In another life, Beyoncé could easily have been a rapper. Throughout her career, there have been moments where she has seamlessly transitioned from singing to rapping, showcasing her versatility as an artist. We’ve compiled a list of songs where Beyoncé not only lowered her smooth R&B vocals to adopt a more rap-like tone, but also delivered verses with the skill and flow of a seasoned rapper. This list focuses on those tracks where she truly embodies the spirit of her hubby and her trill upbringing in H-town!
“If Looks Could Kill (You Would Be Dead)”
Beyoncé starred in MTV’s Carmen: A Hip Hopera back in 2001 alongside Mekhi Phifer and Mos Def. Although the rating is debatable, it has a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. There are other memorable moments, but this gem is especially golden:
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage” Remix
Beyoncé dived into her Texas roots to collab on fellow Houstonian Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” remix in 2020. The song peaked at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, stands at over 433,000,000 streams on Spotify, and went viral on Tiktok. This is where we got “Big B and that B stand for bands, if you wanna see some real a**, baby, here’s your chance!” And we know she loves to address her haters through her music, “can’t argue with these lazy bitches, I just raise my price. I’m a boss, I’m a leader, I pull up in my two-seater, and my mama was a savage, n*gga, got this shit from Tina!”
“Don’t Hurt Yourself”
Beyoncé stopped the world when she dropped Lemonade, a visual album that addressed the turmoil in her marriage and turmoil in America surrounding police-involved shootings. The album was a beautiful love letter from front to back that included layers of confusion, anger, inspiration, healing, forgiveness, love, and warnings. Specifically, this is where Beyoncé reminded Jay-Z that he’s not married to “an average bitch.” She paired with rock musician Jack White on “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” and took a different approach, mixing raspy rock with hip-hop vocals. This is what started the conspiracy theory that her third “Renaissance” album would be a rock album.
“Alien Superstar”
“Alien Superstar” was a breakout hit from Beyoncé’s Renaissance: Act I released in 2023. It debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 at number 19. Critics praised the unconventional approach she took with the song’s structure, acknowledging the homage it pays to ballroom culture with lines like “label whores can’t clock, I’m so obscure.” It stands at 246,544,370 streams on Spotify.
“Kitty Kat”
“Kitty Kat” is the sixth track from B’Day, Beyoncé’s second studio album and the first real album track on which she tried her rapping chops. She raps “Got diamonds on my neck, got diamonds on my records, since sixteen I was comin’ down ridin’ Lexus.” The track was produced by the Neptunes and never released as a single, but was a breakout fan favorite.
“Partition”
We knew “Partition” was a banger as soon as we heard those first five notes. Officially in her “Mrs. Carter” era, this particular song displays an intensely sexual nature of Beyoncé. In the song, she raps “And why you think ya keep my name rollin’ off the tongue? ‘Cause when he wanna smash, I’ll just write another one. I sneezed on the beat and the beat got sicker, Yoncé all on his mouth like liquor.” A few bars about an intimate experience with her husband, “Partition” highlights a deeper, unapologetic sensuality within the artist.
“Top Off”
“Top Off” was one of those Beyoncé surprises. Teaming up with DJ Khaled and Future, she and Jay-Z used the opportunity to remind everyone just what time it is, rapping “I’m the only lady here, still the realest nigga in the room. I break the internet, top two and I ain’t number two.”
It’s not the first time the couple has hopped on a DJ Khaled track, but it certainly is one of the most memorable.
“Apeshit”
It’s universally agreed that Beyoncé snapped on this one. Jay-Z was okay. The Carters dropped Everything Is Love to celebrate forgiveness, family, and love after betrayal. It was a great album, though it is overlooked often. Beyoncé’s vocals are off the chain on this one, rapping “gimme my check, put some respek on my check.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbMqWXnpXcA
What’s your take on Beyoncé’s bars? Bop or flop?
