Album Review: Beyoncé’s ‘The Lion King: The Gift’

Beyoncé has given us her love letter to Africa with a such a relatable album. With the release of The Lion King, we have been waiting on an album from her ever since her solo album back on April 23, 2016. She has been throwing hints but some of the Beyhive didn’t catch on. With the lead single, “Spirit,” which is an inspirational yet plays a pivotal role in the movie, Beyoncé has made an exception to honor the culture.

As the album starts out with such ambitious goals of the Knowles-Carter family about protecting her kids from such harm and letting the people know that her family is alright. She doesn’t need validation from anyone except herself and her family. “Bigger” is such an inspiration song that you can’t just play it once, you have to keep on listening to it to make sure you catch ALL of the points she says into her music. She made sure that she inspired us, brown skin millennial, to get up and do it and to never give up on your goals.

“Find Your Way Back” and “Don’t Jealous Me” tracks are so smooth with the instruments. It is really a dedication to the African culture. It really gets us in the grooves with the sound and how the beat girates our hips once it drops.

The “NILE” track that features Kendrick Lamar takes us back to the “FREEDOM” song on the LEMONADE album. With these two on the track, it puts together the pieces of the puzzle. You are in deNIAL deep in the NILE. You get it? If you think these two aren’t fire on a track, then you are sadly mistaken. These two can get on a track and don’t need any water to nurture it.

It is definitely a “MOOD 4 EVA” with Jay-Z and Childish Gambino on such a high energy track. Jay-Z paid respects to the late great Nipsey Hussle, who passed earlier this year, with the lyrics, “Cause true kings don’t die, we multiply.” The marathon always continues! Beyoncé will promise you that it’s her WHOLE mood forever. She lets us know that she is raising daughters and sons of empires in this generation.

With “Brown Skin Girl” track, which features Blue Ivy Carter. Both of the ladies lets us know our brown skin is like pearls. Beyonce shouts out Lupita with her beautiful dark brown skin, as well as her childhood friend, Kelly Rowland. No matter if we are brown skin, our mamas told us that we are the best thing in the world and our complexion glows like diamonds. We need to learn to like our nappy hair and natural curves. When we are in the rooms they notice us, and we shouldn’t trade our looks for someone else.

Throughout the album, Beyoncé gave us a creative art that nobody could understand especially within our culture! I have it on repeat with the songs that stood out above and how they play out on a day-to-day role. Beyoncé keep inspiring us with your creativeness and artistic music. You represent us, as a culture, that most people would love to be in! Keep shining and inspire brown skin girls, such as myself.