Beyoncé can be credited with some of mankind's greatest accomplishments: Inventing a machine to turn unscrupulous cholitas into goal-minded independent women, teaching hipsters how to dance, joining forces with Lady Gaga, fearlessly plowing through complex Jungian themes and, of course, taming the wild ways of Southeast Asia. And despite the resonance and frequency of her heroic feats, it seems our heroine is inexhaustible: her fourth album is tentatively scheduled for release as soon as next year.

Which isn't quite overkill as Sasha Fierce will have been out for just over a year by the time the new assumed masterpiece is released. For that record, B's made clear her desire to work with Of Montreal. Apart from Gaga, if anyone could hold his own against Beyoncé, it would be Kevin Barnes. But before we start saying things like, "Good job, Beyoncé! For thinking outside of the box! So risky!" Consider this: Not only has lil' sis Solange already established herself as an R&B-turned-hipster fixture, but even B's pop nemesis Christina Aguilera announced way back when that she'd be enlisting the services of M.I.A., Ladytron, Santigold, Le Tigre, and Goldfrapp for her next record, Light & Darkness. Of course, both Solange and the on-extended-hiatus Aguilera can merely draw tempest-levels of buzz, whereas Beyoncé inspires hurricanes wherever she goes.

With venerable divas like Kylie Minogue going down the thorny indie road, it's only a matter of time before Madonna phones up Animal Collective for an iron lung. That Lil' Wayne business is equally embarrassing to pop and hip-hop.