(L-R) Jay-Z, Beyonce, Michael Jackson
(Picture: Getty Images)Jay-Z recently said that Beyonce was an “evolution” of the late pop icon Michael Jackson - and fans on social media are divided over the comparison.
In a recent Twitter Spaces conversation on Tuesday with singer Alicia Keys, the musical artists spoke on what it was like to collaborate on projects with their children.
In March 2019, Keys released a video of herself performing a song while her son Egypt played the piano ( which he began at 4-years-old) at the iHeart Music Awards that same year.
Jay-Z and Beyonce’s daughter Blue Ivy had her song “Blue’s Freestyle / We Family” on her dad’s 2017 album 4:44.
“It goes back to evolution. If we don’t think that people gonna be better than what we created, then we don’t believe in evolution,” Jay said.
He then addressed his praise for his wife for her 2018 headline performance. The performance marked her as the first Black woman to headline Coachella.
“Bey’s gonna be mad at [me] for saying this, but Michael Jackson never had a Coachella. She’s an evolution of him because she watched him at nine. And the kids are the same,” Jay continued.
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People had mixed reviews of the comparison between the artists.
“Jay-Z is comparing Beyonce to Michael Jackson when it comes to Coachella, but Michael left before various ave of digital streaming were created. He was pulling Coachella’s reaction at any given concert without social media and entertainment platforms,” someone wrote.
“You really are reaching HARD. The Motown 25 moment is STILL being talked about and is seen as an iconic moment in TV and music history. While Beyonce made history as the first black woman headliner for Coachella, ain’t nobody talking about that sht outside the Beyhive,” another added.
A third, presumably a Beyonce fan, said: “Beyoncé been passed MJ level babes.”
Check out other reactions below.
Michael sold out Wembley stadium a total of 15 times, 7 alone on the Bad tour. And when Beyonce sells a 100 million copies of one album that is still charting on the Billboard 200 40 years later, call me.
— Keisha W. (@Taurus510W) December 22, 2021
I don't think Beyonce would make that same comparison they had a mutual respect , and she was a big fan of his. She would know no one is bigger than a king. pic.twitter.com/p7DHxXipI8
— Ben underwood (@Benunderwood10) December 22, 2021
The difference between Beyonce and MJ Jay-Z conveniently forgot pic.twitter.com/UcK23fdFNS
— MJR (@MJ_Receipts) December 22, 2021
You really don't need helpers to just slide on stage and whisper the whole time. ❤️
— Lady Harlot of House Harlots (@Iyaya_S) December 22, 2021
I was at that Coachella and it was amazing but Beyoncé ain’t touching no prime MJ. People would cry and faint just by hearing his voice.
— franco (@frnco93) December 22, 2021
bey stan’s continue to dim beyonce down with the mj comparisons. let this woman create her one legacy and run in her OWN lane. y’all insist on having this conversation every year for what? what good will come from comparing beyonce to someone else?
— Love (@lovespell_23) December 22, 2021
I dont think Michael Jackson would’ve ever performed at a Coachella event in the first place lol pic.twitter.com/OAXtoYgEW5
— 𝓥𝓮𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓪💫 (@iamveronica777) December 22, 2021
Every artist takes advantage of the platforms available to them at the time. This would be like a James Brown fan in 1983 saying “James Brown didn’t need MTV.” Also, Beyoncé was selling out stadiums (and outgrossing Michael Jackson) BEFORE Coachella.
— Percy Mavis (@PercyMavisx3000) December 22, 2021
I love Beyonce I respect her as an Entertainer however she's not close to Michael at all
— Genesta Coleman (@GenestaColeman) December 22, 2021
Y’all arguing popularity… that’s not the debate he’s more famous than Jesus.. performance!!’ Mj does not have a performance as layered or culturally important as Beychella
— lolo (@Heretocreep212) December 22, 2021
Beyonce penned an open letter that was cited by Metro in 2014 that detailed her appreciation for the iconic singer.
“Michael taught me that sometimes you have to forget technique, forget what you have on,” she wrote, in part.
As of yet, neither Beyoncé nor Jackson’s family members have commented on Jay-Z’s comparison of the two.
