Beyoncé’s private documents, including unreleased music and concert schedules, were taken from a rental car in Atlanta last week, days before the music legend began her “Cowboy Carter” tour stop there, according to police on Monday.
An incident report from the Atlanta Police Department states that on July 8, Beyoncé’s choreographer, Christopher Grant, and a tour dancer were using a car when several jump drives containing unreleased, watermarked music and choreography plans were stolen.
Two days prior to the Grammy-winning artist opening her Atlanta shows, the theft took place.
Grant, 37, told police that when he got back, the group’s luggage was gone and the rental car’s rear window was broken. Along with the drives, the robbers also took headphones, an Apple MacBook, and a number of expensive garments.
According to the police report, “The stolen drives contained unreleased music, footage, past and future setlists, and production details for the tour”
Authorities did not confirm whether any items had been recovered, but they did track the stolen MacBook and headphones to a nearby location. Since then, authorities have issued a warrant for an unidentified suspect, but they claim the person is still at large.
The theft poses a threat to the well-protected creative content from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter era, a project that is praised for showcasing underappreciated Black musicians in the genre and for fusing the singer’s distinctive innovation with country roots.
After wrapping up her four-night run in Atlanta on Monday, Beyoncé will play two last shows in las vegas later this month to wrap up her stadium tour.
