Beyoncé has announced a new visual album, Black is King, releasing 31 July on Disney+.
A one-minute teaser trailer of the album was posted on Sunday night on Beyoncé.com.
The 24-time Grammy® award winner had full rein on Black is King which she wrote, directed and produced herself.
The new visual album is inspired by The Lion King movie that was released last year, for which Beyoncé voiced the character ‘Nala’ and wrote 14 songs for the soundtrack.
According to a press release from Disney+ and Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment, “Black Is King is a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience”.
“This visual album from Beyoncé reimagines the lessons of The Lion King for today’s young kings and queens in search of their own crowns.”
The film took one year to produce and tells a tale of a young king’s journey through betrayal, love and self-identity. He is guided towards his destiny by his ancestors, his father and his childhood love to reclaim his throne by earning virtues and an identity.
The story represents the voyages of Black families throughout time that informs and rebuilds the present.
It is a “ reunion of cultures and shared generational beliefs. A story of how the people left most broken have an extraordinary gift and a purposeful future”, according to this statement from Disney+ and Parkwood Entertainment.
“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.”
The new album will be star-studded including names like Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, 070 Shake, Tierra Whack, Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter and Jessie Reyez, as well as Wizkid, Burna Boy and Mr Eazi.
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Beyoncé released her latest single, ‘The Black Parade’, last week on Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States.
This song is a celebration of Black culture and goes hand-in-hand with Black is King.
She also recently launched an initiative to support small Black-owned businesses and bring attention to Black excellence.
