Jay-Z addressed the Beyonce and Michael Jackson comparisons on Twitter Spaces last night in conversation with Alicia Keys and Rob Markman of Genius.
Jay-Z says no-one can go up against him in a Verzuz battle
“Bey’s gonna be mad at this for saying this but Michael Jackson never had a Coachella, she’s an evolution of him because she watched him at 9. And the kids are the same” he said.
"Bey's gonna be mad at this for saying this but Michael Jackson never had a Coachella, she's an evolution of him because she watched him at 9. And [the kids are] the same." — @sc
— Genius (@Genius) December 22, 2021
“Beyoncé is gonna be one of the best singers we ever heard because she is such a student” he added.
The Beyoncé and Michael Jackson comparisons have been around for a very long time – from discography to stage presence and performance.
Michael Jackson has a deep catalog that covers decades just like Beyonce and Hot 97 in 2018 tried to answer the question of whether or not Beyonce surpassed Michael Jackson. They pitted “Drunk In Love” vs. “Black or White,” “Diva” vs. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” and “Lose My Breath” (a Destiny’s Child tune) vs. “Beat It.”
The comparison came after Beyonce’s astonishing performance at Coachella. Some were comparing it to Michael Jackson’s moonwalk during the Motown 25 Special in 1983. One thing that has surfaced over the years is that both are talented in their own right and perhaps should not be compared due to what they brought to their generations in terms of impact.
After Hov’s comments, fans couldn’t wait to take to social media to debate his claim.
lmao jay z did you cheat again and finding something nice to say to Beyoncé?
Michael Jackson doesn’t need to headline Coachella with other performers. The world can sell out 500 stadium shows EASILY if he wanted to do it.
— taetae⁷ SU-PER-TU-NA (@tfzlo) December 22, 2021
Arguing about Beyonce and Michael Jackson is just something I feel like we should never do. Just like when people get to comparing Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Some topics are just off limits because it never ends well lol
— The Last 🔝 (@LikeMike_911) December 22, 2021
To think that nobody can ever be a better artist than Michael Jackson is down right delusional. Beyoncé surpassed him years ago. And if Beyoncé were a male, she would have been given that “GOAT” title a long time ago.
— kennedy. (@HelloKennedi) December 22, 2021
I don't even know why people argue or debate about this stuff when all of them are legends, beyonce included, in their own way and have broken boundaries in their own way. People need to learn how to celebrate them all equally for their accomplishments for each generation.
— Dana (@daynamuzic) December 22, 2021
Nothing but facts
— Seyi Ojo (@LandedJasper198) December 22, 2021
Jay-z is a 🤡 for that statement
— 🎯 (@afterkneesstorm) December 22, 2021
Thank you! The fact that for years black artist have created and will continue to create innovative trends in the industry is amazing and our community should appreciate that instead of pitting these artists against each other.
— Merry Christmas, You Holly Jolly Whore🎄 (@nesby_kayla) December 22, 2021
He even SAID she’d be mad at him for saying it, I know he came home to her standing in the foyer like pic.twitter.com/8TsgQYGVws
— kai (@thekairob) December 23, 2021
Michael Jackson sold out Wembley Stadium 15 TIMES which is the most by any artist in history! He received a guinness world record for 7 sold out concerts at that stadium on his Bad tour ALONE. Coachella who? https://t.co/ZQBCk46iy8 pic.twitter.com/NyTxIRn6iT
— Xanai (@MJs_Sunflower) December 22, 2021
Yet he does: https://t.co/f1z3637Cpl
And using Beychella as the metric does her a disservice since many of the vocals were pre-recorded, the choreography was not new, and the pyrotechnics were standard. He's been dancing and singing on key since before he was a preteen
— seanmiller (@seanmiller9) December 22, 2021
Michael Jackson was loved in a way that I don’t think Beyonce will ever reach. Jay-Z is still right though. Beyonce at Coachella is probably the single best live performance of all time. Michael at his best could never have pulled off what Beyonce did at Coachella. Let’s be real.
— TheRealest (@Glitturus) December 22, 2021
Let’s be real: MJ would never need 100s of people behind him to make the show spectacular. MJ at his best didn't need anyone but himself and made history
Let's not compare an HBCU show to this, all right? https://t.co/o1FFPRdN4x— watch Square One on Amazon Prime (@hammertonhal) December 22, 2021
The thing is social media and the internet tries to forget the world prior to it….some day there will be another and they will do it to beyonce and compare her to the future big star that rings similar acclaim but Michael Jackson was and is in a class of his own.
— xtremeone (@xtremeone8) December 22, 2021