Beyoncé fans are excited as they count down the days before her country album Cowboy Carter is released, but as she unveiled the multiple versions of album artwork of her next project, one legendary artist is seemingly throwing shade at her.
Erykah Badu, one of the most celebrated R&B singers of '90s and early 2000s, shared the alternative artwork of Beyoncé's new album on her official Instagram stories along with some comments. In the image, the singer, who donned long braids with beads, can be seen naked with only a sash covering her body. The text reads, "act ii BEYINCé." She also appears to hold a lit white sage. In her post, Badu wrote, "Hmmm."
Erykah Badu Seemingly Shades Beyoncé in New Album Cover
Later, the musician took to X to share her sentiments about the album cover as she addressed an open letter to the singer's husband, Jay-Z.
"To Jay Z . Say somethin Jay. You gone let this woman and these bees do this to me ??," she wrote with a laughing emoji.
Although the singer didn't directly reveal her issue with the album cover, many fans believe the legendary artist felt Beyoncé copied her hairstyle.
Erykah Badu shares new tweet after reacting to Beyoncé’s limited edition cover for ‘COWBOY CARTER’:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 20, 2024
“To Jay Z . Say somethin Jay . You gone let this woman and these bees do this to me ?? 😆” pic.twitter.com/V3e9iOmQMA
READ ALSO: Azealia Banks Slams Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter', Foray to Country Music in Scathing Rant
Beyoncé's supporters took to PopCrave's reply section to defend the singer, saying she wasn't the first one who sported the hairstyle that's been used by other singers, such as Stevie Wonder, Brandy, SZA, and Solange.
"Erykah, you're a legend, but just give it up already. This beef is so one-sided," one wrote.
As of this writing, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have yet to respond to the singer's recent posts. Meanwhile, Erykah Badu appeared to have deleted the post on X.
Beyoncé Uses 'Beyincé' on Album Cover: What's the Meaning Behind it?
When the musician dropped the alternative album cover for her album Cowboy Carter, fans immediately noticed her sash with the word "Beyincé" on it, and most of them thought it was a typographical error.
However, Billboard reported that there is a history behind that name. The outlet noted that "Beyincé" is a variant spelling of her mother Tina Knowles' maiden name.
She shared more details about her maiden name during an appearance on the In My Heart podcast in 2020, saying she is one of a few members of her family who has the "Beyoncé" spelling because of a clerical error on their birth certificates.
Knowles recalled asking her mother about the error. Some of her family members have the "Beyincé" variant, but her mom noted that it was the one indicated on her birth certificate.
However, there has been a deeper meaning behind the error, as she added, "Black people didn't get birth certificates" at the time.
READ MORE: Beyonce, Taylor Swift Collab Suspected on New 'Cowboy Carter' Album: 'Streaming Platforms Will Crash
