Azealia Banks has apparently had a change of heart about Beyonce’s new release, Lemonade. The controversial rapper surprised many fans when she used Twitter to praise Beyoncé’s visual album during its debut on HBO saying, “Lemonade is amazing. I need to repent. This is sooooo good omg. EXACTLY WHAT pop culture needed." Banks’ approval of the creative output was a rare gesture of support for popular culture from the Harlem-born rapper, who is often critical of her musical peers.
Banks' approval of Lemonade lasted a mere three days once the rapper reneged on her amazement after reading Piers Morgan’s open letter to Beyoncé. Morgan had harsh criticisms for the “Hold Up” singer accusing her of exploiting the mothers of slain teenagers Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin by featuring them cloaked in traditional garments holding pictures of their sons in her “Freedom” video. The CNN host also questioned Mrs. Carter’s intentions in using police brutality as a means to profit financially saying, “I never like it when entertainers get political. The cynic in me believes it’s rarely done for genuine reasons..”
Banks agrees with his position and has pointed words of her own for Beyoncé. The Slay-Z rapper highlights Beyoncé’s messages of unity, blackness, and feminism then questions her level of commitment to those concepts beyond her lyrics. Banks says, “She made a song about big noses and hot sauce then put up a tour charging $1300 to ppl she knows damn sure can't afford that." The rapper then deduced that Beyonce’s recent political showings are not rooted in concern for Black people, but merely for monetary gain.
The Harlem native continues showcasing actions that she believes conflict with the themes Beyonce is trying to convey in her music saying, “Just six months ago you told every black girl in the industry to 'bow down' now you want to stick up for black folk lol." She also criticizes the IVY Park designer for failing to verbally address the issues she protests in her music, seemingly accepting infinitely, and what she called “selling her soul."
Source: complex.com
