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Beyoncé is back with another visual album, this one based on Disney’s The Lion King, featuring the music of The Lion King: The Gift. For some fans, Black is King is more timely than ever. Here’s what Beyoncé said about her upcoming visual album and some fan theories regarding its title and contents.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter attend 'The Lion King' European Premiere
Jay-Z and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter attend ‘The Lion King’ European Premiere | Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is back with another visual album and collaboration with Disney

Only a few weeks following the Juneteeth surprise premiere of “Black Parade,” Beyoncé is back with another visual album. (Her first visual album, Lemonade, earned a number of recognitions at the Grammy Awards.) This one, however, will premiere exclusively on Disney’s streaming platform.

“Black Is King is a labor of love,” Beyoncé captioned the trailer on Instagram. “It is my passion project that I have been filming, researching, and editing day and night for the past year. I’ve given it my all and now it’s yours. 

“It was originally filmed as a companion piece to The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack and meant to celebrate the breadth and beauty of Black ancestry,” she continued. “I could never have imagined that a year later, all the hard work that went into this production would serve a greater purpose.”

Beyoncé titled this visual album ‘Black is King’

Of course, this upcoming visual album and its announcement are both very timely. Some suspect that Beyoncé titled Black is King to further amplify and emphasize the Black voices present in the visual album. The artist elaborated during her Instagram post. 

“With this visual album, I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy,” Beyoncé continued on Instagram.

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Here’s What We Learned About Beyoncé, Her Music, and ‘The Lion King’ From ‘Making the Gift’

Where does the ‘King’ of ‘Black is King’ stand for?

There’s definitely a lot of royalty motifs in Beyoncé’s music and her overall persona. Sometimes she’s called the “Queen Bey” by her fans, with the fan base earning the nickname the “Beyhive.” Sometimes she even calls her husband, Jay-Z, a king. It makes sense that he would appear in this upcoming visual album.

The “King” might also be another nod to Disney’s The Lion King, and Simba taking his rightful place as King of Pride Rock. Beyoncé hasn’t come forward to state, why Black is King is the chosen title of her visual album. 

Additionally, Disney+ subscribers will have to wait a little longer to see what, exactly, this visual album is about. However, thanks to a trailer from the artist, fans see Beyoncé alongside children, Jay-Z, and a few new faces. 

Beyoncé’s Black is King debuts on Disney’s streaming platform on July 31. Until then, fans can watch the 2019 adaptation of The Lion King on Disney+. To learn more about Disney+ and to subscribe, visit their website. 

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