)

Oh, that's a banger too. See, this happens every time.

A (37:48)

And that's one underrated on.

B (37:50)

It is.

A (37:51)

End of Time is so good

C (37:56)

in

A (37:56)

her Michael Jackson bag.

B (37:57)

Come on.

C (37:57)

Yeah. Hey. Yes. Shoulders. Y.

A (38:00)

The other crazy thing about Beyonce albums is that hearing her live, it makes all of her albums sound like. Which I. I mean, the complimentary because she's so talented live that. Like, when I hear Hold Up, I now can't not go five sear Top star Backsy Love. And in that car, like. Like, when she switches. Every time I hear Hold Up, I now needed to switch into Countdown.

B (38:24)

Is it countdown? Yeah, it is Countdown. Oh, yeah. Yes.

A (38:27)

I now need that. Yeah.

C (38:28)

This is how you know we're high.

B (38:30)

I love this.

C (38:31)

I love this.

A (38:33)

I'm like, oof. Woof. Yeah.

B (38:35)

But I.

A (38:36)

That's crazy to me. The four is so low. That is crazy to me because it's really good. It is again. Yeah. I guess we should caveat, because Beyonce doesn't make that outline.

C (38:47)

She doesn't.

B (38:48)

Exactly. Exactly.

C (38:49)

But I play B day every day, y'. All. I play B day every day. Yes. Run it down. Run it down.

A (39:00)

So.

C (39:01)

All right.

A (39:02)

So you're. I'm like, you're. I'll give you Deja Vu. Even though that one's kind of like if it's on. Yes. I don't.

B (39:07)

I love Deja Vu.

A (39:08)

Give me bodied only extended. The original Gimme body Sugar mama.

B (39:14)

Sure. Also, I'm like, I'm gonna skip it.

A (39:16)

I like it, but only if it's on.

B (39:18)

Upgrade you.

A (39:24)

Closely. I agree. I listened to the lyrics too closely the other day, and I was like, what do. I'm begging to make your life better? Are you crazy? Well, it's an adult.

B (39:36)

It does. Yeah.

A (39:37)

When you're 13 when you're 13. That as an adult does not hit I you can't listen too closely. It made me was like wait a minute. I actually turned it off the other day because I listened too close.

B (39:48)

Yeah.

A (39:49)

Ring the alarm. Bad. People loved it.

B (39:51)

I was like not too much. You don't remember her doing this? Not too much.

A (39:54)

I remember all of it.

C (39:55)

Boo.

B (39:55)

I love ring the alarm. I love a chaotic beat. One thing about me, if the beat is chaotic, I'm probably there. Yeah. Cassie's long way to go. Ring the alarm. People be talking.

C (40:05)

People be there.

B (40:06)

Too much about chaotic beats. I'm in.

C (40:08)

I'm in. We're here.

A (40:10)

Kitty cat Freak em dress Green light.

C (40:11)

Kitty cat is one of my favorite Beyonce songs.

A (40:15)

I'll give that one's underrated. I'll give that up there. I think freakum dress is fun and it's the same fun as 711 to me. Not good but fun.

B (40:24)

No.

A (40:24)

Well both your faces you both immediately were like you lost me.

B (40:28)

Seven was a throwaway track. Freakum dress is serious.

C (40:31)

Yes. Freakin dress is is not to be played.

B (40:33)

Freakin dress is not a joke.

A (40:35)

Or not to be not.

C (40:38)

Yes.

B (40:40)

I mean I will get in the best shape of my life if I put freakin dress on repeat and get

C (40:44)

on literally in the gym.

B (40:46)

Yep. You will never see me go as hard as when I am on a treadmill and freedom dress comes on.

C (40:52)

Yeah.

B (40:53)

That's so crazy because I have to get in it. I have to get in that freakum dress.

C (40:56)

Right.

B (40:56)

So let me go. Let me go on and get my child bidet.

A (41:01)

I would say I I like again. Beyonce doesn't make bad out problems. B days is lower for me. I'm surprised it says high for you. That's crazy to me especially when four has so many hits. So many hits. But okay.

B (41:12)

It's formative. I get it.

A (41:14)

B day.

B (41:14)

It is probably because Nadir I think we're born the same year or close to it.

D (41:20)

Yeah.

B (41:20)

B day was like it wasn't obviously I had been aware of music for a long time but it was when I really shift into an awareness.

C (41:30)

Yes.

B (41:31)

That like I didn't have before for

A (41:34)

like buy your own album.

B (41:35)

Like I bought like buy your own albums. Like figuring out my exact music taste. Like sure. And maybe that's informed by the fact that my first album was a destiny child album. I bought it on the same day as I bought Britney Spears's self titled album. But or my mom bought it for me. You know whatever. Anyways. Okay. Here's my.

A (41:54)

What's yours?

C (41:55)

I'm ready.

B (41:56)

Lemonade is my number one. My God. Renaissance is my number two. Four is my number three. B Day is my number four. Justice Dangerously in Love is my number five. Self titled number six. Sasha Fierce number seven. Cowboy Carter number 273.

A (42:22)

You're crazy. You're actively crazy. How can you listen to the album and not.

B (42:27)

I just wholeheartedly. So this is the type of music listener I am. I'm gonna listen to the sound of the music before I can even get into any lyrics or any themes. If I don't like the way it sounds, I can't even get past it. And there. I don't like the way Cowboy Carter sounds for the most part. There are a couple songs. I'm like, okay. Like, I get it. Like I get it. I do feel like I get it. And obviously it's a good body of work. Good music. But wow. My favorite from that is the Beatles cover Blackbird. Yeah. Because it's very strict, very beautiful. Well, overwhelmingly, I'm just like. I'm not into the country twang at all, that is.

A (43:04)

But I feel like it sounds so fun.

B (43:07)

Daddy Lessons. Almost every time I listen to Lemonade. Yeah. I'm gonna. I'm gonna hit next on Daddy Lessons. Although when ranking it, I realized I like Daddy Lessons way more than I thought I did.

C (43:18)

But same, same.

A (43:19)

Oh.

B (43:20)

Because I listened to it today, so I. I'm going stop skipping this one. But that's where I stand with country music overall. So I appreciate Beyonce's contributions to reclamation when it comes to house music, when it comes to country music, and soon when it comes to rock music. And I'm going let y' all have that. That's why I didn't compete with y' all for Cowboy Carter tickets. And when she releases Act 3 and it's my turn because I'm a rock music girly.

C (43:44)

Yes.

B (43:45)

Sit it out. Move. You know what I mean? If Haley Williams pop up anywhere on that album, get the out of my way. Thank you.

A (43:54)

Not the eyes open. Third eye.

B (43:55)

Open my third eye. I.

A (43:58)

Okay. I don't think Haley's gonna be on that album, but I love that. I love the world where she is.

B (44:01)

Why would you ever say, don't take it out of the air?

A (44:04)

No, that isn't definitely gonna be on it.

B (44:07)

Take it out of the air.

A (44:07)

It doesn't make complete sense. I don't think it does. I hear what you were saying. I don't think it makes.

B (44:11)

Saying those words what I don't Beyonce had Tanner Adele on her country album. It makes complete sense for Haley Williams to be on her. Beyonce was Miley Cyrus on her country album.

A (44:25)

The goddaughter of Dolly Parton for country. Makes sense. I'm saying. Hey, I'm like, those things make sense in a way that Haley Williams simply does not. I don't want to hear if she is. I will eat my.

B (44:34)

No, it does make sense.

C (44:35)

You know why?

B (44:35)

You know why? Because. Put on your tinfoil hat. Follow me, please.

A (44:40)

Yeah, let me be.

B (44:41)

Beyonce had Serena Williams in the music video for. Sorry. Right, okay. You know who else had Serena Williams Crip walking on stage? Kendrick Lamar. You know who else? Crip walks. Haley Williams. There's the connection right there.

C (45:00)

Thank you. Wait.

B (45:01)

I was so locked in.

A (45:07)

Yeah.

B (45:07)

You know who else?

C (45:08)

Yep.

B (45:09)

The connection is Crip.

A (45:10)

By that logic, Chris Brown will be on this album.

B (45:13)

As the professional spokesperson for the Crips, I can confirm that she. You know what I mean, Will likely be on the album because of the affiliation. Yeah. Thank you.

A (45:24)

Right. Okay. My bad.

C (45:25)

I was Sequoia, y'.

A (45:27)

All. Yeah, yeah.

C (45:28)

Professional smokes.

B (45:31)

I told you to put that tin hat on. I mean it. And y' all didn't put y' alls on. And that's crazy.

A (45:35)

I. You know what? I. I will around doing divine nine, but I will never be like, I'm the spokesperson. That I wouldn't. That sounds scary.

B (45:44)

That's a fact. Okay, thank you very much. Anyways, okay, while we're here, ranking. Should we just rank the songs, too?

C (45:50)

Yes.

A (45:51)

This was hard for me.

B (45:52)

It was really hard. Like, really, really, really hard.

A (45:55)

Yeah, this is difficult.

B (45:57)

Are we including the interludes and the prelude? Like, are we doing pray you catch me and forward?

C (46:04)

Oh, I kept them.

B (46:05)

I kept them, too. Yeah, I kept them. Okay.

C (46:07)

Cool songs.

A (46:08)

Pray you catch me is a full song.

B (46:09)

It is a full song. It is.

A (46:12)

I would also include forward, although I did mostly James Blake forward.

B (46:16)

Right.

A (46:22)

There's something like. All right. Very much him doing a slave him.

C (46:27)

Yeah.

A (46:28)

This white man doing a. Of slave him. Is it not? Is it not?

B (46:32)

And so why do you think she got him but she couldn't get Haley Williams? Never mind. I'm going to drop it. Continue, please. Thank you.

A (46:39)

That. I know you guys go, because I don't. I really don't know. I. I'm actually having trouble, I think.

C (46:44)

Okay.

B (46:44)

You haven't. Okay. Okay. Nadir, you want to go or should I go?

C (46:48)

I'll go, cuz I'll see if you guys are going to kill Me off off the off rip. Okay. Hold up is number one.

B (46:56)

Okay.

C (46:56)

Hurt yourself is two.

B (46:58)

Okay.

C (46:59)

All night is three. Okay. Pray you catch me four.

A (47:05)

Okay.

B (47:05)

Okay.

A (47:05)

I love that song.

C (47:06)

Okay. We lost. I like it a little bit.

B (47:08)

I like it. No, I mean, you know, I'm just comparing against my list.

C (47:12)

Six inches. Five.

B (47:14)

Okay.

C (47:15)

Daddy lessons. I agree. I don't love the song.

B (47:19)

Yeah.

C (47:19)

I like what it represents. I love the lyrics. I like the, you know, I like it, but I don't love it. So I skip it. But it is number six because she's still eight. Seven is forward. And then we start getting to the bottom where I swear all these can just be mixed in.

B (47:35)

Okay.

C (47:36)

Eight is Freedom. Nine is Formation.

B (47:39)

Yeah.

C (47:40)

Ten is Sorry. Eleven is Sandcastle. Sorry. Whoa. Twelve is Love Drought.

B (47:47)

Whoa. I was just attack. There was a killing site. That is crazy.

C (47:56)

Wow.

A (47:56)

That was crazy.

B (47:58)

That was nice. I think it got deranged.

A (48:02)

12. Love Drought is acting.

C (48:04)

You know what?

A (48:05)

And I, I not when Formation is on the album. Hello.

C (48:09)

So I had Formation. I had Love Drought swap. But I was like, what one? If you had to play either of them, which one would you play? And I was like, I would play Formation.

B (48:17)

And that's fair. At the end of the day, we really are asking for your favor. Like what? How would you rank them? So like. Yeah, yeah.

A (48:23)

Cuz that is fair. I. Okay, I'll just go. I'm gonna do. Cuz I'm ready to do it semi live. Because it's hard.

B (48:30)

Okay.

A (48:31)

I, I, I'm gonna go from the bottom up. So I think I'm gonna put forward. Yes. Last place is gonna be forward. I think that that makes the most sense because I just. It's not a Beyonce song. Don't need it. Then I'm putting Formation. I think Formation made sense as the lead single because there's no, not no other singles. But I'm like, I get it. And it's fun. The video is fun. But yeah, that's gonna be number 11. Or. Yeah, number 11. Then I think I have to put Sorry. Sorry made sense.

B (49:02)

Really?

A (49:03)

No, Sorry. It made sense in 26, you guys.

B (49:06)

Me?

A (49:06)

No, sorry. In 2026 sounds like 2016. I think it's the only song on here that sounds dated.

B (49:14)

Okay. It sounds so whack. Okay, it does.

A (49:17)

It sounds whack today. Boy. Bye. And I think that might not be her fault. It might be because of what people did too. Sorry. That Sorry is where it is.

B (49:23)

But she sounds. You know what? It's because that girl on the first season Of Love is Blind. When she. Do you guys.

C (49:29)

Did you guys.

B (49:29)

Did you watch Love is Blind? Nadira?

C (49:31)

Oh, yeah. Every season they get. I've been locked in since the beginning. I don't know how I keep coming back, but I'm. I'm in.

B (49:38)

I'm saying I've been locked in, unfortunately. Yeah. On the first season of Love is Blind when she found out that Carlton, the boy that she had matched with in the pods, was bisexual and she threw that ring at the pool and she said, boy, bye.

A (49:51)

Bye.

B (49:51)

And I. Yeah, she single handedly actually ruined that portion of the song. She did. She did.

C (49:56)

You just unlocked something in my brain.

B (49:58)

Yeah.

C (49:58)

Like I forgot about.

B (50:01)

Yep. It was secondhand embarrassment. I deeply had secondhand embarrassment. Punishment.

A (50:04)

Gosh. But yeah, I think in the light of 2026, it's. Other people have made that song whack. So it is now number 10 for me. Then I think I'm gonna have to put. Oof, this is hard. I had to put freedom the number. What is. Yeah. Number. So freedom's number nine. Number eight. I think I'm gonna put sandcastles. But I do love sandcastles. That makes. That's hard for me. No, no, I'll put. Pray you catch me at 8. Sandcastle's at 7.

B (50:33)

This is really hard.

A (50:34)

I'm gonna put Love drought.

B (50:36)

This is really hard. Yeah.

A (50:38)

Five, I'm gonna put hold up.

B (50:40)

Okay.

A (50:41)

Four. I'm gonna put all night. Three. I'm gonna put Daddy lessons because I love that country me loves that. And then the best songs on this album are 6 inch and don't hurt yourself. And I think don't hurt yourself has to be number one.

B (50:54)

I.

A (50:54)

When that comes on, nothing makes me feel better. Like, I feel like the baddest on the planet. I think I am. I like this. Like, I know I don't listen to Nicki Minaj at all anymore, but like, that's when she said I'm Me on a wall by ski hunting on the wrist. Like that. It's that same feeling that.

B (51:14)

That might elevate to the stratosphere.

A (51:19)

That's how don't hurt yourself makes me feel. And so that has to be my number one. And six Inch is such a vibe.

B (51:24)

So number two, we have very similar. That was good.

C (51:28)

I know. It was really.

B (51:29)

It's hard.

A (51:29)

It was really hard for me. It's really hard.

B (51:32)

It was really hard for me to do it. And as you were speaking, I started feeling like I needed to swap some of mine, but I didn't. Same so, like, okay, from top to bottom. Six inch is my favorite song. That is one of my favorite Beyonce songs in general. I. The bridge on that song. We don't talk about it enough. Stars in her eyes she fights for the power Keeping time she grind. She was doing vocal acrobatics on that. Damn.

C (51:58)

Yeah.

B (52:03)

That run right there.

C (52:03)

Be taking master class.

B (52:05)

I have chills right now just from you singing it because of the. The decisions. Like, it's crazy. Six inch is my favorite. Don't hurt yourself. Definitely my number two. That drum pattern before it comes in the little fire, like. Yep, I'm sick. I'm actually sick to my stomach.

A (52:22)

Don't you just, like, walk with a swagger?

B (52:24)

I promise you. I promise you.

C (52:28)

Absolutely.

B (52:29)

And then number three for me is sorry, and I'm not sorry.

A (52:32)

Oh, wow.

B (52:33)

She said, suck on my balls. Pause. Beyonce would never say that. Beyonce would never say that before I said, oh, we've unlocked a new level of Beyonce that I had not yet seen. And I. And I needed that bad. I loved it. I love suck on my balls so bad from Beyonce.

A (52:50)

I specifically love it in homecoming. Exactly. My balls. Paws leading into the lines.

B (52:58)

Yes. It's fantastic.

C (53:00)

Oh, she ate that so bad. Come on.

B (53:02)

I love it. I love it. And I love n as well from Beyonce. No, I ain't sorry.

A (53:08)

Oh. I also love the way she says. He always got those excuses. She's so exhausted.

C (53:19)

I love it.

B (53:21)

I love it. Oh, my God. And then number four for me is love drought. And this is where it starts to get confusing. The top three, I'm like, yes, those are my top three from here down. I'm like, a lot of this is can move around. Love droughts. Number four, hold up is number five. Pray you catch me at number six all night. At number seven, sand castle is number eight. All of those at any time could shift anywhere.

C (53:44)

Just move.

B (53:45)

Yeah. Like all. There's. They're all fantastic songs. They are fantastic. Hold up is a little overplayed for me. And so I could sometimes drop it a little lower.

A (53:56)

Did that become the second lead? I think that's what. Because then. And then it became the meme. The eliminating of it all because.

B (54:00)

Yes, exactly.

A (54:02)

It wasn't her fault. It's just the Internet. Not the Internet. It became a pop culture thing.

C (54:05)

It was.

B (54:05)

It was everywhere.

A (54:06)

Yeah.

B (54:07)

But that break in her voice, like we talked about as sandcastles really does a lot for me. And she was. Her vocals were great. Crazy.

C (54:14)

What is it about you? I'm like, what?

B (54:19)

Thank you. I'm like, who are you? Oh, my God. And then we have the ones from here down where I'm like, okay, we have Daddy lessons. I don't even know what number I'm on. But this Daddy Lessons, Freedom formation, and then forward.

A (54:36)

And so Freedom also sounds like 2016. I was wrong. Freedom, I think more so sounds like 2016. Granted, we were fresh off of, like, BL or, like, fresh in BLM.

B (54:46)

Yeah.

A (54:46)

It just sounds so, like, it was. It's too hopeful for where we are today. Like, I think how we have achieved freedom in 2026 maybe would make more sense, but it's like, we don't have it. So now it's just like, this is whack.

B (54:56)

What put freedom a little bit higher than I otherwise would have put it. Here is washing lemonade. And Beyonce has the acapella vocals.

C (55:04)

Yeah. In the beginning.

B (55:05)

And I said, is that what she sounds like?

A (55:08)

I literally.

B (55:09)

I literally screamed.

A (55:11)

I want that. I actually want her to put.

B (55:14)

I don't want the background. I don't need Kendrick. I don't need the background. I want those raw vocals.

C (55:20)

Your vocals. Yep.

A (55:23)

That's also. When she was there, like, there was, like, all the young black women, because also, we didn't talk about this much, but the Hollywood. The Hollywood vision she had. She had Amanda Steinberg. She had Chloe and Halle. She had Zendaya. She had Winnie Harlow. She. She has so many, like, just young black people who have. Have done nothing else but just grow and shoot up and stardom.

B (55:40)

Yeah.

A (55:41)

Her eyes. So I'm like, she was singing in front of all of them, and I'm like, I want. I wish I could have been in, like, space.

C (55:48)

I would have.

B (55:48)

I really would have given a lot to have seen that. And then Daddy Lessons, as I was listening to it to, like, prep for this, I was like, you know what? Yeah, it's doing something for me. It. Do a little something for me. Okay. My daddy warned you about men like you. I like. I like her bridges. She bridges? Really?

C (56:06)

Yes.

B (56:06)

You know?

C (56:07)

Yes, of course.

B (56:08)

So that's it. That's my ranking. But it was hard.

A (56:10)

Where did you put formation? I forget.

B (56:11)

Formation was second to last before Forward. Forward is last because it doesn't even count. But formation is really actually dead last. I will hit next on that song every single time. If you play it while I'm out. I don't want to hear it.

A (56:21)

Formation is fun. Live. I think Formation is a song it's great to watch her do live. And, like, all the things she did with it were Fun. But I think as an actual song. Yeah, whatever.

C (56:31)

Formation and like, Black Parade, they have the same vibe for me. Where. Yes. If you do it live, I'm in. But I just don't want. I won't play it.

B (56:40)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that. Yeah. We're a little past now, but.

A (56:47)

Woo. Yeah. Lemonade was such a moment.

B (56:49)

It was really a moment. I don't think we talked about the context of this album, really. But for reference, y'. All, y' all know this, but just bringing it back. May 2014, the smack heard around the world took place in an elevator with Beyonce, Jay Z, Solange, and Beyonce's bodyguard, Julius. So there have been speculation from that point that Jay Z had cheated on Beyonce. So when a year and a half later, Beyonce drops an album chronicling cheating, everybody's like, Mr. J, Mr. Carter, what did you do? Yeah, you earned that smack, didn't you? And then people started coming at Rachel Roy or Rachel Ray, whichever one of them. Girls. Girls. Because she was supposed to be back.

A (57:29)

Rachel Ray is a chef.

B (57:30)

Okay, Rachel, I don't think.

A (57:33)

But I do think she also called Strays.

B (57:35)

She did. She did.

A (57:36)

Because her name was too close.

B (57:37)

And she really did.

C (57:38)

Her name was.

B (57:38)

People couldn't tell. People said, whichever one of you hoes you're got now, was this the last.

C (57:44)

It was so crazy because also Rachel was married to Dame Dash. And then people made up stories about a whole it doing the most.

A (57:51)

Wait, is that the girl who's on. Do you either of you watch?

C (57:56)

Oh, yes. Yep.

A (57:58)

Rachel Ray Roy. Roy's daughter. Is that.

B (58:03)

Yeah, I don't think I realized Verify

C (58:06)

real, real quickly for you

A (58:10)

because I didn't click until this moment. I knew that Dame Dash and her dated, but I don't think I recognized that that was the daughter of. Wow. Yikes.

B (58:17)

Yeah.

C (58:18)

Yeah.

A (58:18)

I mean, yeah. Could you imagine your mom being accused of ruining or not ruining getting in Beyonce's marriage?

B (58:26)

What?

A (58:26)

Leave that lady Beyonce for me.

B (58:29)

You know what I mean? I would be so mad if my

A (58:31)

mom ruined Beyonce for me. I'm like, why would you do that?

B (58:34)

And I'm gonna stick with Beyonce.

A (58:36)

Beyonce. Now I have to pick.

B (58:37)

I'm gonna start with Beyonce. So now.

A (58:38)

And I'm picking Beyonce.

C (58:40)

Like, imagine she opened her Instagram. Especially if how. Whatever people believe. But no one has. Again, no one's ever confirmed anything or denied, like, well, maybe. I think Rachel maybe said something. But again, let's just go with Rachel was not involved. You opening your Instagram to a bunch of Bees in your comments.

B (58:59)

What is that in your comments?

C (59:01)

That was now. I am not that level of beehive. I'm not. No, I'm not that level of beehive. I am a B day every day at 7am Beehives.

B (59:09)

You know what I mean?

C (59:10)

Members, I am not a harass people on the Internet.

B (59:13)

Yeah, I do. If you push me far enough, I might harass you on the Internet. Okay, so.

A (59:19)

All right, where is that, I wonder. The difference between the Hive and the Barbs is that I do feel like the high grew up in a way that the Barbs, yes, definitely, definitely has jobs. They all have like, especially don't get me started. I feel like the Barbs don't work. I don't.

B (59:35)

They don't.

A (59:36)

The Barbs. That is the job.

C (59:37)

They're children.

A (59:38)

Like it is.

B (59:38)

Yeah, it is very kind of great.

A (59:41)

Crazy.

C (59:42)

I think in a way it's all very cult like, but something about the Barbs and. And I also think it's because Nikki talks to them and she's saying things that like aren't true or like, you know, like there's just misinformation and I don't know. The last time she's tweeted, I'm like, I have to mute all the things now. Like, please. I'm actually, I can't anymore. But yeah, she'll go, she'll go on like a three day rant and tweet every 5, 5 minutes, 5 seconds, whatever it is. And it's like that's how it kind of keeps you in. We gotta log off sometimes, y'. All. I love, I love a little meme every once in a while too. But that can really send you into I feel like psychosis level of psychosis. The docs that will be done when we are all 70.

B (60:25)

Hello.

A (60:27)

No generation. No for real.

B (60:30)

Like you're entitled to conversation if you ever identified as a bar because you spiritual psychosis at the head of the head of Nicki Minaj. Right, Yeah, I agree. And then just real quick run to run through the chapters of the eliminated film. So chapter one, it has 11 chapters and it kind of like, I would say it's like the stages of grief but a little bit more extended and fleshed out. So chapter one is intuition and that includes the song pray you catch me. Chapter two is denial. That's hold up. Chapter three, anger, don't hurt yourself. Chapter four, apathy. Sorry. Chapter five, emptiness, which is six inch. Chapter seven is accountability and daddy lessons and song related to that. Chapter seven is Reformation Love Drought. Chapter eight, Forgiveness. Sandcastles. Chapter nine, Resurrection Forward. Chapter ten, Hope, Freedom. And then chapter 11, Redemption. All Night. Information.

A (61:32)

So good.

B (61:34)

So good. It's her process, like, working through a breakup, but it also seems to be the process of, like, black womanhood in America, if that makes sense.

A (61:45)

Yeah, I like listening to it. Like, what? Having the, the act above Sandcastles. I remember liking it, but I don't ever go back and turn it on. But hearing it and watching it again last night, I think it made way more sense. Yeah, it made way more sense. The line where she's like. She says it twice. She goes, something, but promises don't work out that way. And then she goes, I know that I told you I couldn't stay, but promises. Sometimes, like, like, again, like, I made promises that, like, yeah, you were awful. But, like. And I said I could not say, but I knew that even that could work. Something about that really hit for me last night. It just felt very sweet and sincere and like, I, I. It made me believe in love

B (62:25)

at

C (62:25)

the end of the day.

B (62:26)

Like, it's like, yeah, you know, I do like that she was vulnerable and gave us a difficult peek into her personal life in her relationship. If that is, in fact what she did here, we don't know. But that is how I take also,

A (62:42)

like, the, the witchcraft where she was like, I. She was talking about having a daughter, and then she was like, I. My womb exploded and a flower came out of my mouth, like, like, she was describing the imagery we got for Formation World tour, which I don't think I clocked at the moment. And then, like. But she talked about how it was a second daughter coming out of her mouth, and I'm like, oh, like, she literally kind of prophesied prophecy, prophesied whatever, roomy and her future. And I'm like, oh, that witchy Beyonce. Very witchy.

B (63:07)

There's also. She is witchy. First of all, there's a lot of hoodoo themes in the album and in the, the visual. But there's also speculation that Beyonce gave birth to a stillborn child. You know, there's rumors that Beyonce gave birth to a stillborn or that, you know, she had a late miscarriage and, or multiple miscarriages, stuff like that. So it could be a little bit of that. I also think she's, like, talking about a dream at that portion of the poem. Yeah, yeah, she's talking about a dream she had and that, you know, black women in their dreams. I don't know if this is true for unity or But.

C (63:44)

Oh, it is. I just talked about a dream yesterday. Hello? You know what I mean?

B (63:47)

Like, the dreams really be profitable, emphasizing something. Yeah.

A (63:53)

What is it dreaming about?

B (63:54)

Fish.

A (63:55)

Fish.

B (63:56)

It's babies. Yeah, Babies.

C (64:01)

Wait, a baby crawled out her.

B (64:02)

That's what she said. That's what Beyonce said in this.

A (64:04)

Yeah, yeah. That was the flower. Yeah.

B (64:06)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

C (64:07)

Oh, my gosh. No. I had a dream that I bleached a towel, but it was like, real. Like. Like, it was like. Yeah. And then I woke up and I. I typed in. I was like, why did I dream about bleaching something? And it was like, you're looking for renewal in your life. You're ready to shed certain negative. It was very specific.

B (64:25)

You trying to bleach that hair again. That's what it is.

A (64:28)

I was gonna say that.

C (64:30)

No, we can't do that. We can't. We can't. No, we can't. Wait, you know what?

A (64:36)

I don't normally remember my dreams, but I remember mine from last night because I woke up from it. I dreamed that I was doing, like, a college production of Mean Girls and I played Regina George and. I know, but. But I. We had no rehearsals. I remember being like, oh, I have not rehearsed for this. And like, I was like, I don't know these songs, but I did, like, a comedic bit. And I. This is so fucking random. I walked backstage and Jamie Foxx was like, your comedic timing is good.

B (65:01)

Jamie Foxx, of all people.

C (65:04)

He was on campus.

A (65:05)

He was. He was on campus. And then. And then my song was coming back up and I went back out and I didn't know the song. And then I woke up from the dream. So I need to Google what does dreaming I.

B (65:15)

About Jamie dreaming about mean girls in college.

C (65:20)

Jamie Fox means.

A (65:22)

So I remember being. What a weird, specific dream. But, yeah, Jamie Foxx. I remember walking up to him and he was like. It was. So why was he backstage, like,

B (65:32)

in college?

C (65:33)

Yeah.

B (65:33)

Yeah.

A (65:34)

I don't know. I don't know why he would be at my college production of Mean Girls, the musical. I don't know why he would be there.

B (65:38)

He knew. He knew you would be there. That's why he knew he was going to find. Right? Very much. I want to see. Question. What is worse looking jealous or crazy?

A (65:52)

What's worse looking jealous or crazy? Jealous and crazy, more like. I think crazy. I don't know. You know what it is? It's jealous because I don't mind looking crazy in love. I think. Are they not the same? I feel like if you look jealous. You don't.

C (66:15)

Absolutely not.

B (66:15)

I don't think they're even similar.

A (66:16)

Oh, which do you think? I think looking jealous is worse.

B (66:21)

And I have looked crazy. You know what? I've never looked jealous. I promise you that. Yeah, yeah.

C (66:27)

Looking jealous is wild. Like, oh.

B (66:33)

What I'm saying is that you better than me. And I would never think.

A (66:35)

Yeah.

C (66:35)

Never.

A (66:36)

I was just. It's like she answered that song when she redid Jolene because Jolene, the original, is looking jealous. And when she did it, she was like, I'd rather look crazy and wood

C (66:49)

back to the car. Okay.

B (66:52)

At the end of the day, I will take it back to the car. Before. I. I also love.

A (66:57)

I don't. I mean, Beyonce talked about, like, being on YouTube and, like, finding references herself. Like, we know that she does that. That. I also love that she, like, referenced that French film. Like, have you seen that? Like, the. Basically, she's recreating this French film with this girl in a big flower, and she likes to smash the flower around stuff. All of hold up is basically the recreation of this film. And I'm like. I also love that she and her team are, like, students of art, and not just, like, even, like, big famous art pieces, but, like, arts from around the world. Like, she's so good. Her team is very good about that, and I appreciate the art nerd in her.

B (67:30)

Agree.

A (67:30)

Yeah.

B (67:31)

And the last question I have for y'. All. The impact of lemonade. Ten years later, I have a thought about what. I have one piece of the impact already in mind. I don't know if you noticed this in the deer, but every braider has lemonade braids as.

C (67:46)

Oh, yes.

B (67:47)

One of the styles that they offer. Like. Yeah, they're like lemonade braids. Lemonade braids.

A (67:52)

I'm gonna call them knotless.

B (67:54)

They're not list, but they all go to one side. All go to one side. Yeah.

C (68:00)

Two weeks after I graduated.

B (68:01)

Yeah.

C (68:02)

You know what I mean? Dropped. I got them done.

B (68:04)

Beyonce had a whole. The lemonade braids had a hold on the girlies in 2016, 2017, up until, like, 2020. I would say it's probably, like, around the pandemic when they kind of fell out.

C (68:15)

Yeah. Because everybody had to sit. Sit inside. We're not going.

B (68:19)

We can't go get. Yeah.

C (68:21)

We're not going to get our hair braided.

A (68:23)

Wow. This. Can I share this? This is the braids I thought you were talking about, and I don't know what these are called, so please tell me. Let me find.

B (68:31)

Are you talking about two braids straight back.

A (68:33)

No, I know. It's like those cornrows.

B (68:36)

This.

C (68:36)

Oh, cuz she also did this in lemonade twists.

B (68:39)

Yeah. Braids.

C (68:41)

Yeah.

A (68:42)

African. I hate these African earrings. That's.

B (68:44)

I'm. I'm sorry. She has Africa.

C (68:47)

I love it.

B (68:49)

She looks so young here. Look at how much of a baby she looks like. She looks like Zendaya.

A (68:53)

This is Zendaya.

B (68:55)

Yeah, I can see that.

A (68:57)

Crazy. Yeah.

C (68:58)

She gonna wrestle our people. I love that.

A (69:00)

She did.

C (69:01)

We are all one, period.

A (69:04)

Yeah, you're right. Those, all those braids to the side. I remember that now. Everybody did this.

C (69:08)

They hurt too.

B (69:09)

I'm sure. I'm sure.

A (69:11)

Are they heavy? Why do they hurt?

C (69:13)

The lady who did mine, she rated them real tight.

B (69:15)

Yeah.

C (69:15)

And I was. Yeah, yeah. No, I feel like another. People don't talk about it that much. And it's not necessarily the lasting impact because obviously Beyonce's work has more of an impact. But I love the Carter's album that we got two hours after two. Two years after.

B (69:32)

Whoa, I forgot about that.

C (69:34)

I really. That was kind of like, we each told our own stories and then we came together. I love on, love, happy. When Beyonce is like, like, you lucky I ain't kill that. Like, literally, she says that on that song. I love that we got. I feel like there was so much that we just got from both of them as far as storytelling, learning how to navigate through things, deciding also what you want to do. Like, I feel like sometimes people take it as, oh, this is how I have to move my relationship. No, there are all these different stages. Whatever stage you want to sit in and move through, like, it is all valid and justifiable. So I feel like that for me is kind of, of more Of, Yeah, just more of the legacy added on love. I love her.

B (70:12)

I agree.

A (70:13)

I just, I think this, to me, it is consistently what Beyonce does, raising the bar. Like, I think legitimately this was like another notch in her making people work harder. And I don't or just improve their craft. I mean, I work harder. Like, I really do feel like so many other artists because of her. Then people don't even need to get up and work. Nobody to. Wants, wants to work. But yeah, no, I, I do think, like, artists, like, in terms of their visuals got better, their stagecraft got better. And I, I, I think that a lot of that stems from Beyonce. And, like, I think I hate when people try to play her and, like, not give her credit, but I really do think, too, she's your Artist, favorite artist for a reason. And I think she truly inspires so many other people to be like, oh, I need to be working on what I'm going to do on stage, working on my visuals, working on my rollouts. Like, the way people release albums. The way people like, like, like it all, a lot of times comes from things that Beyonce has done. And I'm not saying that, like, that she isn't also inspired by other people, but I'm just saying, like, I think the impact of Lemonade is just again, forcing people to improve their art. Like, I think Taylor Swift doing, like, love her the way she did it was like she did a visual album that way. Like, I think a lot of people do it because Beyonce does it.

B (71:24)

She just.

A (71:24)

She is the standard.

B (71:26)

One of the negative impacts is everybody thinking that they could drop a surprise album or, like, not do marketing.

A (71:34)

I know.

B (71:34)

Like I said, hey, babe.

C (71:35)

Yeah.

B (71:36)

You're not Beyonce. I need you to market yours. Yeah, yeah. We are gonna rush home when it drops for Beyonce. We're not gonna rush home for yours. We don't actually give it to him.

A (71:46)

I agree. Yeah, that's real.

B (71:48)

Yeah.

A (71:48)

Because also the reason that Beyonce gets a prize drop, it's because we also don't see her often. Most of you people, we. You people. Most people, you're on Tick tock every other day. So I don't need a surprise drop

B (71:58)

from you, and I need actually a full rollout. Like, people, the. The art of a rollout is very much getting lost these days. And I feel like a lot of that has to do with Beyonce because people don't understand that they simply are not Beyonce and they cannot. And.

A (72:14)

And Beyonce's. Even her non. Rollouts are rolled out.

B (72:17)

Yeah.

A (72:17)

Because if you really look back, it was there. Yeah. Like, in that. And then it's fun to go back and be like, oh, she had little Easter eggs. And so. Yeah. And girls don't. Don't do that. But I do think we are coming full circle where people are starting to. Because even if you look at, like, a Olivia Rodrigo is the first person to come to mind. She is doing a rollout where, like, there's, like, little locks around the world.

B (72:34)

So I'm like.

A (72:35)

So I do think that people do it. And I need everyone to be back on that train.

B (72:38)

Yes.

C (72:38)

Bring it back. And do interviews. Do interviews that aren't you and your friends with light, soft questions that you embedded prior. Go have a real conversation. Like, go talk to journalists, especially because so many journalists are losing their jobs. Like, I just. I hate that we're seeing that happen and then people are sitting down and having, like, fluffy cookie cutter conversations about what they ate. Like, go and, like, share. Obviously, you don't got to share to, you know, everything, but have a real conversation. Like, be especially about your art and open and. Oh, yeah, like, what inspired you? Not your favorite order at such and such. Like, what is you, Right?

B (73:16)

We just want to know. We love you. What's. What's the whole thing? Right? Or write a piece like Beyonce did for Vogue. Like, whatever. I don't care how I get into your process. If you don't want to talk to somebody and it's a little uncomfortable to write a piece of Vogue, that'd be great.

C (73:27)

Write a piece. Do something.

B (73:28)

Yeah, that's really it. That's all we got for today's episode. Thank you so much for hanging out with us. If you want to find us on socials, you can find us at BPLP pod. You can email@Black People Love Paramore gmail.com. you can send over hate mail if you want. You can send over love. You could tell us that. You could tell me that my Beyonce album ranking is perfect. And you can critique Ryan and Adiras if you feel, you know, as one would and. Yeah, that's it. We'll see you next time. Bye, y'. All.

A (74:04)

Bye, Sam.