What do we know about Beyoncé’s upcoming album “Renaissance” due in July?

While Rihanna seems to have forgotten about her first occupation, her long-time rival is getting ready for a comeback. If we don’t take into consideration the 2019 soundtrack The Lion King: The Gift, Beyoncé’s last real album dates back to 2016. It was Lemonade, a political, feminist, and powerful record that hasn’t aged a day. In other words, a lot has happened in R’n’B, pop, and hip-hop since then. Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B have all made their mark, with a string of hits and wild videos. The challenge now for the Tiffany & Co. muse and Adidas collaborator is to reclaim her crown and earn her nickname back – Queen B.

 

After the epic live performance of her single Be Alive at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27th, Beyoncé has finally announced the release of a new album titled Renaissance. The news came as no surprise to her fans, who had already noticed that the 40-year-old singer had deleted all her profile pictures on her social media last week. This general clearing appears as a signal to begin a new musical and aesthetic era for Blue Ivy’s mother.

Each one of Beyoncé’s albums has an overall universe that ranges from specific looks to strong themes and precise influences. Lemonade (2016) was a feminist and political record that mixed rock, pop, and R’n’B, and indulged in all kinds of experiments. The singer addressed racism and Jay-Z’s infidelity in it, causing a ruckus on the Internet. The title Renaissance may imply a revival, a spiritual dimension, with lighter and radiant sounds. In an interview she gave to Harper’s Bazaar in August 2021, Beyoncé explained that she composed the album during the pandemic with the intention of bringing light into that moment, and that it will be very dancefloor- focused: “With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again. I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible”.

 

Although the musical content of Renaissance remains unknown, it is already clear that it will be an ambitious project in two parts, with 16 tracks composing the first one. The album will come out after a series of concerts and will be released in a box set including a CD, a T- shirt, a twenty-eight-page book, and a poster, among other surprises. We also expect a lot from the artist’s guest list, who has previously collaborated with Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, or James Blake. Some rumors involve Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, and Ariana Grande as featured singers. And we are still dreaming of a collaboration between Beyoncé and her sister Solange, who is also preparing a new album…

 

Renaissance (2022) by Beyoncé, available on July 29th.