It has now been about six and a half years since Jay-Z asked and answered, “What’s better than one billionaire? Two,” on “Family Feud” from his confessional album 4:44. In that time it’d be reasonable to wonder whether his wife Beyoncé has joined him in billionaire status since he crossed that threshold in 2019. With her Renaissance World Tourgrossing half a billion alone — before you throw in a $22 million opening weekend for the film project that came out of it — she can’t be far off, right?
So…
Is Beyoncé A Billionaire?
Not yet, but she is close. According to Billboard, which reported on Forbes‘ latest estimates of Beyoncé’s wealth, the “Flawless” singer’s net worth has grown since Forbes listed her at No. 48 on its annual ranking of “richest self-made women” (ha) in America. Back then, she sat around $540 million. But then the receipts for the Renaissance tour came in, adding $100 million after taxes. Then, Forbes took another look at its valuation of her catalog, putting that at around $300 million. Finally, adding in Parkwood Entertainment and her joint holdings with Jay-Z — such as a $200 million mansion in Malibu — Forbes estimates Beyoncé’s net worth to be around $800 million. Not to poke any sore spots but you have to wonder if she’d have cleared that last $200 million with a renewal of her Adidas deal, which ended in February with a loss on Adidas’ side. Maybe she’ll be able to get Ivy Park back up and running and clear that final hurdle.
On Friday, December 13, 2013, Beyoncé changed the game with her self-titled album drop. Most of the Beyhive may remember where they were when that digital popped, shifting the music industry forever.
‘Happy 10th Anniversary!’
Queen Bey’s self-titled album, BEYONCÉ, was released at midnight on iTunes with no prior promotion through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, marking an instant game-changer.
Ten years later, the album remains the most iconic and influential in music history. To commemorate the album’s 10th anniversary, the iconic singer took to Instagram to share a 2-minute reel highlighting moments and fan reactions from that era. In the background, she said,
“I still get scared with every album release. I’m constantly searching for the deeper purpose of my art.” While ending with, “Happy tenth anniversary.”
Additionally, she made the single “Grown Woman” available on streaming services after initially having only the music video accessible on media platforms for a decade. The album’s impact has been resonating with fans, who recognize its influence on the industry.
One fan on social media named @msyonceslay wrote, “Nobody in this world can think like Beyonce, she’s truly ONE OF ONE. There’ll never be another Beyonce or another album like self-titled. CHANGED THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.”
Queen Bey, The Game-Changer
Beyoncé’s self-titled album was not just a collection of songs but an artistic statement. With 14 tracks and 17 accompanying music videos, Queen Bey explored themes of feminism, romance, and societal norms.
One of the lasting effects of the “CUFF IT” singer’s album release strategy is the shift in the music industry’s release day. Traditionally, music was released on Tuesdays, but thanks to Beyoncé, “New Music Fridays” became the norm.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, this change was directly influenced by Beyoncé’s surprise drop. It gave consumers something to look forward to each week and transformed the industry’s approach to album releases.
The process of creating the self-titled album unfolded as Beyoncé did not inform her label or the world about the surprise. She explained that she went on iTunes and clicked “upload” in the middle of the night, right after her show for the 2013 Mrs. Carter Tour. She recounted:
“I just got off the stage. It was 11:30 once I took off. And I had a glass of wine, and my cousin Angie (Beyince) was like, ‘Girl, you alright?’ Because I was talking to myself, because I was terrified.”
Making Herstory
The success of the self-titled album speaks for itself. In its first three days of sales, it sold over 617,000 copies in the United States and 828,773 copies worldwide on the iTunes store, making it the fastest-selling album in the platform’s history.
By the end of 2013, Beyoncé had sold 2.3 million copies worldwide. The album’s impact continues to be recognized, as it has achieved 5x Platinum certification by RIAA, with every track certified gold or higher.
Beyoncé has consistently set the standard throughout her career, remaining prominent in her two-decade-long journey. Queen Bey has showcased enduring longevity, releasing her seventh studio album, Renaissance, along with a groundbreaking world tour and a subsequent major theater release.
Ye & Ty Dolla $ign Preview ‘Vultures’
While Beyoncé’s self-titled album left an indelible mark on the industry, other artists have also made waves with their highly-anticipated releases. Kanye West, known for his innovative approach to music, recently previewed new music at Art Basel in Miami for his upcoming albumVulturesincluding a feature from his daughter, North West.
Beyoncé is celebrating her game-changing self-titled fifth studio album today (December 13). 10 years ago, Bey released Beyoncé to iTunes, without warning, or any prior promotion. The album boasted 14 tracks, and a music video for each of the songs, plus three additional music videos. One of these videos was for “Grown Woman,” a Timbaland-produced track that didn’t appear on the tracklist for the audio portion of the album.
To celebrate 10 years of Beyoncé, the artist has finally put “Grown Woman” on streaming platforms.
In 2013, Beyoncé had begun teasing the album over the course of 11 months before its official arrival. The song was first previewed in a Pepsi commercial which premiered in April of 2013. Powered by African-influenced drums and Bey’s empowered vocals, “Grown Woman” was a fan favorite even before Beyoncé‘s official release. The chrous, on which Bey declares “I’m a grown woman / I can do whatever I want,” rang in a new era, at a time when fans weren’t sure what was to come.
The song’s accompanying music video featured clips from Bey’s home movie collection, juxtaposed with images of an adult Beyoncé maintaining her energetic spirit, as she knows she’ll be slaying the game for many more years.
Beyonce is easily one of the most influential artists, period, over the last 20 years or so. The Houston native has been topping the charts and winning people’s hearts for her confident, boss-babe mentality in her music and the same goes for her personality. She is a global icon and deserves her flowers for influencing this generation. One of the ways she was able to do that was because of her 2013 self-titled record.
Ironically, it is the album’s 10-year anniversary today, and she is celebrating the record in a big way. Around the rollout of the LP, there was an accompanying music video for each track, as well as three extra ones. “Grown Woman” got the nod for the visuals, but the actual audio was not included on the initial release. Today, that changed as it is now available on streaming.
According to Uproxx, the song was teased in a Pepsi commercial back in April of 2013. The message it has is a powerful one, as it sees Beyonce talking about growing into her own. That is especially true about her life. Now that she is grown, she feels that can go out and conquer any objective. Go stream the song above.
What are your initial thoughts on this “brand-new” single, “Grown Woman,” by Beyonce? If this landed on the original version of BEYONCÉ, would it be the best song on the album? What is your favorite element of the track? Are you surprised she waited this long to officially release it? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Beyonce. Furthermore, stay with us for all of the best song drops throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
I was spending all my nights and days (Ooh) Laid back day dreamin’ (Ooh, day dreamin’, dreamin’, day dreamin’) Look at me, I’m a big girl now Said I’m gon’ do somethin’ (Ooh) Told the world I would paint this town Now betcha I run this (Ah)
The Color Purple is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. A cast featuring Danielle Brooks, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, and Fantasia is already promising on its own, but according to Oprah Winfrey, who produced the movie musical and starred in the original 1985 movie, the cast almost looked different.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Oprah revealed that Rihanna and Beyoncé were once considered for the cast, but she felt it more appropriate to give other actors an opportunity to shine.
“To be completely honest about it, if you were doing this film for $30 or $40 million, the interest in the cast would be very different,” Winfrey said. “Once the film moved to $90 to $100 million, then everybody wants us to bring Beyoncé. ‘Can you get Beyoncé or can you get Rihanna?’ So we’re sitting in a room saying, ‘Listen, we love Beyoncé. We love Rihanna, but there are other actors who can do this job.’”
Both Bey and Rihanna have had their hands full this year — Beyoncé with her Renaissance World Tour and film, and Rihanna with her fashion and make-up brands, and the birth of her newborn son. According to Oprah, their stacked schedules were taken into consideration.
“I do remember conversations about, ‘Y’all, Beyoncé is going to be busy this year.’ It wasn’t even a negotiation, because you’re not getting Beyoncé,” said Oprah
Mathew Knowles, music manager and father of Beyoncé and Solange, is venturing into television. Variety is reporting that his 2017 memoir Racism From The Eyes Of A Child, will be adapted into both a feature film and limited series.
The show and film will arrive by way of a partnership between Knowles and Say Unkel Entertainment. According to Variety, the film will cover the first half of the book, detailing Knowles’ childhood in Alabama in the early ’60s. During this time, the race riots took place in Alabama, and Knowles was one of six black students at an all-white school. In the book, Knowles details his participation in peaceful protests, and recalls being burnt with a cattle prod, as well as getting arrested four times in one day.
The book also covers Knowles and his admiration for key figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Turner, and Ralph Abernathy. Knowles also details his father and his mother, the latter of whom was a classmate of Coretta Scott King.
“These are the men who made me proud and women who taught me to fight back,” Knowles said.
In Beyoncé’s Renaissance documentary, Bey also shares brief anecdotes about her father’s Alabama upbringing, which was also noted on her 2016 single, “Formation.”
Renowned artist Hajime Sorayama took to social media to accuse Queen Bey of copying his artistic visuals for her successful Renaissance World Tour. One of Beyoncé’s dancers has since responded to the allegations.
‘Officially’
Hajime Sorayama, known for his work on the original Sony AIBO Robotdog, recentlyexpressed his disappointment in not being asked officially by Beyoncé to use his concept of erotic feminine robots for her Renaissance World Tour visuals.
While one of the icon’s dancers defended her by mentioning the use of the original robot on the tour, it remains unclear whether Sorayama is seeking credit or considering legal action. In an Instagram post, Sorayama called out Beyonce, saying:
“ Yo @beyonce You should have asked me ‘officially’ so that I could make much better work for you as like my man @theweeknd.”
That said, a dancer affiliated with Beyoncé responded in a tweet:
“ Fun Fact: she used the original robot on RWT. Zavion and I mechanically opened it up on beat cadence for 56 shows straight.”
One user (@hotpinkprint) stated, “I was gagged when I saw him post that, but he was tagged on some of the stuff that was posted by her team back when it dropped so idk.” Another user (@v21bh) stated, “He didn’t deny she got permission, but similar to Kelis, I guess he wanted a direct ask from her, and honestly, if everyone is paid and all the legalities have been settled, this isn’t a smart way for possible future collabs to happen.”
A Film By Beyoncé
Speaking of the Renaissance Tour, Beyoncé’s highly anticipated film, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, has taken the box office by storm, surpassing expectations and inspiring her dedicated fanbase. With a high score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has impressively made history.
When Beyonce’s RENAISSANCE album arrived on the scene in the summer of 2022, it provided a much-needed shakeup that the industry was waiting for. The disco-infused project was mostly well-received, though a few artists took issue with samples of their work appearing throughout the Houston native’s songs, including Kelis. Queen B responded to the hate by taking out the “Milkshake” interpolation, but we’re curious to see how she’ll respond to Hajime Sorayama’s recent Instagram post about her “ALIEN SUPERSTAR”-esque looks on her tour that is notably similar to his past artwork.
On Monday (December 10), the renowned artist’s social media lit up with a post comparing one of her most futuristic looks to some of his designs. “Yo @beyonce You should have asked me ‘officially’ so that I could make much better work for you as like my man @theweeknd ,” Sorayama wrote in his caption. Within the past 24 hours, the comment section has flooded with people criticizing the Japanese artist for seemingly trying to take credit for a style that he didn’t necessarily create.
“Like you didn’t take direct inspiration from ‘Metropolis’?” one person asked, referencing the 1927 film. As TMZ reports, Sorayama previously connected with The Weeknd to create some art for his record-breaking tour, and was seemingly hoping for Bey to approach with a similar opportunity. It’s unclear if he plans to take legal action or is harbouring negative feelings toward the “Halo” hitmaker, but we’re curious to see how she’ll respond to her fellow creative, if at all.
Based on the latest numbers coming in from the box office, it looks like most of the BeyHive has already made their way to check out the RENAISSANCE concert film. The music-filled experience has now dropped down from the top spot, with an astounding 75% decrease in sales. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Beyoncé’s Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé has been bringing the concert experience to theaters for a few days now, as fans have been packing out seats to go see it. Since the excitement hasn’t died down yet, those who haven’t been able to make it to the movies might be wondering when they’ll be able to watch it digitally.
Here’s what to know.
When Will Beyoncé’s Renaissance Movie Be On Digital?
Right now, there isn’t an exact date for when Beyoncé will put the Renaissance concert film out as a digital option. According to Forbes, she will be playing it in theaters, through her exclusive deal with AMC, for at least four weekends (Thursday through Sunday) from its premiere on December 1. The publication notes that New Year’s Day (January 1, 2024) is the soonest possible option if she doesn’t wait.
It really is up to Queen Bey herself when fans will be able to buy and watch the film as a digital option — but they’ll still be waiting with anticipation for whenever it happens. As for streaming, that possibility will be even further down the release line, if at all.
To find where Beyoncé’s movie is playing in theaters, along with more information, visit her website.
Bianca Lawson’s journey in the entertainment industry is a rich tapestry of varied roles and consistent performances. Known for her adaptability and depth as an actress, she has crafted a unique space in Hollywood. Her career spans over decades, featuring a range of characters that highlight her versatility. As of 2023, Lawson’s persistent work and smart career choices have built a net worth of $2 million, according to Net Worth Post. This value signifies her financial success and mirrors the diverse nature of her artistic contributions.
Career Path: Versatility & Resilience On Screen
Bianca Lawson attends the Kari Feinstein MTV Movie Awards Style Lounge held at Montage Beverly Hills on June 4, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/WireImage)
Beginning her career at a young age, Lawson quickly made her mark with standout performances. Her early work on Saved by the Bell: The New Class brought her initial fame. She then transitioned to more mature roles, notably in Pretty Little Liars. Each character she portrayed showcased her ability to adapt and resonate with audiences. Her role in Queen Sugar is a testament to her acting prowess, bringing complexity and authenticity to the screen. Throughout her career, Lawson has shown a remarkable ability to evolve with the industry, taking on challenging roles that push her artistic boundaries.
Personal Insights: Lawson’s Life & Advocacy
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: Bianca Lawson speaks onstage during EBONY Power 100 at Milk Studios Los Angeles on October 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for EBONY MEDIA GROUP)
Away from the camera, Lawson’s life is as intriguing as her on-screen roles. She maintains a balance between her professional endeavors and personal commitments. Her advocacy work, especially for diversity in entertainment, speaks volumes about her values. She stands as a role model, using her platform to promote inclusion and representation. Her journey is a source of inspiration, particularly for young actors navigating the industry.
Lasting Impact: Lawson’s Legacy In Entertainment
Reflecting on Bianca Lawson’s $2 million net worth reveals her enduring impact in Hollywood. Her career is characterized by a series of smart choices and memorable performances. More than her financial accomplishments, Lawson’s legacy is about her ability to engage and captivate audiences consistently. Her journey in the entertainment industry is a testament to the power of adaptability, dedication, and the enduring appeal of genuine talent.
You should have asked me ‘officially’ so that I could make much better work for you as like my man @theweeknd 
,” Sorayama wrote in his caption. Within the past 24 hours, the comment section has flooded with people criticizing the Japanese artist for seemingly trying to take credit for a style that he didn’t necessarily create.
