In a shocking outburst, M.I.A. has once again called out Beyoncé, claiming that the iconic singer is part of a system that oppresses other artists. This latest rant has stirred up a firestorm of controversy, with M.I.A. accusing the Carters of using their power and influence to control other artists, forcing them into submission, and, in her opinion, Adele is the most obvious example of this.
M.I.A.’s criticism stems from the idea that artists are pressured into either bowing down to Beyoncé or stepping out of the game altogether. She specifically mentions Adele, noting that the British singer would not have reached the heights of her career without Beyoncé’s help. According to M.I.A., Adele’s career was shaped by her connections within the industry, specifically through Jonathan Dickens, whom M.I.A. claims she helped establish as a manager.
One of the most striking accusations M.I.A. made was that Jay-Z allegedly encouraged her to undergo plastic surgery when she signed with Roc Nation. M.I.A. claimed Jay-Z’s advice was rooted in aesthetics, implying that she wasn’t “pretty enough” to succeed without altering her appearance. This ties into her broader criticism of the industry’s superficiality and the sacrifices artists are expected to make to achieve fame.
However, M.I.A.’s discontent goes beyond just her personal experience. She’s repeatedly claimed that Beyoncé is a puppet of a larger, exploitative system—one that requires artists to conform to certain ideals to remain relevant. She even went so far as to suggest that artists like Adele, who show immense admiration for Beyoncé, are playing into this narrative by “praising” her to maintain their standing in the industry. M.I.A. points to Adele’s infamous 2017 Grammy speech, where she broke her award in half to give it to Beyoncé, as an example of how artists are pressured to publicly acknowledge Beyoncé’s dominance to avoid the backlash that comes with not doing so.
The conversation around M.I.A.’s claims is divisive. Some fans agree with her, saying that the music industry is rife with manipulation, while others argue that M.I.A. is merely bitter over her own experiences. Her recent rants also touch on deeper issues of power, control, and the cost of fame. M.I.A. is particularly vocal about how the Carters’ lavish lifestyle—exemplified by their purchase of a $200 million home—shows how they’ve built their empire at the expense of the very people who helped them get there.
Despite the backlash, M.I.A. remains unapologetic, continuing to speak out against what she perceives as the injustices of the industry. As for Adele, some fans believe her public admiration for Beyoncé is genuine, while others question if the praise is more a result of fear and pressure than authenticity. Is M.I.A. right to call out Beyoncé and Adele for playing into a system that oppresses artists? Or is she simply too caught up in a feud that doesn’t concern the wider music community?
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: M.I.A. isn’t backing down, and her critiques of Beyoncé and the Carters are far from over. Whether you agree with her or not, her perspective has sparked an important conversation about the darker side of the music industry. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
