

In Beyoncé’s 'Renaissance' The LGBTQIA+ Community Is Center Stage
Bey is back with her highly anticipated seventh studio album, Renaissance. The 16-track record is her first solo album in six years since Lemonade. And like with everything she does, she's raised the bar.
The album is a sonic masterpiece as Bey delivers her style and interpretation of the house music she was exposed to growing up. Beyoncé credits that exposure to her Uncle Johnny, who died of complications from AIDS, and she dedicates Renaissance to him in the album's liner notes.
"He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album," she writes. Uncle Johnny was a pivotal figure in Beyoncé's life and career, designing costumes for Destiny's Child with her mother Tina before high-end labels would dress "four Black, curvy, country girls." As a Black queer southerner living with HIV, Beyoncé’s decision to dedicate Renaissance to Uncle Johnny and to center Black LGBTQIA voices and Ballroom history and culture in the music is one of unconditional love and hope. Music journalist Gerrick Kennedy agrees.
"She's talked about her uncle over the years, but to really celebrate that [with Renaissance] ... If we hadn't had this moment [with COVID lockdown] where we have been sitting and reflecting, I don't know if we would've gotten a project like this,” Kennedy tells xoNecole. “It also feels like [Beyoncé] allowed herself to grieve this family member, but also this part of her and her mother's life and how she was raised and the [queer] scenes that she was privy to as a kid [in the South] before we all really knew her," says Kennedy.
Fans got a taste of her intentions to honor the Black queer community with this album on June 21, when she dropped the lead single from Renaissance, “Break My Soul.” The lead single features samples of Robin S.'s 1990 hit "Show Me Love" and the Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia's 2014 song "Explode."
"For [Beyoncé] to extend her hand to her queer fans, hold us up the way that she did and create a universe for us [with this album]. There's something really magical about it," Kennedy says.
“Cozy,” the second song on the album, serves as a proudly queer-centric affirmation of being comfortable with who you are and features trans icons Honey Dijon and Ts Madison. In verse two, Beyoncé sings about colors that describe Daniel Quasar's 2018 Progress Pride flag design that brings marginalized LGBTQIA+ people of color, trans people, and those living with HIV/AIDS to the forefront. And in the post-chorus and bridge, there's a sample of Ts Madison's video "B**tch, I'm BLACK."
"There are no words to describe my feelings,” Ts Madison tells xoNecole about the opportunity to feature on “Cozy.” “Beyonce is a global phenomenon. For her to add my voice and statement piece on this project means a great deal to not only the Black community, but also the trans and queer community," she says.
My favorite track, "Church Girl," reminds me of Sunday sermons ending at 3 p.m., followed by a community fish fry and great music as the Louisiana heat beams down on my skin. Besides its reminder of my southern roots, "Church Girl" serves as a form of catharsis to let go of your burdens, whether at the altar or on the dance floor.
That form of release is the common theme throughout the album, emphasizing the importance of agency, self-love, and freedom to express yourself.
Renaissance also features contributions from The-Dream, Tems, NO I.D., NOVA WAV, Raphael Saadiq, and Mike Dean, to name a few. Songwriter Diane Warren might have tried to come for Beyoncé crediting 24 writers on one track of Renaissance, but it’s Beyoncé's communal approach to her craft that makes Renaissance flow so beautifully; it's how she's able to merge regional sounds and flip them with some southern spice.
Music historian and author Craig Seymour says that with her collaborations on Renaissance – like featuring live trumpets played by Bastrop, Louisiana native Jamelle Adisa on "Cuff It," – Beyoncé reconnects house music that had been born in places like Chicago back to its southern roots, honoring the foundation of the genre itself.
"People always want to act like Black history is brand new, but the first thing is to understand the huge influence of the Great Migration,” Seymour tells xoNecole. “All those people who created early house music were the grandchildren of Southerners. So those southern cultural traditions and things like that were a part of their lives even though they were in an urban environment," says Seymour. "The kind of yearning, the desire for acceptance that you get with a lot of early house, you can trace a lot of those elements even back to the urban blues, which essentially was the soundtrack to the Great Migration."
Seymour also tells us that the sub-genres of house Beyoncé chose to recreate on the album show her commitment to authentically representing the culture.
pic.twitter.com/wgYIRZg465
— BEYONCÉ (@Beyonce) July 29, 2022
"One of her most significant influences on the album is the sub-genre of house called 'bitch tracks,' which were often made by drag performers who were basically reading somebody on a record. Moi Renee's "’Miss Honey’" is one of the foundational ones, and she sampled Kevin Aviance's "’Cunty’" on [the track] "Pure/Honey," says Seymour.
It’s that track, as well as “Alien Superstar” that season one winner of the HBOMax vogue competition show Legendary Calypso Jetè Balmain relates to the most. But Calypso, who's worked with Megan Thee Stallion and more, is no stranger to how thin the line between homage to the culture and commodification can be.
"Being a Black trans woman and knowing Ballroom, going back to the roots and everything, I don't want this to just be another way of getting people to tune into music," says Calypso. "I'm kind of sad that it took for Beyoncé to do things like this [for the community to get the attention it deserves]. I love it; I appreciate it. But I don't want this to be [seen as] a trend because Ballroom has been around for so long." She hopes that the visuals for Renaissance will showcase the culture authentically.
"It will open the eyes of many who are allies or not LBTQIA+. Because right now, people are just hearing it, and people are probably like, 'Oh, my God, this is a great time because Beyoncé made it,' says Calypso. "If you were to walk into a straight club and say, 'Oh, play Kevin Jz Prodigy.' They'll never play Kevin Jz Prodigy. They don't know who that is."
In recent years, Ballroom — traditionally an underground haven for Black and brown LGBTQIA+ folks — has become a part of the mainstream pop culture discussion thanks to TV series like Pose and Legendary, and a resurgence of house music. While the general public gawks at the beauty, glamour, and voguing, there's a deeper story of resilience, survival and strength in community. "Nobody wants to talk about AIDS because it created a substantial generational gap,” Seymour says. “The government's inaction caused gay men to die disproportionately of AIDS, especially Black gay men."
And now, at the height of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation and the short life expectancy of Black trans women, who are attacked daily, we must look beyond the surface. Renaissance is more than a musical masterpiece; it’s inherently political and communal as she lends herself and platform to the memory of her Uncle Johnny and to generations of queer folks. Looking back to move forward through music is a form of resistance in her wheelhouse, using this album to bridge young queer folks to their elders, roots, and the ongoing fight for our rights. That's the true essence of Renaissance in every sense of the word.
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Featured image by Carlijn Jacobs
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
From Cardi B To Mary J. Blige, Meet The Woman Behind Your Favorite Celebrity's Glam Team
What would you do if you just got laid off from your corporate job and you had a serendipitous encounter with someone who gave you the opportunity of a lifetime? Tamara Taylor was faced with that decision in 2013 after she was let go from her sales profit and operations coach job in the restaurant industry and met a then-up-and-coming stylist, Law Roach, on a flight to L.A. She and Roach struck up a conversation, and he shared how he was looking for someone to run his business and was impressed by her skills. While she took his business card, she was unsure if it would lead to anything. But, boy, was she wrong. Two weeks later, after packing up her home to move back to her hometown of Chicago, she called Roach; he asked if they could meet the following day, and the rest is herstory.
Taylor founded Mastermind MGMT, an agency that represents some of Hollywood’s best “image architects” like Roach, Kellon Deryck, and Kollin Carter, who are responsible for creating unforgettable style and beauty moments for celebrities like Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, Taraji P. Henson, and more. Taylor and her company possess an array of functions, but her biggest role is to be her client’s advocate. We hear endless stories about how creatives aren’t paid or underpaid in the entertainment industry, but Taylor ensures that her clients get their piece of the pie. The entrepreneur opened up about her company and her non-profit, Mastermind Matters, in an exclusive interview with xoNecole.
“I always say that I'm an artist advocate first, deal closer second. So my primary focus is to just make sure that the artist is getting everything that they deserve, whether it's compensation or, you know, certain accommodations, but just making sure that they have everything that they need to be able to show up and provide the best service that they're hired for,” she explained.
“So you know, in the beginning, it was hard because I didn't have any experience, and the artists who I was working with at the time–we were learning together, meaning neither of us had assisted anyone. We didn't have mentors in our specific fields. So every deal was like a new learning experience for us from the styling side and also from the business side, and so it took, you know, doing some research, using some very creative tactics, to find out information in the industry and just starting to request accommodations that I knew other artists were granted, who maybe didn't look like my artists.”
Photo by Christopher Marrs
Ten years later, there’s still not many people who are doing what Taylor is doing. However, things have gotten easier thanks to the research and connections she made in the beginning. During Mastermind MGMT’s ten-year anniversary celebration, she announced her non-profit, Mastermind Matters, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that focuses on helping young entrepreneurs through a 12-week program. The program is divided into “two routes.” The first route is for aspiring creative artists who want to start a business from their talent and all the things they need to learn about business, such as taxes, life insurance, etc. The second route is for practicing creative artists who are already in the industry but need resources such as how to plan for retirement or how to sustain themselves if they can’t work for a short amount of time, i.e., the pandemic.
“I just feel that I'm able to have a business and be successful because of their art as well. And so there are things that I know, I tried to teach it to them but understanding that I can only do so much because I'm not a subject matter expert in those fields,” she said. “So I at least want to be able to provide the resources, and then if they make their grown decision not to do it, then that's on them. But you know, I could be guilt-free and taking advantage of the resources that I'm also providing to them.”
Taylor continues to be an innovator in her industry by always pushing the boundaries of creativity and thinking one step ahead of everyone else. The Chicago-bred businesswoman is moving into the tech space thanks to a new invention created with her clients in mind, and she is looking forward to bigger collaborations in the future. Follow Mastermind MGMT on Instagram @mastermind_mgmt for more information.
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Feature image by Christopher Marrs