Beyonce’s new visual album, Black Is King, arrived on Friday (July 31), along with a standalone video for “Already” with Shatta Wale and Major Lazer and a deluxe edition of The Lion King: The Gift, which added three new tracks and eliminated the audio snippets from the live action Lion King film.
Major Lazer’s Diplo took to Twitter to post about the clip’s release, writing, “We went from the basement studio to disney+ with this one thanks for letting me part of it.”
“ALREADY MUSIC VIDEO WITH THE QUEEN @BEYONCE & @SHATTAWALEGH #BLACKISKING,” the Major Lazer account also tweeted.
Bey initially announced Black Is King with a surprise one-minute trailer for the visual album — which has also been described as a film — on her website in June, giving fans a first look at the Lion King-inspired release.
Written, directed and executive produced by Beyonce, Black Is King premiered globally via Disney+ about a year after the theatrical release of the Lion King remake, which Beyonce voiced Nala in.
Black Is King is based on the music from Bey’s 2019 soundtrack for the animated film, The Lion King: The Gift. Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, Jay-Z and Blue Ivy Carter all made appearances on the set.
A release promised that the visual album will highlight “the voyages of Black families, throughout time” and tell the story of “a young king’s transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity. Black Is King is an affirmation of a grand purpose, with lush visuals that celebrate Black resilience and culture.”
Check out “Already” featuring Shatta Wale and Major Lazer below.
