This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
July 22, 2019, marked the release of Beyoncé's highly anticipated album, The Lion King: The Gift, a 14-track project inspired by Disney's new version of the classic film Lion King.
The album boasts an impressive lineup of artists, including JAY-Z, Blue Ivy Carter, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Pharrell, and Tierra Whack, alongside a number of African musicians such as Wizkid, Tekno, Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, Burna Boy, Salatiel, Busiswa, Tiwa Savage, Shatta Wale, and Moonchild Sanelly.
According to Beyoncé, the album is a 'love letter to Africa,' with a focus on authenticity and showcasing the beauty of African music. She stated, 'This soundtrack is a love letter to Africa. I wanted to make sure we found the best talent from Africa and not just use some of the sounds and do my interpretation of it. I wanted it to be authentic to what is beautiful about the music in Africa.'
The album features the lead single 'Spirit,' which was released earlier this month, and includes snippets of dialogue between tracks, tying the music to the movie.
Stream The Lion King: The Gift now on Apple Music and Spotify, and catch the Lion King in theatres worldwide.
