Overview
Renaissance is Beyoncé’s seventh studio album, released July 29, 2022, and described as “Act I” of a trilogy project. The album is a celebration of house, disco, and ballroom culture, paying tribute to Black and queer dance music pioneers including her late Uncle Johnny.
Cultural Significance
The album’s exploration of ballroom and queer Black culture earned praise for centering marginalized communities. Lead single “Break My Soul” became a post-pandemic anthem about quitting toxic jobs and reclaiming joy. The album sampled Kevin Aviance, Big Freedia, and featured production from Honey Dijon.
Chart Performance & Tours
Renaissance debuted at #1 with 332,000 album-equivalent units and became Beyoncé’s seventh consecutive #1 debut. The Renaissance World Tour (2023) grossed $579 million, becoming the highest-grossing tour by a Black artist and seventh highest-grossing tour of all time. The tour film Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé (2023) grossed $44 million opening weekend.