Get the latest gossip
Beyoncé’s Albums Ranked, From ‘Dangerously in Love’ to ‘Renaissance’
With 'Cowboy Carter' just a few hours away, we ranked the nine key albums in Beyonce's discography, from 'Dangerously in Love' to 'Renaissance.'
One year after giving birth to her youngest children, twins Rumi and Sir, Beyoncé’s voice had grown huskier and more seasoned, powerfully crooning from sensual opener “Summer” to the boom-bap of “Lovehappy.” The Carters went simian mode on the trap feel of “Apeshit,” flaunted their esteem over the melodious horns of “Boss” and playfully brushed the haters aside on “Heard About Us.” The “pretty thug out the Third Ward” was in top form with an equally braggadocious and unwavering husband by her side. She bitterly confronts her partner’s wrongdoings on the reggae-lite “Hold Up” before damning him to adulterous purgatory on the rocker wrath of “Don’t Hurt Yourself.” Tipping a hat to what would later become “Cowboy Carter,” Bey oozes Southern charm on the country romp of “Daddy Lessons.” Battling it out for the LP’s rightful protest anthem is the haunting radicalism of “Freedom” and the driving single “Formation.” Softness peers through on ambient bonus track “Sorry (Original Demo)” but across the wide-ranging “Lemonade” — and its stunning film — Beyoncé pours into forgiveness after the pain. She burns the disco out on “Cuff It,” struts over Chicago house on the disarming “Break My Soul,” and effortlessly demonstrates Jamaican patois on the sunny riddim of “Heated.” As her full catalog shows, there’s more to Beyoncé than it seems at first glance, and “Renaissance” serves as her multidimensional statement.
Or read this on Variety
