Sasha who? She is... Baddie Bey

For the past few weeks there has been divided chit-chat on the internet over the release of a mash-up of two brand new songs from Beyoncé titled “Bow Down/I Been On” – on the earlier part of the song, an over-confident and aggressive Bey sings “I know when you were little girls, you use to think of being in my world…” On listening to the first half of the song, the first question that came to mind was, who the hell pissed Bey off?

I have seen the “Irreplaceable” singer exude confidence in many ways through her art form – whether it is performing on stage or singing about upgrading her equally confident husband. On the new song (or songs) the singer displays a confidence that has never been heard from her before.

She has had her own share of criticism (but is that not the case of any successful pop star) and as far as I have known - her peers and predecessors have always had positive things to say about the singer as a performer and even as a person, so it begs the question, what is she really hoping to achieve with this new sound and musical direction? This is a woman who has inspired girls and women to be comfortable in their own skin (Bootylicious), commanded them to stay strong and independent (Survivor, Independent Women) and has even made them believe that they the rule the world (Run the World (Girls)) – the new songs are far left from what her legacy is and entails.

Beyoncé has built a career based on female empowerment and independence – so it is no surprise that her audience and critics question the motive of her new music. A few months ago, I watched her sing her empowering ballad “I Was Here” at the UN assembly to celebrate World Humanitarian Day – only to hear her sing about b****** bowing down and smacking tricks today. In a world where Rihanna and Taylor Swift seem to be ruling mainstream pop airwaves, could this be her way of saying that she remains unmatched? Or is it a thirsty attempt for her to fit into a pop world where you can say what is on your mind, be criticised for it but still manage to rack up a couple of #1 records? In my honest opinion, I think the answer is no to either.

This 17-time grammy award winner has conquered the music world, the movie world and judging by the viewers she pulled in for her HBO documentary ‘Life is but a Dream’ – the TV world is next on her agenda. Her talent, showmanship, business acumen and philanthropy are the aspects of her career that has won her much fanfare. With an envy-worthy career and a stable personal life as mother, wife, daughter and sister – there is no reason for her to feel like she is losing her place in the pop world.

Beyoncé has earned her right to sing about whatever she wants, her successes as a member of Destiny’s Child, as a solo artist and as a person have given her the audacity to feel as confident as she desires to be – she could sing about Blue Ivy’s diapers and critics will still have something to say about it. As evidenced by how quickly her Mrs Carter world tickets sold out – Jay-Z’s wife has nothing to else to prove because it is clear that her artistry speaks for itself. She is still very much a desired commodity in an ever changing industry – her ability to evolve, move with the times and personalise her ideas will ensure that she remains so.

With the release of her rumoured new single ‘Grown Woman’ (a snippet can be heard in her new Pepsi commercial) looming and its host album to follow – I expect to hear her like we never have, I expect to hear a grown, cocky and ultra-confident woman – goodbye to Sasha Fierce and let us welcome ‘Baddie Bey’ or ‘Ibbaddie’ as she is now known on instagram.