Beyonce is trending the world over after unleashing her new project ‘The Lion: The Gift.’
A companion compilation for ‘The Lion King’ movie which Queen Bey stars in as Nala, the project is touted as a “love letter to Africa” and thematically mirrors the narrative of the film.
Ahead of its release, the superstar singer promised it’d sound like sonic cinema and enlisted an eclectic mix of African and US talent to bring her vision to fruition.
Fatured are the likes of Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Shatta Wale, Tekno, and Yemi Alade.
Joining them are American stars such as Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, and Childish Gambino – who stars alongside Bey in the film as Simba. Rising stars Tierra Whack and Jessie Reyez also appear.
Having played the album earnest, join us below as we share That Grape Juice’s Top 5 Songs…
My Power (Beyonce w/ Yemi Alade, Tierra Whack, Moonchild Sanelly, & Busiwa)
The uptemo we’ve been waiting on from Mrs Carter. It’s hard-hitting, a dance anthem, and manages to pack empowering lyrics too. A whole bop.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7ia5l12mCvbQTeAnG1oYpg
Brown Skin Girl (Beyonce w/ Wizkid, Blue Ivy, & Saint JHN)
Anthemic, melodic, and oh so timely. If ‘Pretty Hurts’ had a more seasoned, more flavorsome, and more nuanced sister, this would be she. An absolute gem of a jam, one we’re hopeful gets the single-wide treatment.
Already (Beyonce w/ Major Lazer & Shatta Wale)
Few could have a predicted a Beyonce x Shatta Wale collab, even on a project of this variety. And yet their chemistry is undeniable. Both ride the Major Lazer beat with ease. A magnetic listen and a plausible summer smash.
Mood 4 Eva (Beyonce w/ Jay-Z & Childish Gambino)
With such an eye-grabbing title and notable guest stars, this almost had to deliver and it more than does. Sonically, it’s perhaps the most familiar/commercially viable for those slow to embrace the project’s deep Afro lean. While some still feel a way about ‘Everything Is Love,’ we actually feel Jay-Z stole the show here. His verse entertains, educates, and elevates.
Don’t Jealous Me (Yemi Alade, Tekno, Mr Eazi)
Like most, we’ve been thirsty in earnest for new Beyonce since ‘Lemonade.’ Hence are lapping up the vast majority of the tracks she anchors here. That said, as a multi-act body of work, this project truly excels with several of the songs she doesn’t feature on being on par with those she does. Nigerian supernovas Yemi Alade, Tekno, and Mr Eazi make for a formidable trio on this high-octane jam. The drums and drip drill the hypnotic melody into the mind and render this an instant bop.
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What do you think of our picks? Most importantly…
Can’t believe BIGGER didn’t make your list. That my fav, followed by ALREADY.
I really really like thi
…really really like this album. It’s fitting for the sound track but it also stands alone as an album. I hope it gets singles and visuals.
Also I like her tone and vocal arrangements throughout the album. She’s not over singing…and it’s fitting with Afro beats.
Bey said she shot a video for Bigger so more’s coming.
Lol no surprise a rohanna fan likes it. This is a very Rihanna quality Album… Bad thing for a official bey album tho but AMAZING thing as a top notch soundtrack album.
The Lion king deserves no less.
I like how she didn’t just flirt with some afro-beats and pretend she was for the culture like some artists do. This was very organic and natural her song with wiz kid should definitely be a single. The major lazer song is a bop too. The whole album is better than I thought i’m enjoying it.
All the songs are unoriginal and inauthentic.
I don’t believe beyonce when she sings this songs.
This is the same problem I had with songs on lemonade. Hold up, don’t hurt your self, daddy lessons, sand castle all sounded inauthentic and unbelievable when beyonce sang them.
There is something fake and forced about songs on this album. She is trying to damn hard.
this album will not win her album of the year at the Grammys neither will it sell like lady gaga’s a star is born or Kendrick Lamar’s black panther album.
Your loose booty is Mad and i’m loving it!!! You mad cause the album is a whole bop. You will be streaming it all day anyway STAN!!
lol ?
Stay mad ?
All of that just proves your issue with Beyoncé and her artistry is in YOU. The problem is YOU and not her. Fix it Jesus
I am living for these comments today lol ?
Jennifer Hudson has the voice for this type of album
Does she though?
We wouldn’t know because we really haven’t heard her voice since dream girls
Stop trying to make Jennifer happen in a conversation about Beyoncé. That sh.it is so 2007. She’s released several albums since dreamgirls and none of you bought any of em. Shut up already
Love it …….. ? Jennifer hasbeen sorry Hudson lol
Beyonce doing afrobeats is not believable
Beyonce doing hard rock music is not believable
Beyonce doing country music is not believable
Beyonce doing jamaican raggea and dance hall is not believable
Beyonce doing Latin raggeaton music is not believable
Beyonce doing trap music is not believable
You really have no life. As Bey said, “Stay in your struggle”!
But did he lie?
Yes he did f.ucking lie.
THIS ALBUM!!!! https://youtu.be/oMp58oVociw
Hmmm so I have mixed feelings.
I wish there was 2-3 tracks with big vocals, something challenging.
I was also expecting to hear certain sounds that are lacking here.
Even something accapella.
On first listen, I’d name Bigger, Brown Skin Girl, Otherside, My Power and Spirit as my fav.
Not a big fan of Already on first listen.
Her voice is really struggling on SPIRIT and the other songs. She should have a vocal coach.
And also I felt like during the entire album that she is just singing these songs to release something to make more money. I felt no real artistry or any kind of authenticity on the album.
It’s even worse than the floppy Everything is Love. Poor Bey is really struggling these days, she is now only a brand without real substance.
Another flop album in her catalog.
3.5/10
Well that’s your opinion.
But do you really think she’s putting out that kind of album to make more money ? That’s hilarious.
She just has to sign an advertising contract and she’s get a hundred times what she’s gonna make with that.
Some of you all don’t know what to come up with anymore to criticize her.
And to clear things up, I’m no Beyhive or anything like that, I don’t have time to waste like that.
Except clearly you do…
You sound like a hater, so you needs your opinion on her music. Your first sentence started off hating and then talking about Beyonce voice is struggling?? The struggle is your comment. Find a life and stay in it.
Are you def? Her vocals are PERFECT. Especially her lower register.
Dats that jealousy dont you come for me!!!
Dont Jealous Me is a whole mood, just one OF on this collection.
I’m constantly in awe of Bey’s music evolution from DC to today.
My Personal Top 5
1 OTHERSIDE
1 JA ARA E
2 DON’T JEALOUS ME
3 WATER
4 KING OF THE KINGDOM
5 MY POWER
Top 5 (for Top 40 listeners)
1 MOOD 4 EVA
2 ALREADY
3 BROWN SKIN GIRL
4 BIGGER
5 SPIRIT
I’m with the TGJ editors except for Brown Skin Girl…not really feeling that one.
Really? That’s my fave.
OTHERSIDE, MOOD 4 EVA, BROWN SKIN GIRL, MY POWER & ALREADY https://youtu.be/oMp58oVociw
BIGGER ????
YES! ?
Love this album!! Come thru Bey!! Still The Queen of Music!
This album was the album I didn’t know I needed! And this comes from someone who doesn’t consider themselves a Beyoncé Stan. I enjoyed it! I listened to it this am and it made me want to see the movie more but also appreciate the music because it felt like she put her time into this and it’s just a great album!
I just can’t stop crying man. Just blessed to be alive during these times. The biz of the Carter clan is literally world history being made before our eyes.
Shocked no one has mentioned Find Your Way Back…def one of my top 5 along with Bigger, Mood 4 Eva, Already, and Brown Skin Girl
The whole first time listening to GIFT as a whole I had VISUALS playing in my head the whole time. This is a very innovative album IMO kinda like beds version of P Diddys press play album but more Depth and Artistic. For A Soundtrack this is A+ I love how they put Don’t Jealous me right after She s intro… Perfect story telling. The songs without Bey on them are surprisingly just as good
*EDIT*
The whole first time listening to GIFT as a whole I had VISUALS playing in my head the whole time. This is a very innovative album IMO kinda like beys version of P Diddys press play album but more Depth and Artistic. For A Soundtrack this is A+ I love how they put Don’t Jealous me right after SCARS intro… Perfect story telling. The songs without Bey on them are surprisingly just as good