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Beyhive, unite: Beyoncé announced today that she will be releasing a new visual album on July 31. Titled Black Is King, the record will be available on the streaming service Disney Plus, and is based on songs from The Lion King: The Gift, the soundtrack to the remake of The Lion King, the 2019 animated film in which Beyoncé served as the voice of Nala. The new body of work will be written, directed, and executive produced by the Queen B herself. Because would you expect anything less?
According to Variety, the visual album will feature a star-studded lineup of collaborators including husband Jay-Z, daughter Blue Ivy Carter, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Pharrell, Tierra Whack, and many more. It will serve as a “celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience,” read a release from Disney and Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé’s company. “Black Is King pays tribute to voyages of Black families throughout time,” the statement continues. “The visual album tells the story of a young king’s ‘transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity.’ His ancestors help guide him toward his destiny, and with his father’s teachings and guidance from his childhood love, he earns the virtues needed to reclaim his home and throne.”
A new, one-minute teaser trailer for the album was also released on Beyoncé’s official website on Saturday night—and while it’s just a tease of what’s to come, it already looks epic. The singer has long a history of producing full-on visual productions in tandem with her albums, including 2013’s Beyoncé and 2016’s Lemonade. This upcoming visual album release will follow up Beyoncé’s “Black Parade,” her latest single that was released on Juneteenth.
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Originally published on Vogue.com
