America Has a Problem

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"America Has a Problem"
Cover art for "America Has a Problem": gemstones that form a US flag, put against a black background
Single by Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar
from the album Renaissance
ReleasedMay 19, 2023 (2023-05-19)
StudioThe Trailer, East Hampton, New York
Genre
Length
  • 3:18
  • 4:20 (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Beyoncé singles chronology
"Cuff It"
(2022) 		"America Has a Problem"
(2023) 		"Virgo's Groove"
(2023)
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
"Die Hard"
(2022) 		"America Has a Problem"
(2023) 		"The Hillbillies"
(2023)
Lyric videos

"America Has a Problem" is a song by American singer 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[edit]

"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[edit]

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[edit]

"KNTY 4 NEWS" redirects here. For the real-life radio station, see KNTY.
Beyoncé performing "America Has a Problem" on the Renaissance World Tour in 2023

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[edit]

Performers

  • Vocals by Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar

Musicians

  • Beyoncé – sound FX
  • The-Dream – drum programming, sound FX
  • Mike Dean – synths, Sound FX

Technical credits

  • Beyoncé – production, vocal production
  • Matheus Braz – assistant engineering
  • Mike Dean – co-production
  • The-Dream – production
  • Brandon Harding – engineering
  • Stuart White – mixing, recording

Charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "America Has a Problem" (album version)
Chart (2022–2023) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 100
Global 200 (Billboard)[13] 81
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 15
Portugal (AFP)[15] 103
South Africa (RISA)[16] 53
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 96
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 22
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 69
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 27
Weekly chart performance for "America Has a Problem" (single version; with Kendrick Lamar)
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[22] 32
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[23] 8
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 41
Global 200 (Billboard)[25] 40
Greece International (IFPI)[26] 74
Lithuania (AGATA)[27] 41
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 99
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[29] 25
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 38
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[31] 11

Certifications[edit]

Certifications and sales for "America Has a Problem"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[33] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[34] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

"America Has a Problem" release history
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
Various May 19, 2023
Remix
[36]
Italy May 26, 2023 Radio airplay Sony [37]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dukes, Will (July 29, 2022). "Beyoncé Hits a Seductive Sweet Spot on 'Renaissance'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ^ Denis, Kyle (July 29, 2022). "Every Song Ranked on Beyonce's 'Renaissance': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Ruggieri, Melissa (July 29, 2022). "Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' album review: Unapologetic and raunchy as she beckons us to the dance floor". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  4. ^ Shorter, Marcus (July 29, 2022). "Renaissance Is Beyoncé's Rebirth Through Dance Club Culture: Album Review". Consequence. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  5. ^ "Beyoncé Sends All 16 Songs From 'Renaissance' Onto Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.biz. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  6. ^ "Beyoncé Calls on Kendrick Lamar for 'America Has a Problem' Remix". Billboard.biz. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  7. ^ Ruggieri, Melissa (May 10, 2023). "Beyoncé Renaissance tour set list: See all the songs on her nearly 3-hour show". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Mckinney, Jessica. "What It Was Like Attending Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour, According to Concertgoers". Complex. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Militano, Hannah (May 11, 2023). "See Every Incredible Look from Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' World Tour". Grazia USA. Retrieved July 6, 2023. 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. ^ Prance, Sam (May 23, 2023). "Beyoncé Renaissance Tour setlist: Every song Beyoncé plays on the Renaissance World Tour". PopBuzz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Centeno, Tony M. (May 23, 2023). "Beyoncé Recruits Kendrick Lamar For 'America Has A Problem' Remix". IHeartRadio. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  12. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "Beyoncé – America Has a Problem". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 31-2022". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 22". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  18. ^ "Beyoncé – America Has a Problem". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  20. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  24. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  25. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  26. ^ "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "2023 22-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  28. ^ "Beyoncé / Kendrick Lamar – America Has a Problem" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  29. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  30. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  31. ^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  32. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  33. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – America Has a Problem" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  34. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Beyoncé – America Has a Problem". Music Canada. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  35. ^ "British single certifications – Beyoncé – America Has A Problem". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  36. ^ Aniftos, Rania (May 19, 2023). "Beyoncé Calls on Kendrick Lamar for 'America Has a Problem' Remix – Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  37. ^ "EarOne | Radio Date, le novità musicali della settimana" (Press release) (in Italian). EarOne. May 26, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
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