Exclusive: Rae Sremmurd Star Talks Writing Beyonce’s ‘Formation’

Published: Thursday 30th Jun 2016 by Sam

As one of the world’s most monumental mega-stars, Beyonce has mastered the art of not just making music – but making “moments.”

One of her most profound was unleashed this February in the form of ‘Formation.’

An unapologetic celebration of her Blackness (and that of millions the world over), the cut and its accompanying video drew both praise and critique. More than anything, it ignited much needed conversation – which perhaps is where it’s greatest success lay. [The song would go on to enjoy a #10 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 months later when released with the singer’s sixth album ‘Lemonade’].

That Grape Juice caught up with one of the song’s primary writers – Swae Lee from duo Rae Sremmurd – at the 2016 BET Awards and quizzed him on what it was like working with the Queen Bey on the track. 

See what he had to say above and peep the award-winning video for ‘Formation’ below…

Rae Sremmurd’s new single ‘Do Yoga is out now; as is their album ‘Sremm Life 2′ arrives August 12th.

Your thoughts?

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  1. RICHIE_RICH June 30, 2016

    I love this bish. #slay

  2. What you say boy!? June 30, 2016

    I it just me or are these writers getting crazy. What happens to writing on songs and letting your work speak for you. I feel like this isn’t wise it could cause some artists to think twice before collaborateing with them in the future. That’s just how I see it it seems thirsty ass to me??
    You NEVER see Sia flapping her gums about what she wrote because she knows her art will make room for her and speak volumes.

    • Credits June 30, 2016

      You sound upset because as more of her writers step out of the shadow, the more the world knows that she doesn’t write her own songs. But it’s ok…she is still one heck of a performer.

      • RihYonce June 30, 2016

        That doesn’t even matter when Beyoncé already has written plenty of #1 songs and won awards for her songwriting so she doesn’t have to write as much anymore if she doesn’t want to

      • Credits June 30, 2016

        @rihyonce, name one of her hit songs that another artist hasn’t claimed they’ve written….

      • Nancy grace slays July 1, 2016

        Bootylicious, survivor…etc.etc

  3. IG : @mixedboy June 30, 2016

    Lemonade = Garbage ! Y’all really keep trying to act like this is some epic body of work.

    • SMH June 30, 2016

      No lies told.

    • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

      You and SMH… Can both go walk off a short Cliff!

      Lemonade is the best reviewed, one of the top selling albums in Pure sales, Top tour, and she is outselling “Anti”. Not The Beyhives your favs not doing it!

    • wrosy3 June 30, 2016

      Beyonce is illiterate at best I give her credit for performance on stage but she cannot write a sensible song she talks to the lyrics good hood booger music period the hives call trash a masterpiece sure when you have illiterate bullies as fans what do you expect and critics kiss her ass out of fear that they will not have access to her when it comes to interviews the entertainment industry is about kissing up to people behind she bought the fashion Icon award

    • KenyaInFormation July 1, 2016

      I really had to look at your instagram and you really look like regular shmegular lightskin n*****. No mixed privilege from the massa coming your way

  4. Everyone’s A Critic June 30, 2016

    I would’ve found those questions insulting.. Like, if you wanna talk to me and post a video about me, at least ask me some s*** about ME! Not everyday Beyoncé

  5. Jamon June 30, 2016

    I’m sorry, but was that really worth posting? He didn’t really say anything, nor did he mention FORMATION!!

  6. RealNegro June 30, 2016

    What a waste of an interview. Nothing gained.

  7. Jamon June 30, 2016

    Please stop putting out the same info. Formation has been out for months, it’s not a new song. We know when it came out, it peaked at number 10, we know it’s on her album Lemonade, and we know all about the pro blackness, we know Lemonade is platinum. What else you got?

    • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

      Her tour is #1 pulling in 5.8 million a night on average. What else does your fave have?

      • Jamon June 30, 2016

        Already posted. I like Beyonce and don’t have a Favorite. I just listen to the material, no matter who the artist is. If I like it, I like it.

    • What Now June 30, 2016

      KIIII. I peep how TGJ has been reusing info and articles under new headlines for some reason.

  8. © Centurion ::. June 30, 2016

    There’s honestly nothing to brag about. I get that it’s “OMG Beyonce!!!!” and whatever, but they’re going on and on as if they wrote some iconic pop classic; like they wrote I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor.

    • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

      No different than you about to Busy and mutt over “Sledgehammer” acting like its the most amazing vocals performance and most amazing visual of all time! Sit down you ole hating troll! Go purchase Anti tickets… Last I hear she trailing behind “Ricky Martin of all people”.

      • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

        Typo: bust a nutt… Damn auto correct!

    • HailBeysus June 30, 2016

      Girl worry about How Lionel Richie can sell out an arena of 20k and add more tickets for that date, yet fRih has been struggling to sell out 15k arena’s ????!!!

      • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

        I was soooooo tempted to shade Rihanna in that post about him adding more tickets meanwhile she “CANTI”. Cumcurition knows not to compare “Lemonade album to Anti” which is why he piggy backs of “Views success”.

      • F****** June 30, 2016

        You two sound ignorant
        Lionel Richie is a LEGEND frihanna is just a fad that’s slowly dying. i cant with that drag

  9. LOL June 30, 2016

    LOL MEANWHILE RIHANNA IS MAKING HISTORY EVERY WEEK WITH HER SONGS WHILE BASICYONCE’S HYPE MACHINE CONTINUES PUFFING OUT SMOKE FOR HER FAILED SINGLES EVERY WEEK LMAO.

    • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

      Meanwhile Rihanna and her 14 #1 single are puffing out smoke on that “Anti Tour” that is ranked at #8 trailing behind Beyoncé, Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, and 90’s has been Rickey Martin!

      • Kai June 30, 2016

        Learn how to spell, it’s Ricky Martin and he is a Latin Music Legend

    • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

      @ Kai

      You mad lol! Oh well not my problem… Now go deal ?

  10. Kate Mark Southern Africa June 30, 2016

    Rihanna can’t even sell out her tour with those record breaking singles there’s nothing to brag about.

    • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

      Spill the tea… Spill the tea ????

    • HailBeysus June 30, 2016

      NO LIES DETECTED!!!!

  11. HailBeysus June 30, 2016

    Yonce slays can’t wait to see THE SOLD OUT WEMBLEY STADIUM PICS!!!!

    • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

      Those pics from her sold out show in Sunderland were glorious. Just for the sake of being petty…. Sunderland was the SAME STADIUM that Rihanna had to move over to the arena down the street because she couldn’t sell it out months before her concert even started lol! I can’t get over Ricky Martin outgrossing her ?????

      • HailBeysus June 30, 2016

        I got my ever lasting life seeing Ricky outsell fRih!!!! Even more life knowing Lionel Richie can outsell fRih as well ????

    • Credits June 30, 2016

      As if quoting chart positions, single sales, streams and album sales aren’t bad enough…now people want to use stadium pics to have Stan wars. This is too much.

    • wrosy3 June 30, 2016

      That’s all you cling to is her tours because we all know her ass will never get a number one or break records passing real legends and ivy park still at the bottom of the sweat shops with her bubbling under singles b**** bald head heifer looking like a Coke w**** old h**

  12. Keri Qween June 30, 2016

    ?????

    • BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

      Is that people dumping Keri’s albums in the trash?

  13. BEYSTAN_ SINCE 1997 June 30, 2016

    If you reach all to the bottom of that same trash can you will find Keri’s career.

  14. Danny Bey June 30, 2016

    I’m curious as to which parts of the song he contributed/wrote?

  15. ow Reddish tran ivy blokz Need UK timely Ukuyi June 30, 2016

    Nice

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