Beyoncé’s new album features rising star Shaboozey in two tracks

Beyoncé’s latest album, “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” highlights the talents of emerging Black country artists, including Shaboozey, who appears on tracks “Spaghetti” and “Sweet Honey Buckiin'”.

Virginia-born Shaboozey is a Nigerian-American singer and rapper renowned for blending hip-hop and country music. His single “Let It Burn” amassed over 8 million streams, showcasing his crossover appeal.

Recently, Shaboozey released a music video for his latest single “Anabelle,” with his album “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going” slated for release on May 31. Signed to Empire, he’s been making waves in Nashville and is among the groundbreaking Black artists featured on “Cowboy Carter.”

In addition to Shaboozey, trailblazing country music artist Linda Martell joins the album, reflecting Beyoncé’s commitment to showcasing diverse talent.

Beyoncé’s album announcement came alongside the surprise release of two singles, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” celebrated for reclaiming country music’s Black roots. The tracks swiftly garnered millions of views on YouTube and made history as “Texas Hold ‘Em” became Beyoncé’s first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

“Cowboy Carter” marks the second act of a trilogy, following the “Renaissance” album released in 2022. Beyoncé’s Instagram post about the album revealed a five-year journey in its creation, inspired by her experiences in the genre and a desire to transcend racial boundaries in music.

Despite the genre-bending nature of “Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé emphasized, “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album,” signaling her intention to defy categorization and assert her artistic identity.