Beyoncé ‘Renaissance’ Blowback From Kelis Cautions Young Artists

Musician Kelis’ claim that she wasn’t properly credited on Beyoncé’s new album “Renaissance” provides a warning to emerging artists, who could find themselves locked out of lucrative royalties if they don’t secure credit for their contributions.

Beyoncé’s track “Energy” included an interpolation—a piece of an existing composition that’s borrowed and re-recorded—of the 2003 R&B dance hit “Milkshake.” It cited Kelis, who was 24 when the song debuted nearly two decades ago, as the performer and the Neptunes production duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo as the songwriters.

The lack of notice about the interpolation prompted Kelis to lash out ...