New Beyoncé album Renaissance leaks and the Beyhive is mad: ‘Y’all won’t break our souls’
Beyoncé album cover art. (Beyoncé/Instagram)
Beyoncé’s seventh album Renaissance has leaked two days before its scheduled released date – and the Beyhive is not impressed.
Six years after the release of her last solo album Lemonade, Beyoncé is set to release Renaissance on Friday (29 July).
But reports from eagle-eyed fans claim the album has shown up on shelves in Europe ahead of schedule, and that its 16 tracks are now circulating online.
This is a particularly hard hit for Beyoncé, who notoriously keeps her music on a tight leash. She made collaborators sign non-disclosure agreements for both her surprise 2013 album Beyoncé and 2016’s Lemonade.
Beyoncé is yet to respond to the leak, but in the meantime fans have flocked to the internet to stem it.
“Avoiding all leaks! I requested the whole weekend off to listen to this album. Y’all not getting me today,” one fan wrote.
Another got straight to the point, making clear: “We can’t be friends if you listen to the leaks.”
Many pointed out that Beyoncé is famously particular about how her music is released to the world, and argued that true fans would wait to experience Renaissance on her terms.
“Y’all not real #BeyHive if you partake in listening to the leak,’ one fan tweeted.
“If there’s a leak, y’all better get a bucket and plug it. Y’all won’t break our souls,” another added.
Nope, not listening to that album until Friday at midnight.
We don't discuss leaked albums over here.
The only "leaks" we focus on are leaked Supreme Court decisions.
I'll wait for #Beyoncé.— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) July 27, 2022
I clicked the link to the leak and the first song on the Beyonce album is just her saying "So, you just couldn't wait, could you?" And then she read my address back to me before the song started.
I'll see y'all in prison— Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) July 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/belladonna1363/status/1552326705888600065?s=20&t=jTne9XwlJE0_yVv6RgwDtg
https://twitter.com/KerryElliot4/status/1552318255011872768?s=20&t=jTne9XwlJE0_yVv6RgwDtg
i kid you not, @sonymusic @ColumbiaRecords yall are gonna have me super fucked up if you let these leaks and pre cd sales come out! this is literally your biggest artist! deal with this mess #Beyonce #RENAISSANCE pic.twitter.com/u8Z37d4h0e— bunny bey (@bunnybeyy) July 27, 2022
Will not be downloading the Beyoncé leak, that fanbase will be moving like the TV licensing company, no one will ever know peace. Looking forward to hearing it on Friday!— Sean (@seanbeegee) July 27, 2022
I am not listening to the leak, not out of fidelity but because I know Beyoncé has spies— Brittany Luse (@bmluse) July 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/electricsoul123/status/1552351621849432070?s=20&t=jTne9XwlJE0_yVv6RgwDtg
https://twitter.com/lexibryd/status/1552315407746433024?s=20&t=jTne9XwlJE0_yVv6RgwDtg
Beyoncé dropped the first single from the new album, “Break My Soul” on 21 June, and has since shared the 16-song track list and album cover art for Renaissance.
Sharing the Studio 54-inspired artwork, Beyoncé wrote: “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world.
“It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment.
“A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration.
“I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”
A sneak peak of the CD booklet has revealed a sweet tribute to her late uncle Johnny, who Beyoncé has said was “the most fabulous gay man I ever knew”.
