Beyoncé’s visual album, Black Is King
Beyoncé was one of the first artists to take a stand. She has always been committed to addressing issues of diversity and inclusion. On Instagram, Beyoncé demanded justice for George Floyd and asked her fans to sign a petition she launched demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, a black paramedic who was killed by police in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, on the 13th of March 2020.
On Juneteenth, Beyoncé released the song Black Parade, co-written with husband Jay-Z, which addresses the emancipation of black people and the nationwide BLM protests.
Additionally, she recently announced the launch of an enormous project entitled Black Is King. This visual album was written, directed, and produced by Beyoncé and will premiere worldwide on the 31st of July on Disney+.
Black Is King is based on the music for The Lion King: The Gift, a Lion King remake that came out last year. It features artists who contributed to the film’s soundtrack, as well as special guests like Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, 070 Shake, Tierra Whack, Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter and Jessie Reyez, as well as African artists such as Wizkid, Shatta Wale, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Tekno, Temi Alade, Busiswa and Salatiel.
Black Is King is an affirmation of a grand purpose, with lush visuals that celebrate Black resilience and culture. The film highlights the beauty of tradition and Black excellence.
Black Is King pays homage to black families’ journeys through time, using the metaphor of a young African king growing and searching for his identity.