Beyonce Black Is King
Written By Kris Crews
From dropping her surprise album, to creating the masterpiece that is Lemonade and being the first black woman to headline Coachella, Beyonce has shown that she has her foot on the gas in the music industry and doesn’t plan on slowing down.
Beyonce’s catalog is impressive and nothing short of legendary. For two decades, she’s continued to make strides and in 2020, a year that has been challenging to say nonetheless, she released a body of work that is not only inspiring but pivotal for black culture.
Released on July 31, 2020, Black is King is a celebratory musical film and visual album produced and directed by the queen herself. The film partners the album The Lion King: The Gift, released in 2019, that is associated with the reboot of The Lion King.
Streaming on Disney+, Black is King is an open letter, a personal journal entry to the world, celebrating black excellence, culture, beauty and history. Dedicated to her son, Sir Carter, the film shows the journey of a young boy who is discovering himself all the while showcasing black culture through fashion, art and dancing. A year in the making, Beyonce worked with many diverse creatives, directors and actors from all over the world to reshape the story of Lion King in a powerful and creative way.
Throughout the film there are breathtaking shots of Beyonce in a variety of beautiful wardrobes, some of which created by black designers, and jaw dropping footage of the beautiful locations and natural settings they shot at including her own backyard, Johannesburg, Ghana, London, Belgium and the Grand Canyon.
While promoting the film on Instagram, Beyonce says “The events of 2020 have made the film’s vision and message even more relevant, as people across the world embark on a historic journey. We are all in search of safety and light. Many of us want change.”
During such a grueling time, Black Is King is giving hope to many of us and is an encouragement to continue to be the change that we wish to see.
Steam Black Is King on Disney+ now.