Beyonce has addressed her new album, Renaissance, being leaked in full ahead of its official release on Friday, thanking her fans for their loyalty in a statement on social media.
"So, the album leaked, and you all actually waited until the proper release time so you all can enjoy it together. I've never seen anything like it. I can't thank ya'll enough for your love and protection," she wrote.
"I appreciate you for calling out anyone that was trying to sneak into the club early. It means the world to me. Thank you for your unwavering support. Thank you for being patient. We are going to take our time and enjoy the music. I will continue to give my all and do my best to bring you joy. I love you deep."
Her long-awaited seventh studio album, featuring tracks Break My Soul, America Has a Problem, Alien Superstar and Thique, was trending worldwide on Friday morning.
The album’s composer credits include her husband Jay-Z, Drake, Skrillex, The-Dream and 070 Shake.
The album also includes a number of sampled tracks from artists including Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, James Brown and Teena Marie.
However, ahead of the album’s release on Friday, singer Kelis spoke out about her 1999 song Get Along With You being sampled for the track Energy, saying she learned about the sample “the same way everyone else did”.
Kelis also spoke out against her long-time collaboraters The Neptunes, made up of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are the credited songwriters on Get Along With You.
When a Kelis Instagram fan page announced that Beyonce’s album would feature the sample alongside a mind-blown emoji, Kelis commented: “My mind is blown too because the level of disrespect and utter ignorance of all three parties involved is astounding.”
“I heard about this the same way everyone else did,” she said. “Nothing is ever as it seems, some of the people in this business have no soul or integrity and they have everyone fooled.”
Kelis later took to Instagram to post a video, saying that her issue isn't the sample itself, but "that not only are we Black female artists in an industry where there's not many of us" and said the two singers have "met each other, we know each other, we have mutual friends."
Information about Beyonce's long-awaited seventh album had been slowly released in recent months.
In 2021, she told Harper's Bazaar the album aims to be a source of release after the tension of the last few years.
“With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love and laugh again,” she said.
“I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible."
With the album title prefaced with the words "Act I" on the art work, we can also assume more music is on the way from the artist.
This hunch is further strengthened by comments from British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, who, after hearing select tracks from Renaissance, teased that a "thrilling abundance" of music is coming our way.
Renaissance track list in full:
I’m That Girl
Cozy
Alien Superstar
Cuff It
Energy
Break My Soul
Church Girl
Plastic Off the Sofa
Virgo’s Groove
Move
Heated
Thique
All Up in Your Mind
America Has a Problem
Pure/Honey
Summer Renaissance
Scroll through the gallery below to see Beyonce's style evolution over the years
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Destiny's Child, featuring Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, Beyonce Knowles and LeToya Luckett, at the Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles, California, on September 3, 1998. Getty Images -
Destiny's Child, in contrasting denim, in Los Angeles, California, on February 21, 2000. Getty Images -
Destiny's Child, in neutral hues, at the 42nd annual Grammy Awards in California on February 23, 2000. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in leather trousers, and jazz guitarist Chris Spencer pose at the Black Sports Agents Association press conference on May 9, 2000 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images -
Destiny's Child, in lemon dresses, arrive at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards on September 2, 2000, in Santa Monica, California. Getty Images -
Destiny's Child, in leather ensembles, arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards held at Radio City Music Hall on September 7, 2000. Getty Images -
Michelle Williams, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland, in all black separates, at the 43rd annual Grammy nominations press conference on January 3, 2001 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images -
Destiny's Child, in flamboyant prints, at the 28th annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 8, 2001. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in scarlet sequins, attends the 58th annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on January 21, 2001 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images -
Destiny's Child, in khakis, at Nickelodeon's 14th annual Kid's Choice Awards on April 21, 2001 in Santa Monica, California. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in a floral midi, arrives at the premiere of 'Charlies Angels: Full Throttle' at the Odeon Cinema on July 1, 2003 in London. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in orange strapless velour, leaves Radio 1 on July 4, 2003 in London. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in fur-trimmed leather, attends the MTV Europe Music Awards at Ocean Terminal on November 6, 2003 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in pink ruffles, at the MTV Europe Music Awards at Ocean Terminal on November 6, 2003 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in a classic LBD, attends 'The Fighting Temptations' premiere at The Empire Leicester Square on November 12, 2003 in London. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in a corseted gown, attends a VH1 party at the Universal Ampitheatre on November 20, 2003, in Los Angeles. EPA -
Beyonce, in a pink mini, arrives at the French NRJ Music Awards ceremony at the Palais des Festivals on January 24, 2004 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in a golden gown, arrives at the Brit Awards at Earls Court on February 17, 2004 in London. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in cornflower blue satin, attends a party to unveil the new Tommy Hilfiger women's fragrance at The Albion Riverside on June 21, 2004 in London. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in a gilded shorts suit, arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, on August 29, 2004. EPA -
Destiny's Child, in jeans and very Noughties boots, promote their new album 'Destiny Fulfilled' at Hotel Palace on November 10, 2004 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in jeans and a checked blazer, attends a press conference on November 30, 2004 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in Versace, arrives at the 77th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on February 27, 2005. EPA -
Beyonce, in a tangerine mini, attends the premiere of the new Pepsi advert at Circulo de Belles Artes on February 23, 2005 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in a floral midi, attends the opening of Samantha Thavasa's flagship shop on April 17, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in House of Dereon, attends the 'Dreamgirls' premiere at the Martinez Hotel during the 59th international Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2006 in Cannes, France. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in Armani, arrives at the Emporio Armani show at Earls Court as part of London Fashion Week on September 21, 2006 in London, England. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in a lace-panelled midi, at the UK Music Hall Of Fame at Alexandra Palace on November 14, 2006 in London, England. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in Elie Saab, at the 49th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 11, 2007. EPA -
Beyonce, in Armani Prive, arrives for the 79th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 25, 2007. EPA -
Beyonce, in jeans, arrives at Incheon Airport on November 8, 2007, in Seoul, South Korea. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in Elie Saab, arrives at the 50th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. EPA -
Beyonce, in Gareth Pugh, arrives for the MTV Europe Music Awards, held at the Echo Arena on November 6, 2008 in Liverpool, England. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in a voluminous black gown, attends the 40 Principales Awards at Palacio de los Deportes on December 12, 2008 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in House of Dereon, arrives at the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 22, 2009. EPA -
Beyonce, in a sculpted mini, and Solange Knowles at Tokyo Disneyland Hotel on August 10, 2009 in Chiba, Japan. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in Versace, arrives for the MTV Europe Music Awards held at the O2 Arena on November 5, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images -
Beyonce, wearing Stephane Rolland, arrives at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on January 31, 2010. EPA -
Beyonce, in Pucci, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2011. EPA -
Beyonce, in Lanvin, arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on August 28, 2011. EPA -
Beyonce, in House of Dereon, at the launch of House of Dereon by Beyonce and Tina Knowles at Selfridges on September 17, 2011 in London, England. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in Givenchy, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2012. EPA -
Beyonce, in Osman, arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2013. EPA -
Beyonce, in Givenchy, attends the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2013. EPA -
Salma Hayek Pinault, Frida Giannini and Beyonce, in Gucci, at the Chime For Change: The Sound of Change Live concert at Twickenham Stadium on June 1, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in Michael Costello, at the 56th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 2014. EPA -
Beyonce, in Givenchy, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 5, 2014. EPA -
Beyonce, in Zuhair Murad, arrives at the 31st MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 24, 2014. EPA -
Beyonce, in Proenza, arrives at the 57th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA -
Beyonce, in Givenchy, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2016. EPA -
Beyonce, in Peter Dundas, at the 59th annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 12, 2017. EPA -
Beyonce, in Francesco Scognamiglio, arrives at the 33rd MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 28, 2016. EPA -
Beyonce, in cobalt suiting, attends game six of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on June 16, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images -
Beyonce, in all white, attends the NBA Western Conference Semifinals basketball game at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, on April 28, 2018. EPA -
Beyonce, in Alexander McQueen, attends the 'The Lion King' premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on July 9, 2019. EPA -
Beyonce, in Nguyen Cong Tri, attends the premiere of Disney's 'The Lion King' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images
