Beyoncé Removes Kelis Interpolation From “Energy” Amid Controversy Over Credits

The Renaissance song no longer includes an interpolation of “Milkshake” after Kelis claimed Beyoncé did not inform her that she’d be nodding to her music
Beyonc and Kelis
Beyoncé and Kelis, December 2006 (Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Upon its original release, Beyoncé’s new album Renaissance included an interpolation of Kelis’ “Milkshake” on “Energy.” Kelis has said she was not informed by Beyoncé and her team that her music was going to be used on the new album. The “Milkshake” interpolation has now been removed from “Energy,” Rolling Stone reports.

On the original version of “Energy,” near the song’s end, Beyoncé sang a variation of the “La-la, la-la, la” that Kelis made famous on “Milkshake” (as shown by the TikToker @jarredjermaine). In the updated version of “Energy” on streaming platforms, Beyoncé’s series of “las” is absent. Pitchfork has reached out to Beyoncé’s representative for comment and more information.

Despite being interpolated, Kelis was not credited as a writer of “Energy” because she is not officially a writer or producer of “Milkshake.” Her Neptunes collaborators, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, are officially the composers and lyricists of “Milkshake,” and, therefore, are co-writers of the original “Energy.” Beyoncé’s website no longer lists Hugo and Williams as “Energy” composers, and the “Milkshake” interpolation is no longer noted.

The change to “Energy” marks the second major update to Renaissance since its July 29 release. Beyoncé recently changed a line in “Heated” to remove words that are considered ableist.