In a time where a corporate tech company like Samsung buys a million copies of your husband Jay Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail before it hits retail and your family friend Kanye West literally builds a mountain every night in a different city for every show on his Yeezus tour, how does Beyoncé up the wow factor? By unexpectedly releasing a self-titled album, without any promotion, filled with 14 tracks and 17 videos on a Friday morning and almost going platinum over the weekend.
It’s obvious that “new rules” is the Carter family mantra. Beyoncé, who for her last four albums has adhered to the monotonous promotional plot, knocked down everything she knew and put her own star power to the test when she boldly but quietly released BEYONCÉ. By putting her reputation on the line (sort of… like she was really going to flop), her decision to surprise music fans was self-empowering and needed as a reminder of her iconic status for herself and the world.
Just two tracks in, the H-Town diva declares herself, through a stream of consciousness in part one of “Haunted” titled “Ghost,” “bored” of record labels and “bored” of what she’s doing. Exit ballads, cue in BEYONCÉ. “Probably won’t make no money off this,” she casually sings on “Ghost,” hitting us after with the ultimate Kanye shrug: “oh well.”
Self-empowerment has always been an ongoing theme in Bey’s projects. In BEYONCÉ, her fifth studio album, she explores empowerment through her own sexuality and vulnerability. Of course, all of this lives over an array of atmospheres created by Timbaland, Detail, Pharrell, Hit-Boy and newcomer Boots.
BEYONCÉ was made to cause chaos. Beyoncé sings straight-to-the-point raunchiness in “Blow” on behalf of “all the grown women out there.” On her Jay Z-assisted track, she turns up her love another notch from “Crazy In Love” to “Drunk In Love,” where her private relationship turns into a sexy duet complete with public dirty talk. The neo-soul inspired “Rocket,” which sounds like a bonus track off Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience (Timberlake has writing credit on the track and Timbaland produced it), is filled with clear sexual innuendos (singer Miguel also has a writing credit) like, “So rock right up to the side of my mountain / Climb until you reach my peak babe.” Some may be a little shocked, even comparing Beyoncé’s new music to Rihanna’s IDGAF musical style, but it is really Yoncé (Bey’s newest grill-wearing alter-ego) that takes the pound cake.
In Yoncé’s self-titled track, Bey’s alter-ego thrusts herself in your face as part of her introduction making sure you get a good lasting taste. “Yoncé all on his mouth like liquor,” she repeats throughout her track. Yoncé out-twerks the Mileys and Rihannas out of the picture with her bouncing derriere, strapped in satin black bondage. The image of “Yoncé” breathes through its visual. Allowing every single to live through film was a great call on Beyonce’s part. In the visual, she wears a one-piece Hervé Léger bathing suit with a fur coat (that we’re hoping is faux for her vegan diet’s sake) while her supermodel friends strut around her and casually lick her neck. Which takes us back to her sexuality or in this case, her pansexuality, as she easily plays on the fact that Drake was right—“Girls Love Beyonce.”
And just when you find yourself caught up in Yoncé’s spellbinding Hit-Boy co-produced “***Flawless” retooled and retitled “Bow Down/I Been On” chant, “I woke up like this, I woke up like this,” Bey reminds you that she’s one of us. “I’m just human. Don’t judge me,” she sings in “Jealous,” which details her emotional roller coaster in her love/hate relationship. You can also hear Beyoncé celebrating her love in the dreamy, radio-friendly single, “XO,” written and produced by The-Dream and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder. As she winds down to the end after taking us personally through all of BEYONCÉ, Bey closes her album with a tragedy, “Heaven,” and a miracle, “Blue,” as one explores the notion of death and the other brings new life.
If there’s one thing you can take from BEYONCÉ, it’s that you never have to feel “bored” as she describes in “Ghost.” There’s always room to innovate.
5* AOTY
she says “probably won’t make any money off this” in GHOST not haunted !!! do your research
” Just two tracks in, the H-Town diva declares herself, through a stream of consciousness in part one of Haunted titled “Ghost,” bored of record labels and bored of what shes doing. Exit ballads, cue in BEYONC. Probably wont make no money off this, she casually sings on Ghost, hitting us after with the ultimate Kanye shrug: oh well. ”
Learn to read.
well, rico, they changed that after my comment. also in the last sentence they replaced “haunted” with “ghost”. but thank you.
This is a good album but she lost it. She’s done. She lost her touch trying to keep up with the new generation.
BOW DOWN BITCHEEES
Deserves a 4 for the overall execution of the project.
thought this was a hip-hop site
apparently not
Then go somewhere else bitch.
This is a well deserved rating. I heard the album myself and that is the same rating I gave. Out of 5 it is a solid 4.
I’m not really a Beyonce fan per se, not to say I do not like her music or she isn’t extremely talented. I just don’t listen to it. So I read this review because i was curious and thought the album was a cool idea. Whoever wrote this review needs to be fired, it was just terrible. The lack of intuition and thought put into this review is pathetic. Please find a new job. Hiphopdx you can do better.
I’M IN THE SAME BOAT, BUT I CHECKED OUT THIS ALBUM AND IT’S UNDENIABLE QUALITY MUSIC
classic
BEYONCE IS THE QUEEN
Realley like this album.her and b.o.b. dropped some good music 4 Xmas.gonna get a copy 2 my sexy ass neighbor ha ha. …
Ku’ godt
HHDX SOME HATERS MAN, THIS ALBUM DOPE AS FUCK!
thought this was a hip hop site but…..
this album sucks tho
I don’t know why does she apear on this site. Cuz she’s black? Cuz she’s Jay’s wife? Btw the album is really good but deffinately NOT hiphop.
I suggest to review the new Britney Spears album. She got TI and will.i.am on it, so that’s hiphop too. Moreover the Miley has Future, Nelly, Mike Will Made It and Pharrell, so…
Agreed. I have no problem with them reviewing this album but it is hypocrisy for them to not review Miley`s which is actually a fusion of hiphop and RnB and pop.
PopDX
TRASH
Co-sign
Grow the fuck up hiphop site who gives a shit it’s a dam good album
until I looked at the bank draft which had said $7499, I accept that my sister was like they say realy bringing in money part-time on their apple laptop.. there sisters neighbour had bean doing this 4 only 14 months and a short time ago paid the loans on there place and got a brand new BMW M3. why not check here,,,,,, http://x.co/3Tv4h
Love it
Hip hop includes Rap, R&B, Contemporary Soul, and Neo Soul. All of these things are what creates her album. Some people are just entirely too hateful. Obviously you should open a damn book or Google before you type. Smdh! Also, this was an incredible album from her. One of her best in my opinion. Definitely the best R&B album of the year!
lol something tells me this is the only RnB album you have listened to this year.
my friend’s step-sister makes $81 every hour on the internet. She has been without work for 9 months but last month her check was $17866 just working on the internet for a few hours. look at here……… http://x.co/3TwHF
my friend’s step-sister makes $81 every hour on the internet. She has been without work for 9 months but last month her check was $17866 just working on the internet for a few hours. look at here……………… http://x.co/3TwKy
The video with her and JZ is just noise.
That song is horrible.
Jay rapping with 2Chainz delivery is just sad.
Im in love
terrible pop music
amazing album .. in love with every single song
this album is nothing special. I don`t know why ppl consider Beyonce and RnB queen. She don`t even write any of her songs.
a lot of artists dont write there songs.
The their not artists. Their singers. Artists create art, not just perform it.
Blah.
Ok, its not a Hip Hop album.. What are you going to do? Nothing. The site can review any album they want, its their site, not yours. Quit complaining and stop messing with whatever makes you upset.
I might stop coming to Hiphopdx for the simple fact they have no idea what good hip hop actually is. Well at least the people who review albums. This is supposed to be a hip hop site. Not a pop site. But Beyonce should easily be able to UP the factor considering Jay Z hasn’t been good for a decade and family friend Kanye West is a nominee for biggest douche bag in the universe.
Simply amazing
Shut the fuck up with this is a hiphop site..grow up and listen 2 R&b I thought this was a hiphop site.
FUCK YOU!
This is a hiphop site NOT an rnb site.
Whats next: the review of an country album by Willy Nelson!!!!
Fuck lame ass dx
well Willie did a song w ith Snoop so why not
This is an alright album, but it’s not hiphop. Hypocrisy to review this but not the Miley album. Cuz Beyonce is black and she’s married to Jay she automaticall hiphop right? lol
i want a lady gaga review, she is hiphop to and does songs with rappers
How many bitch niggas typing on wet keyboards over this being a hip-hop site but this ain’t real hip-hop.
Bitch niggas just grow up with that hiphop bull..nigga prolly fuckin your bitch with the album playing
Fluck.
WTF ?!? What is this ? Are You kidding me ? You supposed to write review of hiphop/rap not some beyonce selfnamed art pop shit ! SUPPORT TRUE ART !
Trash
Can
She’s so much prettier as a white person, pretty damn cool that she made the switch.
I wish another one of you fags and queers would come on my article talking about this ain’t a r&b site and fuck DX. Nah, nigga, fuck YOU! Again, I wish a motherfucker would come at me with some bullshit. I’ll blow his spot right the fuck up. This about my bitch, my female nigga, the queen B. So fuck you and fuck your feelings! I’m out.
perfect
what is this doing here
perf
the album is amazing
a lot of growth
yay
Not for me… translation: Garbage
everything bout this album is fabricated.
Usually a big fan but this album was terrible. Got sick of seeing her ass in the video’s!
sick of her ass?? you sir, are an idiot
Nigga You Gay.
Ya fucking faggot!
These plp are pathetic. Art is art and anything else is baggage
it’s NOT hiphop but a good pop album
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW BRITNEY SPEARS’ NEW ALBUM TOO! SHE GOT TI SO THAT’S HIPHOP.
The Album Sucked. Nuff Said
Yes love this I bean drinking
no what what i expected choppy songs
This album is most incredible baby!!! Maserpiece album and another classic in Beyonce’s stellar catalog of albums.
Dope album
Wack, maybe 2-3 songs that even have a purpose. The rest is just rants/chants and her repeating the same crap over and over.
Totally agree.
Great concept as a total video album, and I am always happy to look at Beyonc for an hour. I got no problems with that.
But rating this as a stand-alone album, no way. It is > 80% garbage.
woke up / flawless/ my diamond / flawless
She finally managed to make something worth the while and doesn’t make her come across as a ‘feminist’ whiny bitch..
classic album
few goood songs bt not bad
GREAT ALBUM
This album is a classic
some of these comments are nasty….who are you people
Awesome album
Love this album. I find it so liberating as a women to hear an artist sing about her sexuality with no shame or fear.
The Best Album
Queen!
Greatest thing that has blessed my ears!
Beyonce did her thing on this album and she has videos!!?? Major talent!!!