Chloe Bailey is receiving some harsh criticism for working with an abuser. The singer recently released her first solo album, In Pieces. The album is Chloe’s first full release outside of her R&B duo with her sister, Halle Bailey. While it is her first solo, Chloe still received plenty of help from industry friends by way of features. Both Future and Missy Elliott each hopped on a track, lending their talent to Chloe’s debut. One feature, however, has gotten people up in arms. The seventh song on the album, “How Does It Feel”, features none other than Chris Brown. Chloe was not bothered by the critics. She’s had more than her fair share of undo backlash recently. Still, with Brown’s past, is this one situation where that backlash might be valid?
Rihanna’s relationship with Chris Brown feels like a century ago, but few can how that ended. After an altercation in a car, Brown physically assaulted the singer. It was a horrific attack that left her battered and bruised. There was little in the way of an apology for his actions. Chris Brown’s abusive behavior didn’t stop there. He continued to make headlines in the coming years for multiple instances of violence and controversial behavior. Somehow, Brown manages to keep his career while others who have been accused of far fewer things do not.
Chloe To Critics: “Kiss My Booty”
Chlöe attends 2023 Billboard Women In Music at YouTube Theater. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
In a new interview with Audacy’s V-103 podcast, Chloe had some choice words for those that would attempt to criticize her decision to include Chris Brown on her album. “I always just wanna let the music speak for itself,” Bailey says on the podcast. “And to be honest, no matter what I do, people always find things to say about it, so I’m used to it. I just choose to ignore it. People have every right to their opinions, freedom of speech, and it’s up to me to choose what I give my attention and energy to.”
It appears that Chloe is a big proponent of separating the art from the artist. That may be a valid thing to do, but is it possible when the artist has so much negativity in their past? Chloe seems to think so. Further speaking on her decisions, the actress and singer said, “Everything I’m doing is ordained by God, and I’m walking in my purpose, and anybody who has a problem with that can kiss my booty.” What do you think of Chloe brushing off the criticism? Let us know in the comments.
Chloe Bailey has been the brunt of vicious social media critique since embarking on her solo career. The writing was on the wall for some time that she was seeking solo ventures, and in 2021, she debuted her first solo single, “Have Mercy.” Many felt the video was too sexual, accusing her of veering away from her “good girl” Chloe x Halle image. Gladly, Bailey has learned to ignore the negativity, pointing out one similarity all her haters have in common.
During the promo run for her debut album, In Pieces, the 24-year-old sat down with Atlanta’s Majic 107.5. During this chat, a very important topic arose, one that the singer has dealt with in her group, Chloe x Halle, and by herself. Host Ryan Cameron brought up the fact that some fans may want the young women to remain the kid stars they once were. As children, the sisters appeared in “The Fighting Temptations” alongside Beyoncé in 2003. Then in their teens, the ladies performed records inspired by young romance. Now in their early 20s, the subject matter is much more mature, though Bailey doesn’t believe people have an issue with their lyrics. Instead, she feels the ones who judge her the harshest were never fans of her and Halle, to begin with.
“The same people who say that weren’t fans of Halle and I when we had our ‘Ungodly Hour’ album out, ‘The Kids Are Alright.’ So, it’s a bunch of people who are just putting in their two cents now just to really say things,” she explained to Cameron. Since the release of In Pieces which surprised many, Bailey has endured even more negativity. The album did not have a vast rollout as expected. Several early reviews of the project have been unkind, accusing the Grammy award nominee of not knowing her audience. A Pitchfork review even harshly referred to the record as “a compilation of soulless singles.”
Aside from her music, Bailey has also caught some slack from her performance in “Swarm.” The element in particular that set viewers off was an intimate scene between herself and actor Damson Idris. She received widespread backlash for depicting a sexual act, another sign that many are still attached to her perceived youthful innocence. Despite all the hatred, it seems Bailey has managed to block it out.
Chloe Bailey has posted a stunning thirst trap on her Instagram. The actress and singer has been criticized in the past for showing her sexy side, but that isn’t slowing her down at all. In addition to the sexy new thirst trap, Chloe recently appeared in a very explicit love scene in Donald Glover’s Amazon Prime series, Swarm. “I never understood it. I’d look at my peers and be like, ‘We’re all the same age’,” she said of the backlash the scene revived. “They’re showing as much as me, if not more. But if I do it, I’m ridiculed to the max.”
Chloe Bailey is a vocalist, songwriter, and actress. She became well-known when she formed an R&B duo with her sister Halle called Chloe x Halle. The pair attracted attention for their YouTube covers of well-known songs. Beyoncé ultimately came across them and signed them to her Parkwood Entertainment label. In 2018, Chloe x Halle released The Kids Are Alright, their debut record, to critical acclaim. They even received a Grammy nomination for the album. Chloe has explored acting in addition to her music career. More recently, she has appeared in the film Praise This and Donald Glover’s Swarm. Chloe began her solo career in 2021 with the release of her first song, “Have Mercy,” which quickly went viral. On March 31st of this year, she released her first solo album, In Pieces. The record has features from artists like Future and Missy Elliott.
In the Instagram post, Chloe practically radiates sex appeal. She poses in a mirror, clad in a lacy black lingerie set. She dons the outfit for what seems to be a photoshoot. The second slide in the post features a video in which Chloe poses on set, illuminated by studio lights. “Send him new pics in that outfit you like,” Chloe says cheekily in the caption, followed by a red lipstick kiss emoji.
Chloe Bailey is not the first woman in the industry to receive backlash for being what some perceive as “too sexy.” She certainly won’t be the last. Do you think Chloe is being too sexy or are her critics just jealous? Sound off in the comments below!
With the release of Peacock’s original film Praise This just days away, the cast was treated to a red-carpet premiere. This included the film’s stars, Chloe Bailey and Quavo. Praise This follows Bailey as Sam, a wannabe superstar who joins an Atlanta-based competitive gospel choir ahead of a national competition. Praise This is the latest from Tina Gordon, the director behind films such as Peoples and Little. Gordon also wrote a similar film about an underdog team in a national competition, 2002’s Drumline. Praise This will release exclusively on Peacock on April 7.
At the premiere, Bailey posed with Quavo, who plays a character called Ty. Quavo’s appearance in the film reflects a shift towards acting for the former Migos member. Last year, Quavo appeared in the thriller Strange Salvation and has been linked to upcoming projects Takeover and Cash Out. Prior to his role in Strange Salvation, Quavo’s only film and TV credits were cameos in shows such as Atlanta. It is the latest role in a run of major projects for Bailey. She is also set to appear in the horror film The Georgetown Project, and star as the lead in the biopic Midas Touch.
Their work on Praise This, amongst other appearances, has led to numerous rumors that the pair are currently dating. While Bailey has denied these rumors, many fans remain unconvinced. This has led to further claims of a secret romance. These rumors are likely to be fanned further still if their characters in Praise This share some sort of romantic subplot. Trailers for the film seem to indicate that this is the case.
Dating rumors aside, Praise This will serve as a chance for both Bailey and Quavo to flex their acting muscles. It will also enable them to perform in more comedic roles. This is a contrast to the much more serious roles they have previously performed. Furthermore, with the likes of Bailey and Quavo involved, it seems to be a sure bet that if nothing else, Praise This is going to have some exceptional vocal performances.
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Chloe Bailey, Tina Gordon and Quavo attend the “Praise This” World Premiere at Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University on April 3, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Nykieria Chaney/WireImage) via Getty Quavo and Chloe Bailey attend the “Praise This” World Premiere at Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University on April 03, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Terence Rushin/Getty Images)
Appearing on her hometown radio station, Atlanta’s Majic 107.5, Chlöe broke down the negative responses after being asked about the criticism by host Ryan Cameron. “I saw somebody that said, ‘Whatever happened to Chloe X Halle?’” the host said. “Because they felt like it was a space — after Beyoncé [signed the sister duo] and all that — there was just gonna be all these things. Then, all of a sudden, all these things really happen, then it’s like, ‘Whatever happened to Chloe X Halle?’ It’s like they almost felt like… they wanted you to stay a kid!”
“The thing is,” Chlöe replied, “The same people who say that weren’t fans of Halle and [me] when we had our Ungodly Hour album out, The Kids Are Alright. So, it’s a bunch of people who are just putting in their two cents now just to really say things. Sis and I, we’ve been underground for a minute and the same people who talk weren’t around then or giving us our props then, and it’s like now they want to talk trash for some reason.”
For sure, it’s appeared that the more success the sisters have seen, the more critical the peanut gallery has become — but those people sharing their opinions now don’t even seem to know much about the girls. Take the loud contingent of racist haters who lashed out at Halle’s casting in The Little Mermaid. It seems they’ve just become the latest targets of convenience for online cranks looking for something to hate.
In 2021, Chlöe flapped her wings and flew out of her nest. This “nest” is representative of more than one thing in her life – her Chloe x Halle duo with sister Halle Bailey and the sonic landscape that made up her previous records are among them. For the first half of that year at least, Chlöe was independent of both. Halle spent the first six months of 2021 in London filming The Little Mermaid live-action film. This marked the first time that the two were apart for such a long period of time. It was during this time that Chlöe also became more experimental with her music and more comfortable with showing off her body on social media. The latter resulted in extended and unfounded criticism from people at home, and it continued for the next two years. They took swipes at everything from her music, her posts, her performances, and more in this new and continuously building era of independence for the 25-year-old singer.
For the most part, Chlöe didn’t set out to correct her detractors, mainly because they rained in before long before she could finish a body of work to present to the world. It’s like criticizing a painter on their overall canvas after a few brushstrokes. Critics of her music often pointed to her success with Chloe x Halle forgetting that the duo is also comprised of Halle Bailey who had a hand in their success with projects like Ungodly Hour, so, of course, things were different. Though it may not be her intentional goal to prove her haters wrong, she does get a kick out of accomplishing it along with other goals. “I love proving people wrong,” she said in her Uproxx cover story in August 2022. “One day, I hope people can really get to see who I truly am as a human being as opposed to this facade of a person that they think I am.” At long last, the opportunity to do so arrived with her debut album In Pieces.
There are plenty of things that In Pieces highlights in favor of Chlöe’s artistry. Through its 14 songs, we see that underneath the feisty, captivating, and bubbly young woman, lies one that is still recovering from heartbreak. Unlike most albums centered on heartbreak, Chlöe doesn’t grant us a view into the days before the pains in love on In Pieces. Rather, impulsive reactions and thoughts are at center stage to start things off. “Pray It Away” marks the first fully-composed piece of music on the album and Chlöe shows the maturity to let karma sort itself out with help from the glorious echoes of a choir. That record spills into the uptempo and bouncy “Body Do” that, sans a slightly jarring intro, succeeds in reminding us of Chlöe’s versatility. There, she decides to use an unfaithful man for the one thing they’re good for in their final days together. In both cases, Chlöe acknowledges that the first step in heartbreak is to pick up the broken pieces, but what to do with them next is the journey that unwinds on In Pieces with emotive highs and lows, confrontations with self and others, and most importantly, growth.
In Pieces succeeds in many areas just from a musical standpoint. “I Don’t Mind” tantalizes with the flavor of fluttering guitar strings as Chlöe climbs the scale with the effortless agility of a ninja warrior. She swoops low in her warm-up towards a near-whisper hook that grazes the sky to pluck at the clouds. ”Feel Me Cry” is a well-executed double entendre that dazzles with Chlöe’s cries for the emotional connection that only the comfort of physical touch, especially in the sexual sense, can provide. That along with “Make It Look Easy” are by far the best all-around composed songs on the album. The latter record is layered in such an encapsulating way that it carries a meaning applicable to more than one subject. When she sings, “Can I be honest with you?” it’s a question directed at a significant other in her life and the general world that tried to break her down into pieces over the past couple of years. The openness and honesty in this record present a woman who’s learned to leave a bad situation and not indulge in the last good pieces of it as we see on “Body Do.” Lines like “Overthinkin’ always in my head / Hate bein’ alone, there’s nowhere to run / So, I’ll pretend that I’m all good instead,” prove that while the spotlight brightens what is great, it also manages to do the same for one’s imperfections.
On Chlöe’s debut album In Pieces, there’s a bit more to take away about the singer’s artistic direction than about the project’s musicality. On the latter front, the project is not as captivating as one may have hoped for a singer with such a fairly incomparable and undoubtedly commanding voice that has the ability to construct a story of growth and empowerment as we see on the album. Despite this, it appears that Chlöe’s foundational goal with In Pieces was to simply break from her detractors and prove that she can fly away from what once held her down. Chlöe did just that and landed right where she needed to. It’s exhibited through the compassionate and self-serving “Looze U,” the stern and hair-flipping “Told Ya” with Missy Elliott, and the juxtaposing “Cheatback” with music’s toxic king, Future. There’s room for improvement, and being that many listeners were once 24-year-olds looking to figure it all out, Chlöe will fair just fine. For her, there’s a better chance than not that she hits a bullseye in future go-arounds. For now with In Pieces, we and Chlöe can find resolve in knowing that the pieces are now whole again.
In Pieces is out now via Columbia Records and Parkwood Entertainment. You can stream it here.
Not everyone gets guidance from Beyoncé ahead of their debut album but Chlöe isn’t just anybody. With the anticipation surroundingIn Pieces at an all-time high ahead of its release last Friday, the singer faced the public with a departure from the sisterly duo that is Chlöe x Halle. In Pieces finds the Georgia singer shining on her own and sharing the stage with stars like Missy Elliott, Future, and Chris Brown for an incredible debut.
During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Chlöe opened up about Bey’s guidance throughout the process of In Pieces. She explained that the “Cuff It” star shared notes with her after listening to the album in its entirety. “Yes, I know she listened to the album,” Bailey said. “She gave me notes on it before I released it.” Chlöe added, “I love her so much. Dearly, dearly, and I’m so grateful to her for everything.” She didn’t necessarily clarify what the exact notes were but we could imagine that Bey had some valuable gems to drop.
Chlöe Speaks On Beyoncé’s Advice
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Chloe Bailey of Chloe x Halle performs onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Chlöe x Halle signed a management deal with Parkwood Entertainment in 2015 before the release of their debut album, The Kids Are Alright. The two would later join Bey as the opening act on The Formation World Tour in 2016. However, Chlöe’s history with Beyoncé goes back nearly two decades. The “Cheatback”star appeared as a young version of Beyoncé’s character Lilly in The Fighting Temptations in 2003. Bey witnessed their growth first-hand and continues to play a pivotal role in their careers.
Besides her debut album, Chlöe and her sister Halle also make a mark in the world of film and television. Most recently, she appeared in Donald Glover’s new series Swarm as Marissa Jackson. Additionally, she also has a few major film roles in the works. The upcoming horror film The Georgetown Project stars Bailey as Blake Holloway, She’s also set to appear in the upcoming musical comedy, Praise This! Meanwhile, Halle Bailey will star in the upcoming remake of The Little Mermaid. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates on Chloe. Let us know how you feel about In Pieces in the comments below.
We’re sure Chlöe is somewhere celebrating now that her debut solo album, In Pieces, has been released. The singer has emerged from her Chloe x Halle sister duo, proving to be a formidable contender in Pop circles. Her singles “How Does It Feel” with Chris Brown and “Have Mercy” have taken over playlists, and “Cheatback” featuring Future is a favorite among fans. To support her record, Chlöe shared the visual to “Cheatback” with a guest appearance by Joey Bada$$. While Future plays the part of the unfaithful boyfriend, Joey swoops in as the lover who may do her right.
In many ways, the visual contrasts the song’s essence. It’s often fiery and shows the singer partying the night away while Future makes it rain in a strip club. The stripped-down track is carried by an acoustic guitar, eliciting feelings of vulnerability that complement Chlöe’s lyrics. The singer is known for her sexy songs and moves to match, and it’s been a love-hate relationship with fans. Some believe Chlöe is overdoing it with her sex appeal, while others are happy to see her coming into her own.
Chlöe Finds Her Footing Away From Her Sister
In an interview with PEOPLE, Chlöe detailed how she came up with the title In Pieces for her album. It stemmed from the career separation from her sister, Halle Bailey. “We both didn’t really know who we were individually without the other,” she said. “And that’s what was really scary for me. It was a moment of self-doubt where I was like, ‘Can I do this without my sister?’” When she began showing a sexier side to the public, she was hit with backlash. Chlöe didn’t understand why her peers could get away with it, but she was held to a different standard.
“As much as I would see it and try to act like it didn’t affect or bother me, it would,” she stated. “I was starting to believe the lies that the trolls were saying online, and I started to look down on myself even more than what I already was doing with my own insecurities. Once I ignored it, I’ve been good.” We expect much more visually from In Pieces, so we’ll keep you updated. Meanwhile, check out the music video to “Cheatback” above.
Get ready to feel the girl power, because these talented ladies are on fire! From Chloe Bailey’s highly-anticipated solo album, In Pieces, to Lola Brooke and Ciara shining a light on female empowerment, these women are a force to be reckoned with. Chloe Bailey Releases Anticipated Solo Album “In Pieces” Chloe Bailey, one-half of the […]
