
Beyoncé is finally coming! The Beyhive has been patiently (and not so patiently) awaiting a new album from their queen and it is almost here. Social media has been in a frenzy all week after the “Upgrade U” singer removed her profile images from her social media pages and then on June 16, Tidal tweeted that the new Bey album was on the way.
Beyoncé
— TIDAL (@TIDAL) June 16, 2022
RENAISSANCE
July 29 pic.twitter.com/ZenmtPQM9W
The album is titled Renaissance and fans can also buy a special collectible box set on the “Bow Down” artist’s website Beyonce.com. There are four box sets in total for $39.99 and so far we know that it will include a Renaissance box, T-shirt, and CD. Renaissance is set to drop July 29 and it will be the mother of three’s seventh album not including The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack.
The frenzy for Bey continued after she dropped images from her British Vogue July 2022 photoshoot.
British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful shared that the superstar wanted to “play in fashion like never before” which they did for the shoot. In one photo, Beyoncé is dressed in gold sequins from head to toe, and in another one, she is giving biker chic goddess. The concept of the photoshoot became “a vision of glittering retro-futurism,” according to Edward.
He also gave a little insight into what the 28-time Grammy award winner’s new music sounded like.
“Instantly, a wall of sound hits me. Soaring vocals and fierce beats combine and in a split second I’m transported back to the clubs of my youth,” explained Edward. “I want to get up and start throwing moves. It’s music I love to my core. Music that makes you rise, that turns your mind to cultures and subcultures, to our people past and present, music that will unite so many on the dance floor, music that touches your soul. As ever with Beyoncé, it is all about the intent. I sit back, after the wave, absorbing it all.”
The oh-so-clever Beyoncé hinted at the name and sound of her album title during her August 2021 Harper’s Bazaar interview when she was asked about new music. “With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again,” she said.
“I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible. I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half. Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare. One chorus can have up to 200 stacked harmonies. Still, there’s nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!”
Beyoncé Releases the First Single from 'Renaissance,' "Break My Soul"
World stop. Carry on. Beyoncé released the lead single "Break My Soul" from her upcoming seventh album Renaissance on June 20. Stylized as "6. BREAK MY SOUL," news of the single dropping first hit when Queen Bey changed her bio to reflect the single's impending arrival. The song is a house-inspired dance track that features vocals from Big Freedia (their second collab following the 2016 mega-hit "Formation") and a sample of the house music classic "Show Me Love" by Robin S. Lyrically, the song seems to be the upbeat, unapologetically positive anthem that could be a mantra of self-love and personal freedom for years to come. As the singer sings, "Bey is back."
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Featured image by Mason Poole/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images
This article was updated 6.21.22
Beyoncé’s last album may have been called Lemonade, but her latest investment is all about lemon water. The Houston native was announced as one of the newest investors for Lemon Perfect, which is organic, cold-pressed lemon water. Beyoncé joined the company’s $31M Series A funding round along with other capital ventures.
She talked about the exciting investment move in a statement. “I don’t typically enjoy drinks without added sugar, but Lemon Perfect is delicious,” she said. “It was an easy decision to invest in something that not only tastes great and is healthy, but also, and most importantly, allows choosing a healthier lifestyle to be affordable and accessible to everyone.”
The “Halo” singer has made several big investments over the years that only further prove how bossy she truly is. She invested in Parisian accessories and ready-to-wear firm Destree, Sidestep, which is an app for purchasing concert merchandise, Uber, and of course Tidal, which is her husband Jay-Z’s music streaming app. She also invested in her company Parkwood Entertainment as well as investment properties.
As you can imagine, Yoncé isn’t the only celebrity who likes to invest. Here’s a list of other celebrity investments.
Rihanna
Rihanna isn’t a billionaire for any reason. Just like Beyoncé, the mom-to-be has also invested in Destree and Tidal, but she also has investments in her companies Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty.
Serena Williams
Tennis great Serena Williams created her own investment firm called Serena Ventures where she prides herself on investing in minority-owned companies. So far, they have invested in over 61 companies including Impossible Foods and CoinTracker.
Ciara
Ciara is getting “1, 2 Step” to the bank with her investments. She and her husband Russell Wilson are investors and co-owners of Ten to One rum, and together they invested $1.75M in a Seattle charter school. The singer is also the owner of her entertainment company Beauty Marks.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union has invested in many companies and is helping her daughter Kaavia earn financial wealth in the process. The mother and daughter duo invested in Angel City Football Club. The actress and her husband Dwyane Wade have also invested in and are co-owners of the baby line Proudly and children’s clothing line Janie and Jack.
Naomi Osaka
When Naomi Osaka isn’t on the tennis court, she is making smart money moves. She invested in sports technology and gaming company, StatusPro, salad chain Sweetgreen, and the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League.
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Ever since Chlöe and her sister Halle Bailey have been creating their own identities outside of their group Chloe x Halle, Chlöe has faced Beyoncé comparisons. Modeling her performance style after Beyoncé is no surprise since both Chlöe and Halle are signed to the "Formation" artist's label Parkwood Entertainment and so there's no doubt Queen Bey has influenced them in more ways than one.
When the 23-year-old singer/ actress stopped by The Breakfast Club, she was asked about the comparisons and what Bey thinks about it.
"She says she's really proud of me. That's not something we specifically talk about but I just love her and I'm happy she sees this light inside of me, and my sister as well."
As far as how Chlöe feels about the comparisons to Beyoncé, she says:
"I'm grateful. That's the biggest compliment anyone could possibly give me. I have so much more work to do to even get there—to even get an ounce of where she is."
The "Have Mercy" singer has been promoting her new solo single for a couple of months now, but after her performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last week, Chlöe was hit with backlash after people accused her of "doing too much" on stage.
doing “too much” is my specialty 😋🥰
— Chlöe (@ChloeBailey) October 13, 2021
However, the Grown-ish star clapped back at the criticism on Twitter after she tweeted "doing "too much" is my speciality 😋🥰."
As the singer continues on her journey to solo stardom, a similar path that Beyoncé was on, who better to lean on when faced with such adversity?
"I love her so much and we talk about any and everything. I'm just so grateful to have her stamp of approval and she always gives me words of encouragement—you have no idea how much that means to me. It's like, 'OK, that's pretty dope.' Because she's been there, she's done that, and to know the advice that she's giving me is exactly from the place I've been is pretty cool and inspiring," Chlöe told The Breakfast Club.
Featured image by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM
Beyonce Says The Motivation Is Nice, But No, You Don’t Have The Same Hours In A Day As Her
Picture this: you're an entrepreneur, at home working hard, grinding out, and trying to build your business. You feel yourself tiring out, and decide to find a stopping point. You make the choice to lay down and get some rest, and cleanse yourself of the day. The world collectively cheers for you and you're proud of yourself, as you've given yourself a little grace. And then after your shower, you hop in bed, only to scroll social media. And while scrolling, you see it, the one thing that can give any woman/business owner/mom/aspiring superwoman the peak of anxiety: a meme.
And not just any meme, one that hits you riiiiight where it hurts.
"You have the same 24 hours in a day as Beyonce."
Damn. You sit your phone down, sulk in overworked millennial culture, and get back up to get more work finished.
Sigh.
It's a vicious cycle--a cycle of constantly being reminded that if you want to be as successful as Queen Bey, that you have to compare and align your journey with hers. Right? Well....wrong. Wrong AF, actually.
In fact, Beyonce wants you to know that she can't do it all by herself either, by basically letting us know, 'this motivation is cute, sis, but it's far from true.'
To explain, in a resurfaced clip, while getting her hair wanded by stylist Neal Farinah, she opened up about her work and work ethic. And in her usual poised demeanor, she says, "Producers and studios and the networks are all panicking and hyper and over-stressed and I'm just like...press record." The interviewer then boastfully asks if she now realizes that all she needs is herself, to which she responds:
"Well, I don't. It's not true. All I need is 'not me.' Because...I can't do it by myself."
Whew, poetry snaps. Alllllllll the poetry snaps. But ladies, listen, it's true. We can't do it all by ourselves. Some (most) of the most successful women in the world, need help. And Queen Bey has lots of it. In fact, it reminded me of sex and intimacy expert Shan Boody's take on the subject:
And sis spoke all the facts, because we don't have Beyonce's time, schedule, or high-profile knowledge. She has nannies, chefs, assistants, production staff, general staff, and so much more in order for her well-oiled machine to operate. So, in knowing this, it made me wonder: why the comparisons, why do we put this amount of pressure on ourselves?
We all get 24 hours, sure, but powerful people dohave more control over the way they spend them, which is a key difference. Add money into the equation, and we absolutely are not on the same level.
A CEO can cancel a meeting or hire staff for their personal needs, whereas an entry-level employee doesn't have that option. Hell, many of us don't have that option.
Additionally, you don't have a staff of allegedly 80 people on your payroll, meaning you likely don't have a nanny, a home chef, and someone to run your errands for you, or make sure you have the proper elements in place to fill your day with being the best person that you can be at your clothing lines or various other business ventures.
Beyonce has famously thanked her staff, husband, mother, and sister for their constant contribution to her success. She told Elle in 2019:
"I think the most stressful thing for me is balancing work and life. Making sure I am present for my kids — dropping Blue off at school, taking Rumi and Sir to their activities, making time for date nights with my husband, and being home in time to have dinner with my family — all while running a company can be challenging."
In other words, I-have-a-full-staff-that-helps-me-in-my-day-to-day-and-I'm-STILL-stressed-about-it.
So, if you haven't figured it out by now, me and Beyonce are asking you to give yourself grace. You may not have the same hours in a day as Beyonce, or Mariah Carey, or any other famous star in the world, but you've got this.
Watch the clip below of Beyonce telling us what we need to hear!
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Featured image by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney
IVY PARK Just Got The Rodeo Treatment & Here's The Items We're Most Excited About
Ring the alarm! The Queen has done it again. Beyonce has dropped yet another IVY PARK promo and broke her own internet. This go-round the collection is all about the rodeo. When you think about it, it's only fitting that this Houstonian pay homage to Black cowboys and the way America has glossed over their contributions and legacy. Staying true to her roots, the IVY PARK CEO continues her Black Parade by featuring stars like Tobe Nwigwe and Fat, Snoh Aalegra, and rising rap star, Monaleo.
Donning some of the drippiest pieces we have ever seen, they help pen her cultural love letter to Black women and men. No one does this better than actor Glynn Turman. We know him from hit shows like A Different World, The Wire and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom but he is also a champion for Black cowboys and the rodeo. Alongside him, you find his granddaughter, Melinda Siegel, who was influenced by Turman to ride horses at a very young age.
Beyonce more than understood the assignment and this is why we stan. She does nothing without intention. The collection: 58 women's and unisex pieces, tons of accessories, and five footwear selections. Ranging from $45 to $200, there's something in this treasury for everyone. In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, Beyonce touched on the inspiration behind the forthcoming IVY PARK rodeo drop:
"One of my inspirations came from the overlooked history of the American Black cowboy... We were inspired by the culture and swag of the Houston rodeo. We combined classic elements with the athleticwear of IVY PARK x adidas, adding our own spin, monogrammed denim, chaps, and cowhide."
In the teaser promo, we were instantly drawn to the pieces below so we can't wait to see what else is in store when the collection drops next week.
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Beyonce has us roped in! It's all going down Thursday, August 19th so set your alarms now.
For more information on the collection, head over to IVY PARK.
Featured Image IVY Park's Rodeo collection teaser Credit: YouTube/IVY Park
Say her name, say her name. There is no question that Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is a living, breathing icon, one of the last this generation has been blessed with. The multi-hyphenate pours her blood, sweat, and tears into everything she touches and not surprisingly, most all of it in her decades-spanning career has turned gold. Queen Bey has cemented her legacy by being true to herself first and foremost, a theme that has taken center stage in the latter part of her career.
To be able to take full control of the creative reins of your endeavors is something many artists aspire to and Beyonce has done it. She has shaken the industry to its core by showing up as unapolgetically herself through commercially successful projects like I Am... Sasha Fierce and ground-breaking and culturally defining bodies of works like her self-titled album and accompanying visuals, Lemonade, and the most recent work, Black Is King. Throughout her career, Beyonce has made it clear, she does what moves her. And at the heels of 40, Beyonce is taking the time to acknowledge her evolution, the lessons she has learned, and her monumental moments of reinvention in her latest cover story.
The notoriously private artist recently graced Harper's Bazaar Icon Issue (while rocking the latest drip from her IVY Park x adidas collection) for what proved to be a transparent and profoundly intimate interview where Ms. Carter dropped a plethora of gems. These were our favorites.
Beyonce on how her childhood dreams were the foundation of her life's blueprint:
"The first decade of my life was dedicated to dreaming. Because I was an introvert, I didn't speak very much as a child. I spent a lot of time in my head building my imagination. I am now grateful for those shy years of silence. Being shy taught me empathy and gave me the ability to connect and relate to people. I'm no longer shy, but I'm not sure I would dream as big as I dream today if it were not for those awkward years in my head."
On growing up fast and sacrificing a lot to make her vision of success a reality:
"I grew up hearing this particular scripture from James 2:17, 'Faith without work is dead.' Vision and intention weren't enough; I had to put in the work. I committed to always being a student and always being open to growth. No one in my school knew that I could sing because I barely spoke. My energy went into Destiny's Child and the dream of us getting a record deal and becoming musicians.
"If something wasn't helping me reach my goal, I decided to invest no time in it. I didn't feel like I had time to 'kiki' or hang out. I sacrificed a lot of things and ran from any possible distraction. I felt as a young Black woman that I couldn't mess up. I felt the pressure from the outside and their eyes watching for me to trip or fail. I couldn't let my family down after all the sacrifices they made for me and the girls. That meant I was the most careful, professional teenager and I grew up fast."
"I wanted to break all of the stereotypes of the Black superstar, whether falling victim to drugs or alcohol or the absurd misconception that Black women were angry. I knew I was given this amazing opportunity and felt like I had one shot. I refused to mess it up, but I had to give up a lot."
On taking back her indepence and learning the power of saying "no":
"My 20s were about building a strong foundation for my career and establishing my legacy. I was focused on commercial success and number ones and being a visionary no matter how many barriers I had to break through. I was pushed to my limits. I learned the power of saying no. I took control of my independence at 27 and started Parkwood Entertainment. At the time, there wasn't a company that did what I needed it to do or ran the way I wanted it run. So, I created this multipurpose badass conglomerate that was a creative agency, record label, production company, and management company to produce and work on projects that meant the most to me. I wanted to manage myself and have a company that put art and creativity first."
On her 30s being about building a life:
"My 30s were about starting my family and my life becoming more than my career. I worked to heal generational trauma and turned my broken heart into art that would help move culture forward and hopefully live far beyond me. My 30s were about digging deeper...
"I've spent so many years trying to better myself and improve whatever I've done that I'm at a point where I no longer need to compete with myself. I have no interest in searching backwards. The past is the past. I feel many aspects of that younger, less evolved Beyoncé could never f*** with the woman I am today. Haaa!"
Beyonce on protecting herself in a world where people feel entitled to so much:
"We live in a world with few boundaries and a lot of access... I'm grateful I have the ability to choose what I want to share. One day I decided I wanted to be like Sade and Prince. I wanted the focus to be on my music, because if my art isn't strong enough or meaningful enough to keep people interested and inspired, then I'm in the wrong business. My music, my films, my art, my message—that should be enough."
On the intentionality of setting boundaries:
"Throughout my career, I've been intentional about setting boundaries between my stage persona and my personal life. My family and friends often forget the side of me that is the beast in stilettos until they are watching me perform. It can be easy to lose yourself very quickly in this industry. It takes your spirit and light, then spits you out. I've seen it countless times, not only with celebrities but also producers, directors, executives, etc. It's not for everyone. Before I started, I decided that I'd only pursue this career if my self-worth was dependent on more than celebrity success.
"I've surrounded myself with honest people who I admire, who have their own lives and dreams and are not dependent on me. People I can grow and learn from and vice versa. In this business, so much of your life does not belong to you unless you fight for it. I've fought to protect my sanity and my privacy because the quality of my life depended on it. A lot of who I am is reserved for the people I love and trust. Those who don't know me and have never met me might interpret that as being closed off. Trust, the reason those folks don't see certain things about me is because my Virgo ass does not want them to see it....It's not because it doesn't exist!"
On the power of her circle and the women around her:
"My mother has always been my Queen and still is. She has always been so strong and is filled with humanity. She worked 18 hours a day with calloused hands and swollen feet. No matter how tired she was, she was always professional, loving, and nurturing. I try to handle my work and run my company in the same way."
"My closest friends are brilliant women who run companies, are entrepreneurs, mothers, wives, and close family. Kelly [Rowland] and Michelle [Williams] are still my best friends. I gravitate toward strong, grounded women like my incredible sister, Solange. She is full of wisdom, and she is the dopest person I know."
Beyonce on learning to take care of self and breaking habits of neglect:
"I think like many women, I have felt the pressure of being the backbone of my family and my company and didn't realize how much that takes a toll on my mental and physical well-being. I have not always made myself a priority. I've personally struggled with insomnia from touring for more than half of my life. Years of wear and tear on my muscles from dancing in heels. The stress on my hair and skin, from sprays and dyes to the heat of a curling iron and wearing heavy makeup while sweating on stage. I've picked up many secrets and techniques over the years to look my best for every show. But I know that to give the best of me, I have to take care of myself and listen to my body.
"In the past, I spent too much time on diets, with the misconception that self-care meant exercising and being overly conscious of my body. My health, the way I feel when I wake up in the morning, my peace of mind, the number of times I smile, what I'm feeding my mind and my body—those are the things that I've been focusing on. Mental health is self-care too. I'm learning to break the cycle of poor health and neglect, focusing my energy on my body and taking note of the subtle signs that it gives me. Your body tells you everything you need to know, but I've had to learn to listen. It's a process to change habits and look past the bag of chips and the chaos everywhere!"
"During quarantine, I went from overindulgences to creating positive rituals drawing from past generations and putting my own spin on things. I discovered CBD on my last tour, and I've experienced its benefits for soreness and inflammation. It helped with my restless nights and the agitation that comes from not being able to fall asleep. I found healing properties in honey that benefit me and my children. And now I'm building a hemp and a honey farm. I've even got hives on my roof! And I'm so happy that my daughters will have the example of those rituals from me. One of my most satisfying moments as a mom is when I found Blue one day soaking in the bath with her eyes closed, using blends I created and taking time for herself to decompress and be at peace."
On her theme for her 40s being enjoying life:
"I've done so much in 40 years that I just want to enjoy my life. It's hard going against the grain, but being a small part of some of the overdue shifts happening in the world feels very rewarding. I want to continue to work to dismantle systemic imbalances. I want to continue to turn these industries upside down. I plan to create businesses outside of music. I have learned that I have to keep on dreaming. One of my favorite quotes is from the inventor Charles Kettering. It goes 'Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.'
"I want to show that you can have fun and have purpose, be respectful and speak your mind. You can be both elegant and a provocateur. You can be curvy and still be a fashion icon. I wish this freedom for every person. I have paid my dues and followed every rule for decades, so now I can break the rules that need to be broken. My wish for the future is to continue to do everything everyone thinks I can't do."
To read the interview in full, click here.
Featured image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TIDAL