Courtesy: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for ELLEIf Kelly Rowland wants the spotlight, a confessional is a good way to do it.
The R&B songstress has just dropped "Dirty Laundry," the aptly titled new single from her forthcoming album, Talk a Good Game. In it, the 32-year-old Rowland cops to feeling envious of her former Destiny's Child bandmate, Beyoncé.
The touchingly spare piano ballad, which premiered on Kelly's SoundCloud page, kicks off with lyrics lamenting how Bey's superstardom overshadowed her own solo career.
"When my sister on stage/killing it like a motherf--ker/I was in a rage/feeling it like a motherf--ker," she croons. "Went our separate ways but I was happy she was killin' it/Bittersweet she was up, I was down/No lie, I feel good for her but what do I do now?"
She later adds: "Post-Survivor, she on fire/Who wanna hear my bulls-t-."
Toward the end of the song, Rowlands also reveals she was once in an abusive relationship.
"I was battered/He hitting the window like it was me, until it shattered/He pulled me out and said, 'Don't nobody love you but me/Not your mama, not your daddy, and especially not Bey."
Powerful stuff, especially to hear Kelly talk about how her man created a wedge between her and her BFF.
Rowland told Billboard laying down the track was difficult.
"It was very emotional. It took me days to record," she said. "I had to get past being so upset and actually sing the song, not sob through it. I always hope that my music can inspire someone, the same way other artists inspire me."
Talk a Good Game, Rowland's fourth solo record, hits stores on June 18.