# America Has a Problem

"America Has a Problem" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé, taken from her seventh studio album, Renaissance (2022), which was released on July 29, 2022, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records as an album track. It contains a sample of "Cocaine", written by Tino Santron Macintosh and Andrell D. Rogers and performed by Kilo Ali. The song was issued as the album's third single. The standalone version features American rapper Kendrick Lamar and was released on May 19, 2023 through streaming and digital platforms.

## Critical reception

"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. 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."
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." 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."

## Commercial performance

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

## Live performance

Beyoncé first performed "America Has a Problem" on the Renaissance World Tour (2023), with the opening night taking place in Stockholm, Sweden.
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.
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.
After the remix featuring Kendrick Lamar was released, elements of it were incorporated in the performance.
Lamar appeared as a surprise guest on the September 4 date of the Renaissance World Tour to perform his verse for the first time.

## Personnel

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

## Charts

Weekly chart performance for "America Has a Problem" (album version) :
| Chart (2022–2023) | Peak position |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 100 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 81 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 15 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 103 |
| South Africa (TOSAC) | 53 |
| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) | 1 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 96 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 22 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 69 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 27 |
Weekly chart performance for "America Has a Problem" (single version; with Kendrick Lamar) :
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
| Australia (ARIA) | 32 |
| Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA) | 8 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 41 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 40 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 74 |
| Lithuania (AGATA) | 41 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 99 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 25 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 38 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 11 |

## Certifications

Certifications and sales for "America Has a Problem" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 3× Platinum | 120,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 80,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Gold | 15,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

"America Has a Problem" release history :
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label(s) | Ref. |
| Various | May 19, 2023 | Digital downloadstreaming | Remix | ParkwoodColumbia | |
| Italy | May 26, 2023 | Radio airplay | Remix | Sony | |