Kelis Puts Beyoncé On Blast Over Sample: "It's Theft"

Beyoncé faced criticism from Kelis, who took issue with one of her singles being sampled on Bey’s new album Renaissance.

Kelis initially called out Beyoncé in the comments of an Instagram fan page. According to Kelis, Beyoncé never sought her permission to sample the singer’s work.

“My mind is blown too because the level of disrespect and utter ignorance of all 3 parties involved is astounding,” she wrote. “I heard about this the same way everyone else did. Nothing is ever as it seems, some of the people in this business have no soul or integrity and they have everyone fooled.”

She added, “It’s not a collab it’s theft.”

Kelis later clarified her concerns in a video posted on Instagram. She recalled her troubles with The Neptunes, who produced her first two albums and several tracks on her third LP.

The 42-year-old artist slammed Pharrell for alleged misdeeds in her career. She then turned her attention to Beyoncé over a track titled “Energy.”

“All this female empowerment stuff, it only counts if you really do it,” she said. “If you’re really living it and walking the walk, don’t just talk the talk.”

Watch Kelis explain her problem with the sample below.