Beyoncé debuts new visual album that aims to shift 'the global perception of the word Black'

Beyoncé is feeling the love from fans after dropping her latest visual album.

Disney+ on Friday debuted Black Is King, a new film that Beyoncé wrote, directed, and produced based on music from her 2019 album The Lion King: The Gift. Hitting Disney+ about a year after the Lion King remake, Black Is King "reimagines the lessons of The Lion King for today's young kings and queens in search of their own crowns," and in it, "the voyages of Black families, throughout time, are honored in a tale about a young king's transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity," Disney said.

Beyoncé on Thursday explained that her hope with the project was "that it shifts the global perception of the word Black, which has always meant inspiration and love and strength and beauty to me." She added, "Black Is King means black is regal and rich, in history, in purpose, and in lineage." After the project was announced in June, Beyoncé wrote on Instagram that "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."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The visual album features a dedication to Beyoncé's son, Sir Carter, as well as to "all our sons and daughters," with text on screen reading, "The sun and the moon bow for you. You are the keys to the kingdom." Early reviews are as positive as you'd expect, with Deadline calling the "excellent" film a "poignant and ardent mixtape and a further evolution of an American artist." The film is now streaming on Disney+.