Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ demands disco, not discourse

Beyoncé’s is a career that sparks discourse throughout every field, from marketing to economics and everything in between. Through strategically placed hints and subtle allusions, multi-disciplinary, platinum selling, award winning artist, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter announced her 7th studio album, Renaissance.

In a 2021 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the Lemonade singer described the music to come by saying, “I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible.” The announcement of a new album came with the release of her July 2022 British Vogue cover, Beyoncé turns up the heat. Straying from the usual surprise drop that fans and the industry at large had become accustomed, Beyoncé shared that her album would be available for the world on June 29, 2022.

The first single, “Break My Soul” sees the entertainment mogul singing over an infectious, The Dream produced, house beat with vocal contributions from New Orleans bounce powerhouse, Big Freedia. The album artwork for “Break My Soul” features Beyonce behind a metal and glass wall adorned with a headpiece in a fashion that seemingly pays homage to the late great South African pop sensation, Brenda Fassie.

Of the album, speculation would suggest that Renaissance may be part of a multi-disc release. However, what is known is that 17 songs will be embraced by music lovers, more particularly the Beyhive, on July 29, 2022.

For the first time in years, Beyoncé is rolling out an album with the world watching. While it’s impossible for this headline making artist to avoid inspiring discourse, in the spirit of disco, we’ll discourse once the album is out and has been enjoyed as it was intended.