America Has a Problem

"America Has a Problem" has received positive reviews from music critics. Will Dukes of Rolling Stone described the song as a "cool-as-the-inside-of-an-ice-cream-truck banger," and highlights its "stark" chords and "jittery" hi-hats.^[1] Writing for Billboard, Kyle Denis applauded the interpolation of "Cocaine" for providing a "canvas for some of the best rapping of Beyoncé’s career; it’s an ambitious song that reveals new rewards with every listen."^[2]

Melissa Ruggieri of USA Today named "America Has a Problem" as the most intriguingly titled song on Renaissance, and praised how Beyoncé "tears into a liquid rap sandwiched between a heavenly refrain."^[3] In a mixed review, Consequence's Marcus Shorter writes that the song has a "great groove," but the "tough talk of 'rolling with goons in case you start acting familiar' feels more out of place than a nun at Chippendales."^[4]

After the release of Renaissance, the album version of "America Has a Problem" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 69 and on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 27.^[5]

Fueled by the Kendrick Lamar remix, the song re-entered the Hot 100 at number 38.^[6]

Beyoncé first performed "America Has a Problem" on the Renaissance World Tour (2023), with the opening night taking place in Stockholm, Sweden.^[7]

The song is performed during the news broadcast-themed "Mind Control" act and starts with Beyoncé standing behind a news station desk with the words "KNTY 4 NEWS" displayed on front.^[8]

During the performance, Beyoncé wore different bee-inspired outfits, with the most prominent one being a custom Mugler bodysuit and an antenna headpiece from Thierry Mugler's vintage 1997 collection.^[9]

After the remix featuring Kendrick Lamar was released, elements of it were incorporated in the performance.^[10][11] Lamar later appeared as a surprise guest on the September 4 date of the Renaissance World Tour to perform his verse for the first time.^[12]

The song was also added to the setlist of the Cowboy Carter Tour, performed in a similar news broadcast set up, featuring a transparent podium with microphones, stock ticker visuals, and costumes decorated in newsprint graphics.

Performers

• Vocals by Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar

Musicians

• Beyoncé – sound FX
• The-Dream – drum programming, sound FX
• Mike Dean – synths, Sound FX

Technical credits

• Beyoncé – production, vocal production
• Matheus Braz – assistant engineering
• Mike Dean – co-production
• The-Dream – production
• Brandon Harding – engineering
• Stuart White – mixing, recording