Renaissance

Beyoncé’s seventh studio album Renaissance (stylized in all caps; also referred to as Act I: Renaissance) arrived on July 29, 2022 via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. Conceived and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, the album was designed as a joyful escape, drawing on post-1970s Black dance music styles like disco, house, and funk. Its 16 tracks are arranged like a continuous DJ mix, celebrating the club culture that served as a refuge for Black and queer communities. Guest vocalists include Beam, Grace Jones, and Tems. Lyrically, the album centers on escapism, hedonism, confidence, and self-expression.

Renaissance topped charts in eleven countries, including the US, where it became Beyoncé’s seventh consecutive number-one on the Billboard 200 and earned double-platinum certification. Four singles supported the album: the Hot 100 number-one “Break My Soul”; “Cuff It,” her longest-charting Hot 100 song; the Europe-only “Virgo’s Groove”; and a remix of “America Has a Problem” featuring Kendrick Lamar. Critics universally praised its eclectic yet cohesive sound, celebratory tone, and Beyoncé’s vocals. It topped year-end lists from The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Rolling Stone, which later included it on its “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” At the 65th Grammy Awards, it won Best Dance/Electronic Album, making Beyoncé the most awarded individual in Grammy history. The album was promoted via the 2023 Renaissance World Tour and a concert film. The trilogy’s second installment, Cowboy Carter, followed on March 29, 2024. [edit]