Beyoncé hasn’t released a proper studio album since 2016’s Lemonade, but that’s about to change. On June 16, the BeyHive started buzzing when their Queen announced her next album Renaissance would arrive on July 29.
Ahead of its release, the Grammy Award-winning superstar has dropped the project’s lead single — “Break My Soul,” which features Big Freedia’s dancehall-inspired vocals and a sample of Robin S’s 1993 single “Show Me Love.” The 40-year-old chanteuse teased the single in her Instagram bio on Monday (June 20) and, as promised, delivered it promptly at midnight ET/9 p.m. PT on all digital streaming platforms (although it was available early on TIDAL).
Co-produced by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream (the duo behind “Single Ladies”), the song also includes writing credits from Beyoncé’s husband JAY-Z, Adam Pigott (also known as BlaqNmilD), Freddie Ross (Big Freedia) and the writers of “Show Me Love.”
Rumors of a 2022 release first started to spread on June 9 after Beyoncé removed her profile pictures across all of her social media pages. While fans have been starving for a new album from Beyoncé, that doesn’t mean she hasn’t been dropping music.
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In 2019, Beyoncé curated and produced the soundtrack album, The Lion King: The Gift, for the animated remake of The Lion King. The soundtrack featured the song “Black Parade,” which won a Grammy in 2021 for best R&B performance. Her 28th win helped Beyoncé break the record for most Grammys by a female artist and earned her a tie with Quincy Jones for most Grammy wins for a performer.
Beyoncé Announces Release Date For Upcoming 'Renaissance' Album
Beyoncé then linked with fellow Houston native Megan Thee Stallion on the Billboard Hot 100 hit “Savage (Remix)” in 2020. She also opened the 94th Annual Academy Awards in March with a neon-clad performance of the King Richard single “Be Alive,” which earned the artist her first Oscar nomination.
Check out the “Break My Soul” single above and lyric video below.
