Any time an event album like Beyoncé's LEMONADE comes around, the writing credits usually get picked apart pretty quickly. Now that we've had a few days with the liner notes, there are definitely quite a few interesting takeaways, some more obvious and talked about than others.
Today, we're bringing you a few of the more interesting collaborators and samples revealed from a look through the credited names. It's not entirely comprehensive, but it's worth a look through if you haven't had the time to do a close read of the songwriting collaborators yourself.
Click through the gallery to see some of the surprising people involved.
Ezra Koenig
Ezra Koenig
"Hold Up"
Thomas Wesley Pentz, Ezra Koenig, Beyoncé, Emile Haynie, Joshua Tillman, Uzoechi Emenike, Sean Rhoden, Doc Pomus, Mort Schuman, Deandre Way, Antonio Randolph, Kelvin McConnell, Brian Chase, Karen Orzolek, Nick Zinner
Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig tweeted out the lyrics to Beyoncé's "Hold Up" back in 2011, pointing back to the tweet the other day and leaving people fairly confused. He recently explained his contribution, which found him looking back to the idea during a session with Diplo that later became the Bey song it is today.
it's not that complicated - but some ppl are confused so here's the short version: pic.twitter.com/Ma7P4HEngP
slow down...they don't love u like i love u
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Hold Up"
Thomas Wesley Pentz, Ezra Koenig, Beyoncé, Emile Haynie, Joshua Tillman, Uzoechi Emenike, Sean Rhoden, Doc Pomus, Mort Schuman, Deandre Way, Antonio Randolph, Kelvin McConnell, Brian Chase, Karen Orzolek, Nick Zinner
Through Ezra Koenig's interpolation, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs made their way on to the liner notes. "They don't love you like I love you" is a line from their 2004 breakout single, "Maps".
Melo-X
Melo-X
"Hold Up"
Thomas Wesley Pentz, Ezra Koenig, Beyoncé, Emile Haynie, Joshua Tillman, Uzoechi Emenike, Sean Rhoden, Doc Pomus, Mort Schuman, Deandre Way, Antonio Randolph, Kelvin McConnell, Brian Chase, Karen Orzolek, Nick Zinner
"Sorry"
Diana Gordon, Sean Rhoden, Beyoncé
Melo-X released an incredible remix project inspired by Bey's 2013 self-titled album, and apparently the singer caught wind of it, enlisting the East Flatbush rapper and producer to work on two songs on the project. This probably won't be the last time you see him featured in the writing credits of a major album.
Wynter Gordon
Wynter Gordan
"Don’t Hurt Yourself (feat. Jack White)"
Jack White, Beyoncé, Diana Gordon, James Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham
"Sorry"
Diana Gordon, Sean Rhoden, Beyoncé
"Daddy Lessons"
Diana Gordon, Beyoncé, Kevin Cossum, Alex Delicata
Singer-songwriter Wynter Gordan has previously written with Mary J. Blige, Danity Kane, Jennifer Lopez and Ciara, as well as releasing her own material including 2015's Five Needle EP. Lemonade is her first time working with Bey, and she is one of the most consistently present names on the credits, appearing on three songs.
Belly
Belly
"6 Inch"
Abel Tesfaye, Beyoncé, Danny Schofield, Ben Diehl, Terius Nash, Ahmad Balshe, Boots, Dave Portner, Noah Lennox, Brian Weitz, Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Palestinian-Candian rapper Belly has been a writing collaborator of The Weeknd's since 2012, credited on songs such as "Belong To The World," "Love Me Harder," "The Hills," and "Earned It". His name shows up once again on "6 Inch," Bey's collab with Abel on "Lemonade".
Outkast
Outkast
"All Night"
Thomas Wesley Pentz, Beyoncé, Timothy and Theron Thomas, Ilsey Juber, Akil King, Jaramye Daniels, Andre Benjamin, Patrick Brown, Antwan Patton
The horns from Outkast's "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" show up on "All Night," making this the second time Bey has sampled the track, the first time being the "Flawless" remix with Nicki Minaj.
Animal Collective
Animal Collective
"6 Inch"
Abel Tesfaye, Beyoncé, Danny Schofield, Ben Diehl, Terius Nash, Ahmad Balshe, Boots, Dave Portner, Noah Lennox, Brian Weitz, Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Animal Collective's credit on "6 Inch" is one of the most curious inclusions in the liner notes, as there's no immediate sample or interpolation evident in the record. Apparently, it's Bey's line, "She too smart to crave material things," that she retroactively realized was similar to Animal Collective's "I don't mean to seem like I care about material things," from their 2009 hit, "My Girls," that inspired the credit, Boots explained on Genius.
The-Dream
The-Dream
"6 Inch"
Abel Tesfaye, Beyoncé, Danny Schofield, Ben Diehl, Terius Nash, Ahmad Balshe, Boots, Dave Portner, Noah Lennox, Brian Weitz, Burt Bacharach, Hal David
The-Dream has been a regular collaborator of Beyoncé's for some time, helping to pen her #1 hit, "Single Ladies" among other songs. "6 Inch" marks his second collaboration with The Weeknd this year, after co-writing Rihanna's "Woo" alongside Abel.
Swae Lee
Swae Lee
"Formation"
Michael L. Williams II, Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyoncé
Shortly after Beyoncé's "Formation" video took the internet by storm, it was revealed that Swae Lee, otherwise known as the squeaky voiced member of Rae Sremmurd with the incredible hooks, had contributed to the record. Listening back, it's very easy to hear Swae's cadence in the verses and bridge, though were curious to know which of his lyrics were carried over.
James Blake
James Blake
"Pray You Catch Me"
Kevin Garrett, Beyoncé, James Blake
"Forward (feat. James Blake)"
James Blake, Beyoncé
James Blake's writing credit on "Forward" is pretty obvious, considering he his vocal is even more prominent than Bey's on the piano-led interlude, but the producer/songwriter also contributed to the opening track, "Pray You Catch Me," which bears his influence both in its instrumental and vocal melodies.
Carla Marie Williams
Carla Marie Williams
"Freedom"
Jonathan Coffer, Beyoncé, Carla Williams, Dean McIntosh, Kendrick Duckworth, Frank Tirado, Alan Lomax Sr.
Previously working with the likes of Girls Aloud and Kylie Minogue, Carla first worked with Bey through Naughty Boy's 2015 record, "Runnin'," later being tapped to lend her pen to "Freedom".
Father John Misty
Father John Misty
"Hold Up"
Thomas Wesley Pentz, Ezra Koenig, Beyoncé, Emile Haynie, Joshua Tillman, Uzoechi Emenike, Sean Rhoden, Doc Pomus, Mort Schuman, Deandre Way, Antonio Randolph, Kelvin McConnell, Brian Chase, Karen Orzolek, Nick Zinner
Indie rock act Father John Misty is among the many names on Lemonade's most stacked track, and he shared a brief explanation of his contributions to the album to Pitchfork.
About a year and half ago, my friend Emile Haynie played Beyonce some of my music, along with some tunes I've written for other people, back when she was looking for collaborators for the record...Pretty soon after they sent along the demo for "Hold Up", which was just like a minute of the sample and the hook. I'm pretty sure they were just looking for lyrics, but I went crazy and recorded a verse melody and refrain too that, unbelievably - when you consider how ridiculous my voice sounds on the demo - ended up making the record - right between picking up the baseball bat and decapitating the fire hydrant.
I was mostly kind of in the dark, my involvement with the record kind of ends with me just sending off the demo, it wasn't until she came to my Coachella set in 2015 and told me personally it had made the record that I really had anything concrete with which to convince my friends that I hadn't actually gone insane.
Soulja Boy
Soulja Boy
"Hold Up"
Thomas Wesley Pentz, Ezra Koenig, Beyoncé, Emile Haynie, Joshua Tillman, Uzoechi Emenike, Sean Rhoden, Doc Pomus, Mort Schuman, Deandre Way, Antonio Randolph, Kelvin McConnell, Brian Chase, Karen Orzolek, Nick Zinner
Soulja Boy's "Turn My Swag On" deserves to live forever, and Bey's recital of its lyrics on "Hold Up" confirm that it just might. While we'd love to hear the two actually get in the studio together, this is probably the next best thing.
