Beyoncé's "Formation" is a lot of things: a totally badass gym song, an excuse to eat Red Lobster, and—most importantly—an important statement about Black Lives Matter and feminism. But weirdly, the creative minds behind the lyrics "okay ladies now let's get in formation" were two dudes. Specifically, producer Mike Will (AKA Mike WiLL Made-It) and rapper Swae Lee.
Swae Lee and Mike Will
Will (who co-produced "Formation") toldThe New Yorker that the duo came up with the song's chorus on the way to 2014's Coachella.
"So we're in the middle of the desert," Will said. "And we're just coming up—we just freestyle, you know?—and Swae Lee said, 'Okay, ladies, now let's get in formation.' And we put it on the VoiceNote. Swae Lee's got so many voice notes that he doesn't even record, but I'm like, 'Dog, we got to do that get in formation shit.' That could be a hard song for the ladies. Some woman-empowerment shit. Like, 'Ladies, let's get in line, let's not just fall for anything.' I'm seeing that vision."
The duo lay down the track post-Coachella and sent it to Beyoncé's team. A few months later, Will was at a Clippers party in L.A. when Beyoncé meandered over to him. "Bey was like, 'Yo, I like that Formation idea,'" he said. "And I told her what I was thinking about the woman empowerment, and she was like, 'Yeah I kinda like that idea.' And she just left it like that."
Mike Will with Jay Z and Beyoncé
Beyoncé ended up writing verses around the chorus, and she and Will collaborated for a full week in the studio. "[She] took this one little idea we came up with on the way to Coachella, put it in a pot, stirred it up, and came with this smash. She takes ideas and puts them with her own ideas, and makes this masterpiece. She's all about collaborating. That's what makes her Beyoncé. Being able to know what she wants."
BRB, getting in formation all over the place right now.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
-
Sofia Richie Grainge's Favorite Foundation is On Sale Right Now at SephoraThere's no better time to try them than now.
-
Makeup Brush Sets for Creating the Perfect Looks
Options for makeup experts and beginners alike.
-
Meg Bellamy of ‘The Crown’ Was Nervous to Recreate Kate Middleton’s Iconic Charity Fashion Show Walk
“I would love her to think fondly of it.”
-
Blake Lively Praises Taylor Swift and Beyoncé for Modeling the Way and “Aligning Rather Than Dividing”
“When I grew up, women were always pit against one another.”
-
You'd Be Smiling Too If You Made As Much Money As Beyoncé Did This Weekend
Opening day and weekend figures for ‘Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé' are staggering.
-
Tina Knowles Goes Full Mama Lion on Beyoncé Trolls: “I’m Sick of You Losers”
Celebrities flooded Knowles’ Instagram comments with support after she stood up for her eldest daughter.
-
Here’s What Songs Made the Cut for Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Concert Film—and Which Ones Didn’t
The Renaissance World Tour spanned three hours, and the entire show didn’t make the movie.
-
Blue Ivy Carter, 11, Refused to Quit Performing After Reading Hateful Comments About Herself Online—and Instead Buckled Down and Worked Harder
Beyoncé, reluctant to let her daughter dance onstage at all for the Renaissance World Tour, was “thrilled” at her daughter’s resilience.
-
Beyoncé Can Get “Really Mean” During Costume Changes During Her Concerts, Mom Tina Knowles Says
“We’d laugh because she used to do ‘Flaws and All.’ She would say, ‘I’m a b— in the morning,’ and I’ll be like, ‘And the evening, too!’”
-
Jay-Z Reveals that He and Beyoncé Were Originally Going to Name Daughter Blue Ivy Something Totally Different
Nothing better than a proud dad.
-
For Her Next Tour, Beyoncé Will Have Three Generations of Women in Her Family Onstage with Her—If Blue Ivy Carter Has Her Way
Blue Ivy was already a fixture onstage at the Renaissance World Tour.
