Described as a “love letter to Africa”, The Lion King: The Gift, an album produced by Beyoncé, is inspired by the live-action remake of Disney’s 1994 classic The Lion King. The reboot, in which Beyoncé voices Nala, provides the dialogue used in the numerous interludes that are interwoven between the songs on this record.
Rich with features from the likes of Childish Gambino; Jay Z; Pharrell Williams; Kendrick Lamar; Major Lazer; Tierra Whack; and even Blue Ivy Carter, the companion soundtrack is in a similar vein to Kendrick Lamar’s Black Panther album from last year. In an interview with ABC News, Beyoncé said “I wanted it to be authentic to what is beautiful about the music in Africa”, and she delivers.
Standouts from the album include DON’T JEALOUS ME and MY POWER, two fast paced drum-heavy tracks; the DJ Khaled produced MOOD 4 EVA that features Jay Z and Childish Gambino (who voices Simba in the film); BROWN SKIN GIRL, that boasts a Blue Ivy Carter feature and in which Bey gives shout outs to Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong’o and Kelly Rowland in its verses; and the already-released Spirit from the movie’s soundtrack that closes the record.
A remarkable collaboration from an impressive range of mainstream American hit-makers and a number of African artists, seamlessly curated by Beyoncé, The Lion King: The Gift, at 27 tracks long and as the second album we've had from Bey this year, really is a gift.
ABOUT THE RECORD:
Release date: July 19, 2019
Label: Columbia Records
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