Beyoncé’s Country Album Cover Criticized by Azealia Banks and Erykah Badu: ‘White Woman Cosplay’ Fueling Controversy and False Patriotism

Rapper Azealia Banks and singer Erykah Badu have launched a scathing critique of Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album cover, which prominently features patriotic imagery. Referring to the pop star as “Whiteyonce,” they accused her of engaging in “white woman cosplay” and perpetuating what they view as false pro-USA rhetoric. The comments from Banks and Badu have stirred controversy and ignited discussions about cultural appropriation and the representation of American identity in mainstream media.

Beyoncé’s unveiling of the cover for her forthcoming album, “Cowboy Carter,” on Tuesday via her Instagram account sparked swift criticism, with many accusing the pop icon of excessive patriotism.

“I’m kinda ashamed at how u switch from baobab trees and black parade to this literal pick me stuff,” Banks reacted, referring to the Grammy Award-winning single from The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack that Beyoncé executive produced in 2019, according to a report by Billboard.

Banks also referred to Beyoncé as “Whiteyonce,” and accused her of being in “white woman cosplay” and “reinforcing the false rhetoric that country music is a post civil war white art form.”

“Like u do lame stuff like bring out some black listed white women (Dixie Chicks) at the country music awards and they would never ever do the same for you,” the rapper wrote, referring to Beyoncé’s 2016 CMA Awards performance with The Dixie Chicks.

Banks’ tirade continued:

Ur always sharing ur platform with white women who are so jealous of you but have such a long history of sabotaging other black women’s careers. There was so much pertinent cultural commentary to be made here. I don’t get why you have to be in a white woman cosplay to make — (what’s really folk/bluegrass/adult contemporary) facsimile “country” music. Like you had a phonetics coach, and aced the vowel placements and twang to the lyrical and melodic phrasing that is the backbone of contemporary confederate romanticism in a song.

“You’re reinforcing the false rhetoric that country music is a post civil war white art form. And subsequently reinforcing the idea that there is no racism, segregation, slavery, violence, theft, massacres, plagues, manifest destiny craziness that form the bedrock of epithets like ‘proud to be an American,’ or ‘god bless the usa,’” Banks claimed.

The “Luxury” rapper didn’t hold back, taking aim at Beyoncé’s album title, questioning the lack of effort in opting for a more artistic title.

Erykah Badu also chimed in on Beyoncé’s album, directing her message to the pop star’s husband, rapper Jay Z, urging him to step in. “To Jay Z. Say somethin Jay. You gone let this woman and these bees do this to me?” Badu wrote in a post shared on Wednesday.