Like any supportive spouse, Jay-Z only has praise for wife Beyoncé’s professional endeavors. Obviously Mr. Knowles is a little biased, but let it be known he is not afraid to publicly gift his boo with flattering comments that will likely raise eyebrows across the music industry or send fans into a violent protest. In the latest of Jigga’s audacious statements, he’s compared B to the late Michael Jackson. “What I’ve learned from her is similar to what I learned from [Michael Jackson]—and I know that’s blasphemy to compare the two because Mike was such an innovator—but I think she’s like the second coming,” Jay announced to radio station 99 Jamz. “Y’know, the hard work and dedication that she puts into her shows. It just makes you want to work harder at your own craft.
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She’s like a machine.” We can’t disagree with the latter, as we put Beyoncé at No. 6 on our Popdust 40 (ahead of Jackson at No. 24) and are regularly have to stop all our work just to properly digest her live performances. This month, she’s been given the honor of appearing on the cover of InStyle‘s September issue, adorned in gold stars, proving that fashion can also be a very literal medium. Her photo spread is accompanied by a lavish behind the scenes video whose dramatic music makes it look like an outtake from Kate Middleton’s dressing room moments before the royal wedding. Still, is this all enough fanfare to help (prematurely) declare her the next King of Pop?
Such a headline-begging quote from Jay is extremely well-timed, given both his recent album release and Bey’s continued 4 promotion. Despite the reactions seen in her bevy of impromptu drop-ins on fans and fearlessness when it comes to the stage dive, by comparison, Beyoncé has many, many more record sales to go before eclipsing MJ, with the current fickleness of the music industry working against her. Her personal legacy might need some work, too, as her charmed life looks scandal-free to the point of boring (save for those forgotten DC members, the secret marriage to Jay and firing her daddy) when next to Jackson’s transfixing and puzzling evolution. So at 29-years-old the diva may have significant work to do, but she’s arguably close to Jackson when it comes to commanding an audience. Please allow her headlining performance at this year’s Glastonbury Festival to act as our defense that Jay might be right.