Sibling rivalry wasn’t the end of the Queens of R&B beef after Xscape and SWV butt heads about headlining their concert.
Source: Andrew J Cunningham / Getty
With seven singing divas in two iconic groups, everyone can’t be the queen bee. That doesn’t make it any easier to get those egos in check enough to collect a check. The claws came out on Queens of R&B and again on Twitter when the ladies disagreed about who should headline their joint performance.
SWV And Xscape Got Heated About Headlining On Queens of R&B
In a meeting between Xscape and SWV, the groups got down to business for an epic upcoming joint show. After weeks of back and forth, LaTocha Scott finally agreed to the collaboration. Unfortunately, only more tension started when Kandi asked who would get top billing.
“Last tour we did, we were headlining our own tour. So how is this going to go when it comes to billing?” Kandi Burruss said.
“I think it needs to be co-headlining. That avoids any feelings or issues. You have two legendary R&B groups. It should be co-headlining to keep it moving,” one of SWV’s managers responded.
Of course THEY’RE manager thinks we should Co-Headline
— Tameka Harris (@TinyMajorMama) March 20, 2023
Kandi refused to back down about the business.
“I hear what you’re saying. At the same time, our group still feels like we want to have top billing on our tour,” Kandi continued.
“On your tour? On your tour?” Taj Johnson-George asked in shock.
SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B Season 1, Episode 3 SNEAK PEEK. All new, Sunday 8/7c on @Bravotv. (Source @Bravotv @NBCUniversal) #TheQueensOfRB pic.twitter.com/bnsUDPnKE1
— OMFGRealityTV (@OMFGRealityTV) March 16, 2023
After Kandi’s pushback, the ladies of SWV started to run the numbers.
“Girl, do you know who you’re talking to? This is SWV! We’ve sold how many records compared to your 7 million? Girl, bye!” Coko said in a confessional.
Kandi clarified that it wasn’t about the comparison between the groups because they love and respect SWV. She said they have been headlining all of their tours since their comeback, something Coko of SWV is denying on social media.
Kandi you tried it, anyways team SWV #SWVXSCAPE #TheQueensofRB pic.twitter.com/6fHZNXuLhZ
— Bald-Headed Demon (@Tchalllaa) March 20, 2023
Although SWV’s hits are undeniable, Tiny Harris questioned if their fanbase compares to her and Kandi’s millions of new followers from their reality shows.
“People watch me and Kandi on TV doing our thing and then find out, ‘Oh, they can sing!’” Tiny explained.
Xscape is cute, but they are not on SWV’s level! Be for real…. #TheQueensOfRB #SWVXSCAPE pic.twitter.com/w1R10FHs2J
— Ken. (@OmgKenActually) March 20, 2023
Taj of SWV clarified that Xscape has only been headlining since their comeback and that they should share top billing.
All the positive momentum went out the window as they bickered about whose name appears first and which group gets paid more.
“I sold 30 million records, b*tch!” Coko yelled after SWV stormed off backstage.
SWV & Xscape Took The Tour Drama To Twitter
Kandi responded to the drama on Twitter, keeping it strictly business.
We may not have been the headliners in the 90s but we have been for the past 6yrs since we’ve reunited… & respectfully they’ve opened up for us multiple times already. 🤷🏾♀️ #SWVXSCAPE #TheQueensOfRB
— Kandi Burruss (@Kandi) March 20, 2023
“We may not have been the headliners in the 90s but we have been for the past 6yrs since we’ve reunited… & respectfully they’ve opened up for us multiple times already,” Kandi tweeted.
Lelee Lyons was diplomatic during the show, but the Twitter fingers sounded more like trigger fingers once she saw the episode.
This here internet got niggas acting real gangsta lol. Keep that same energy boo boo chicken.
— Lelee Lyons SWV (@LeleeLyons) March 20, 2023
“This here internet got n*ggas acting real gangsta lol. Keep that same energy boo boo chicken,” Lelee tweeted.
Who the hell threatened anyone? I’m from NYC, you’d know a threat when you hear one. I’m not on that type of time. Stop it! https://t.co/Y9XrBG0TrF
— Lelee Lyons SWV (@LeleeLyons) March 20, 2023
Tiny echoed Kandi’s statements that they love SWV and this dispute is strictly business.
We NOT talking record sales we talking ticket sales.
— Tameka Harris (@TinyMajorMama) March 20, 2023
But business is business…. https://t.co/xghOVWT3Nf
— Tameka Harris (@TinyMajorMama) March 20, 2023
So you want us to take a pay cut and give them a raise? 🤔I don’t care what the flyer say, but that billing has to add up. https://t.co/ly35LkiEu5
— Tameka Harris (@TinyMajorMama) March 20, 2023
“To be clear, we’re talking ticket sales, NOT record sales. We love SWV as much as y’all do, but business is business,” Tiny wrote.
“So you want us to take a pay cut and give them a raise? I don’t care what the flyer say, but that billing has to add up,” Tiny added in response to a fan suggesting that they co-headline.
The drama continued online when the internet weighed in on the disagreement and fans on Twitter turned into accountants.
Hit the flip for that.
Source: Freddy O / FreddyO.com
Twitter can’t stop talking about what’s going down between the groups on Bravo’s SWV & Xscape: The Queens Of R&B.
Reality TV stars, Kandi & Tiny (we love SWV it’s just business) need to humble themselves. They’re self centered & arrogant! They’re the source of their groups dysfunction! SWV was deceived by Bravo! Kandi ♥️ social media rivalry but met the right ones! #QueensOfRandB#SWVXSCAPE pic.twitter.com/4M4nOhoIJs
— Say it loud… (@KnowUDidnt1) March 20, 2023
Tocha, they have proven that they don’t need you to do these shows. They’re trying to be nice but baby, all 3 of these women can and will sing your part 🙃 Humble yourself #QueensOfRB #SWVXSCAPE pic.twitter.com/eyQk6NXacx
— _queen_haile (@HaileQueen) March 13, 2023
On what planet would Xscape headline over SWV? Kandi and Tiny are full of shit. #TheQueensOfRB
— ᴅᴏʟʟᴀʀ (@callmedollar) March 20, 2023
Lmfaoooooooo Kandi & Tiny lost their mind Lmfao https://t.co/1C6BBqkh6O
— THIQUE (@ScottieBeam) March 17, 2023
Kandi Addresses The Episode 3 Beef With SWV
Amid the controversy, Kandi’s used her Speak On It YouTube series to address the headlining debacle. She started by saying there was “no intent for any disrespect for SWV.”
“I respect their success. I respect that they came out before us. I respect that they sold more records than us,” Kandi admitted.
“I don’t know about these 30 million records she’s talking about, though. Now unless [Coko’s] adding soundtracks, solo records, and all other kinds of stuff to that equation, I don’t know how she got to 30 million.”
I never said they didn’t sell more records. But the concert is about who can sell more tickets. Be upset if you want but we’ve done other shows since the tour & the promoters still had SWV go on before us. It is what it is. https://t.co/qGQbnGvicq
— Kandi Burruss (@Kandi) March 20, 2023
Kandi also compared the two groups’ trajectories. She added that SWV had higher sales for their debut album, but they reportedly have not consistently had platinum projects like Xscape.
She also alleged that Xscape’s booking fee is three times higher than SWV’s, something Tiny Harris previously alleged.
Kandi went on to explain the pressure to break down the business came from promoters asking the same questions about billing and pay. She added that SWV and Bel Biv Devoe opened for them before as special guests on The Great Xscape Tour.
In the midst of all this SWV Vs. Xscape drama, Tamar Braxton has weighed in. Tamar is of course embroiled in a feud with Kandi amid her allegations that the housewife and her husband Todd Tucker threatened and “tried to fight her.”
“Imagine having the biggest ego for the most non singing a** person in the entire music industry [eye roll emoji],” commented Tamar on TheShadeRoom’s post about Kandi. “Stream my new hit song #changed where I pay homage to the AMAZING swv!!!”
She then added;
I’m sorry yall I’m back to my old self! Being called a “victim” triggered me🙏🏼✨ but she can’t sing tho 🤷🏽♀️ sorry”
M E S S Y!
Who do you think is right about handling the headliner? Should Xscape get top billing or should they co-headline with SWV?
