America Has a Problem explained

America Has a Problem
Cover:Beyoncé - America Has a Problem.png
Alt:Cover art for "America Has a Problem": gemstones that form a US flag, put against a black background
Type:single
Artist:Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar
Album:Renaissance
Studio:The Trailer, East Hampton, New York
Genre:
Length:
  • 3:18
  • 4:20 (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Label:
Producer:
Chronology:Beyoncé
Prev Title:Cuff It
Prev Year:2022
Next Title:Virgo's Groove
Next Year:2023

"America Has a Problem" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé, taken from her seventh studio album, Renaissance (2022), which was released on July 29, 2022, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records as an album track. It contains a sample of "Cocaine", written by Tina Santron Macintosh and Andrell D. Rogers and performed by Kilo Ali. The song was issued as the album's third single. The standalone version features American rapper Kendrick Lamar and was released on May 19, 2023 through streaming and digital platforms.

Critical reception

"America Has a Problem" has received positive reviews from music critics. Will Dukes of Rolling Stone described the song as a "cool-as-the-inside-of-an-ice-cream-truck banger," and highlights its "stark" chords and "jittery" hi-hats.[1] Writing for Billboard, Kyle Denis applauded the interpolation of "Cocaine" for providing a "canvas for some of the best rapping of Beyoncé’s career; it’s an ambitious song that reveals new rewards with every listen."[2]

Melissa Ruggieri of USA Today named "America Has a Problem" as the most intriguingly titled song on Renaissance, and praised how Beyoncé "tears into a liquid rap sandwiched between a heavenly refrain."[3] In a mixed review, Consequence's Marcus Shorter writes that the song has a "great groove," but the "tough talk of 'rolling with goons in case you start acting familiar' feels more out of place than a nun at Chippendales."[4]

Commercial performance

After the release of Renaissance, the album version of "America Has a Problem" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 69 and on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 27.[5]

Fueled by the Kendrick Lamar remix, the song re-entered the Hot 100 at number 38.[6]

Live performance

Beyoncé first performed "America Has a Problem" on the Renaissance World Tour (2023), with the opening night taking place in Stockholm, Sweden.[7]

The song is performed during the news broadcast-themed "Mind Control" act and starts with Beyoncé standing behind a news station desk with the words "KNTY 4 NEWS" displayed on front.[8]

During the performance, Beyoncé wore different bee-inspired outfits, with the most prominent one being a custom Mugler bodysuit and an antenna headpiece from Thierry Mugler's vintage 1997 collection.[9]

After the remix featuring Kendrick Lamar was released, elements of it were incorporated in the performance.[10] [11]

Lamar appeared as a surprise guest on the September 4 date of the Renaissance World Tour to perform his verse for the first time.

Personnel

Performers

Musicians

Technical credits

Charts

Chart (2022–2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 1
Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 32
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[14] 8
Greece International (IFPI)[15] 74
Lithuania (AGATA)[16] 41
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 25

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)VersionLabel(s)
VariousMay 19, 2023Remix[18]
ItalyMay 26, 2023Radio airplaySony[19]

Notes and References

  1. Dukes . Will . 2022-07-29 . Beyoncé Hits a Seductive Sweet Spot on 'Renaissance' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230228041135/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/beyonce-renaissance-review-1386200/ . 2023-02-28 . 2023-05-21 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  2. Denis . Kyle . 2022-07-29 . Every Song Ranked on Beyonce's 'Renaissance': Critic's Picks . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220802005733/http://billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/beyonce-rensaissance-best-songs-1235119675/ . 2022-08-02 . 2023-05-21 . Billboard . en-US.
  3. Web site: Ruggieri . Melissa . 2022-07-29 . Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' album review: Unapologetic and raunchy as she beckons us to the dance floor . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230519035219/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/07/29/beyonce-renaissance-album-review/10176836002/ . 2023-05-19 . 2023-05-21 . USA TODAY . en-US.
  4. Web site: Shorter . Marcus . 2022-07-29 . Renaissance Is Beyoncé's Rebirth Through Dance Club Culture: Album Review . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404094314/https://consequence.net/2022/07/renaissance-review-beyonce-album/ . 2023-04-04 . 2023-05-21 . Consequence . en-US.
  5. Beyoncé Sends All 16 Songs From 'Renaissance' Onto Billboard Hot 100 . October 21, 2022 . Billboard.biz.
  6. Beyoncé Calls on Kendrick Lamar for 'America Has a Problem' Remix. May 19, 2023 . Billboard.biz.
  7. Web site: Ruggieri . Melissa . May 10, 2023 . Beyoncé Renaissance tour set list: See all the songs on her nearly 3-hour show . 2023-07-06 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Mckinney . Jessica . What It Was Like Attending Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour, According to Concertgoers . 2023-07-06 . . en-us.
  9. Web site: Militano . Hannah . 2023-05-11 . See Every Incredible Look from Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' World Tour . 2023-07-06 . . en-US . The star continued her long love of Thierry Mugler, and wore .. the insect antenna look as seen in the Spring/Summer 1997 Couture collection. She teamed it all with a custom Casey Cadwallader-designed bodysuit..
  10. Web site: Prance . Sam . May 23, 2023 . Beyoncé Renaissance Tour setlist: Every song Beyoncé plays on the Renaissance World Tour . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518121747/https://www.popbuzz.com/music/artists/beyonce/news/renaissance-tour-setlist-songs/ . May 18, 2023 . May 24, 2023 . PopBuzz.
  11. Web site: Centeno . Tony M. . May 23, 2023 . Beyoncé Recruits Kendrick Lamar For 'America Has A Problem' Remix . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230524092802/https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-05-22-beyonc-recruits-kendrick-lamar-for-america-has-a-problem-remix/ . May 24, 2023 . May 24, 2023 . IHeartRadio.
  12. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 22. Sverigetopplistan. June 3, 2023.
  13. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. June 5, 2023. June 2, 2023.
  14. Web site: ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. June 5, 2023. June 9, 2023.
  15. Web site: IFPI Charts . June 7, 2023. ifpi.gr . June 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608014103/https://ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html.
  16. Web site: 2023 22-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. June 2, 2023. June 2, 2023.
  17. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. May 29, 2023. May 27, 2023.
  18. Aniftos. Rania. May 19, 2023. Beyoncé Calls on Kendrick Lamar for 'America Has a Problem' Remix – Billboard. live. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230520020531/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/beyonce-kendrick-lamar-america-has-a-problem-remix-1235333364/. May 20, 2023. May 24, 2023.
  19. May 26, 2023. EarOne Radio Date, le novità musicali della settimana. live. it. EarOne. https://web.archive.org/web/20230524112809/https://www.earone.it/radio_date/search/artist/history/BEYONCÉ+&+KENDRICK+LAMAR/. May 24, 2023. May 24, 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "America Has a Problem".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.