Beyonce releases first album in six years RENAISSANCE

I’m not sure which people just say, “hey, you can’t criticize (blank) because that person is (blank).”

I’ve never heard someone use sexual/gender identification or ethnicity as a defense for someone’s behavior. If I did, I would say, “that is extremely dumb,” because that’s exactly what that would be. I’m not saying it’s never happened, just as lots of extremely dumb things happen, but such inanity doesn’t even warrant debate.

For those suggesting that Beyoncé owes her success to her marital relationship, I would remind you she was extremely successful way before she met Jay-Z.

Also, the OP chose to create a thread based solely on the fact that an extremely famous artist released on album the other day.  The subsequent expression of opinions is the point of an opinion forum. No nefarious acts are committed if people say an opinion you disagree with. There is no attempt at, “creating division” at play here.  There is no stipulation at the top of the page that says, “ONLY THOSE WHO SPEAK FAVORABLY OF THE SUBJECT MAY CONTRIBUTE.”

Do we like debate or not? I like it when people agree with me as much as the next guy, but I’m growing so, so tired of this idea that the expression of dissenting opinion is inherently “malicious” or “hostile.”

@frogman We all look back and laugh at the ridiculous prudishness of people sanctimoniously reading the lyrics to “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Good Golly Miss Molly” with a comically haughty tone.

It’s a very unintentionally funny thing to watch. 

@garebear Have you ever actually listened to those artists who get “promoted beyond their talent level by ‘Country’ Moguls” from the Nashville scene you valorize?

When you say, “‘Shug’ Jay-Z”…For one, it’s “Suge,” not, “Shug.”
Suge Knight. Jay-Z.  Two completely different people.  I know this may be hard for someone like you to differentiate, but these are two different people. 
Also, Beyoncé didn’t just have, “some success” before she met Jay-Z.  She was hugely successful with 3 hit albums with Destiny’s Child.

But no, let’s keep pushing the archaic idea that talented women are successful  because they met the right famous dude, not by their own merits.

The statement made above is what I would consider a reasoned, thoughtfully written one.

I’m much more inclined to engage with such than someone printing pop lyrics out of context and saying, “look at this trash these darn kids listen to!” Or just tossing out a vague, unconvincing statement like, “another example of the garbage that is rap/hip hop culture!”

@garebear 

Suge Knight and Jay-Z, again, are not, “one and the same.”

One was a violent criminal-entrepreneur and the other is an artist-entrepreneur.

It’s sad to me that someone would issue such a blanket condemnation of rap/hip-hop “culture,” (whatever that means) then have the arrogance to call this opinion a “true statement” as if it were an immutable fact, especially when they show how little they actually know about the subject.