The first trailer of Beyonce’s passion project, Black is King was released on Sunday and went viral soon after. Beyonce revealed that the project started off as a companion piece to The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack. Just two weeks after the first anniversary of Disney’s live-action film The Lion King was released, the visual album Black is King is set to air on Disney Plus on July 31, 2020. In The Lion King, Beyoncé was seen narrating for the role of Nala and now for the vision album, she will be seen curating and executively producing the soundtrack.
In the trailer, Beyonce can be heard talking about the human race and the 'uniqueness' of it. She said, “You, who were formed by the heat of the galaxy. What a thing to be, both unique and familiar. To be one and the same and still like any other.” In one part of the trailer, the words, “You can’t wear a crown with your head down” can also be heard. Along with Beyoncé, the film also stars her daughter and her husband Blue Ivy Carter and Jay-Z, along with Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Tierra Whack, 070 Shake, Jessie Reyez, amongst others.
Soon after the trailer released, Beyonce shared a clip from it and wrote a long note that read, "Happy Sunday! I typically keep comments short and sweet, but I just watched the trailer with my family and I’m excited. please don’t get me hype “Black Is King” is a labor of love. 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. I could never have imagined that a year later, all the hard work that went into this production would serve a greater purpose. The events of 2020 have made the film’s vision and message even more relevant, as people across the world embark on a historic journey. We are all in search of safety and light. Many of us want change. I believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our REAL history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books. 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. I spent a lot of time exploring and absorbing the lessons of past generations and the rich history of different African customs. While working on this film, there were moments where I’ve felt overwhelmed, like many others on my creative team, but it was important to create a film that instills pride and knowledge. I only hope that from watching, you leave feeling inspired to continue building a legacy that impacts the world in an immeasurable way. I pray that everyone sees the beauty and resilience of our people. This is a story of how the people left MOST BROKEN have EXTRAORDINARY gifts. Thank you to Blitz, Emmanuel, Ibra, Jenn, Pierre, Dikayl, Kwasi and all the brilliant creatives. Thank you to all at Disney for giving this Black woman the opportunity to tell this story. This experience has been an affirmation of a grander purpose. My only goal is that you watch it with your family and that it gives you pride. Love y’all, B"
Ever since the trailer released, fans have been showing their love and support to Beyonce and the entire team.
(Source: YouTube)
