Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé began performing in local competitions at age 7, eventually forming the group Girl's Tyme in 1990 with help from her parents. Read Full BioBeyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Beyoncé performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. Beyoncé is often cited as an influence by other artists.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé began performing in local competitions at age 7, eventually forming the group Girl's Tyme in 1990 with help from her parents. Girl's Tyme became Destiny's Child in 1997.
During the hiatus of Destiny's Child in 2003, Beyoncé released her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, which became one of the most successful albums of that year, and signaled her viability as a solo artist. The disbanding of Destiny's Child in 2005 facilitated her continued success: her sophomore solo album B'Day, released in 2006, debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Her third solo album, I Am… Sasha Fierce, was released in November 2008, and in 2009 she received 10 Grammy Awards nominations. On January 31, 2010, she won 6 Grammy Awards, breaking the record for most Grammy awards won by a female artist in one night; she previously held the record of five awards with 5 other artists. Following a career hiatus, Beyoncé released her fourth studio album entitled "4" on June 24, 2011, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.
2013 - 5th Album - "Beyoncé"
On December 12, 2013, Beyoncé unexpectedly released her fifth and self-titled album in the iTunes Store. Beyoncé called it a "visual album" as it includes 14 songs and 18 videos - with each track having a music video together with additional bonus videos. The album has a list of collaborators including Drake, Frank Ocean and her husband, Jay-Z, and daughter, Blue Ivy.
2015
In February 2015 at the 57th Grammy Awards, Beyoncé won 3 Grammys (and was nominated for 6 Grammy awards) - Best R&B Song for "Drunk in Love", Best R&B Performance and Best Surround Sound Album for Beyoncé.
On April 4th, 2015, Beyoncé surprised her fans with the release of a new single and accompanying video, released exclusively on the streaming service "Tidal" which she co-owns with a number of other big name starts including Arcade Fire, Daft Punk, Jack White, Kanye West, Madonna, Rihanna and Usher. The track, "Die With You" is a stripped down ballad, with Beyoncé sitting at a piano with pigtail braids: the song celebrates the seventh anniversary of her marriage to Jay-Z.
Super Bowl - February 2016
Beyoncé appeared on stage to perform her latest single "Formation", supporting the headline act Coldplay at the much coverted Super Bowl 50 half-time show on February 7, 2016. Also appearing on stage was Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson who performed their hit "Uptown Funk".
2016 - 6th Album - "Lemonade"
"Lemonade" is Beyoncé's sixth solo album and was released on April 23, 2016 as an exclusive on the music streaming service, Tidal after it premiered on the TV Network, HBO, as a conceptual short film. It was subsequently made available for purchase on Apple's iTunes Store on April 24, 2016. The album has 12 tracks, with contributions from artists such as James Blake and Kendrick Lamar. According to a press release from Tidal which accompanied the release, "Lemonade" is “based on every woman’s journey of self-knowledge and healing”.
2017 - Grammy Awards
At the 59th Grammy Awards on Sun, February 12, 2017, Beyoncé took awards for "Best Urban Contemporary Album" for "Lemonade"and "Best Music Video" for "Formation"
Miscellaneous
Beyoncé began her acting career in 2001, appearing in the musical film Carmen: A Hip Hopera. In 2006, she starred in the lead role in the film adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she earned two Golden Globe nominations.
On April 4, 2008, Beyoncé and Jay-Z were married in a small, private ceremony in New York. On January 7, 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Beyoncé is sometimes referred to as Jay-Z's wifey and/or, Jay-Z's boo thang.
Beyoncé launched her family's fashion line, House of Deréon, in 2004, and has endorsed such brands as Pepsi, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani and L'Oréal.
In 2009, Forbes listed Beyoncé fourth on its list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential Celebrities in the world, third on its list of the top-grossing musicians, and number one on the list of top Best-Paid Celebs Under 30 with over $87 million dollars in earnings between 2008 and 2009.
Beyoncé has attained five Hot 100 number one singles, becoming one of the two female artists—joint with Rihanna—with the most number ones attained within the 2000s, excluding her three Hot 100 number one singles with Destiny's Child.
BLACK PARADE
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
I'm goin' back, back, back, back
Where my roots ain't watered down
Growin', growin' like a Baobab tree
Of life on fertile ground, ancestors put me on game
Ankh charm on gold chains, with my Oshun energy, oh
Drip all on me, woo, Ankara Dashiki print
Hol' up, don't I smell like satya, Nag Champa incense?
Yeah, pure ice (ice), ice (ice), buss down
Uh, flooded (flooded), flooded (flooded), on my wrist, ow
Ooh, goin' up, goin' up, motherland, motherland drip on me
Ooh, melanin, melanin, my drip is skin deep, like
Ooh, motherland, motherland, motherland, motherland drip on me
Eeya, I can't forget my history is her story, yeah
Being black, maybe that's the reason why they always mad
Yeah, they always mad, yeah
Been passed 'em, I know that's the reason why they all big mad
And they always have been
Honey, come around my way, around my hive
Whenever momma says so, momma say
Here I come on my throne, sittin' high
Follow my parade, oh, my parade
Talkin' slick to my folk (my folk), nip that lip like lipo (lipo)
You hear them swarmin', right? Bees is known to bite
Now here we come on our thrones, sittin' high
Follow my parade, oh, my parade
On fours, all black
All chrome, black-owned
Black tints, matte black
Walked by, my window down, let 'em see who in it
Crack a big smile (ding)
Go figure, me and Jigga, fifty 'leven children
They like, "Chick, how?"
I charge my crystals in a full moon
You could send them missiles, I'ma send my goons
Baby sister reppin' Yemaya (Yemaya)
Trust me, they gon' need an army
Rubber bullets bouncin' off me
Made a picket sign off your picket fence
Take it as a warning
Waist beads from Yoruba (woo)
Four hunnid billi', Mansa Musa (woo)
Stroll line to the barbeque
Put us any damn where, we gon' make it look cute
Pandemic fly on the runway, in my hazmat
Children runnin' through the house and my art, all black
Ancestors on the wall, let the ghosts chit-chat
(Ancestors on the wall, let the ghosts chit-chat)
Hold my hands, we gon' pray together
Lay down, face down in the gravel
We wearin' all attire white to the funeral
Black love, we gon' stay together
Curtis Mayfield on the speaker (woo)
Lil' Malcolm, Martin, mixed with momma Tina (woo)
Need another march, lemme call Tamika (woo)
Need peace and reparation for my people (woo)
Fuck these laid edges, I'ma let it shrivel up (shrivel up)
Fuck this fade and waves, I'ma let it dread all up (dread all up)
Put your fists up in the air, show black love (show black love)
Motherland drip on me, motherland, motherland drip on me
Honey, come around my way, around my hive
Whenever momma says so, momma say
Here I come on my throne, sittin' high
Follow my parade, oh, my parade
Talkin' slick to my folk (my folk), nip that lip like lipo (lipo)
You hear 'em swarmin', right? Bees is known to bite
Now here we come on our thrones, sittin' high
Follow my parade, oh, my parade
We got rhythm (we got rhythm), we got pride (we got pride)
We birth kings (we birth kings), we birth tribes (we birth tribes)
Holy river (holy river), holy tongue (holy tongue)
Speak the glory (speak the glory), feel the love (feel the love)
Motherland, motherland drip on me, hey, hey, hey
Motherland, motherland drip on me, hey, hey, hey
I can't forget my history, it's her story
Motherland drip on me, motherland, motherland drip on me
Honey, come around my way, around my hive
Whenever momma says so, momma say
Here I come on my throne, sittin' high
Follow my parade, oh, my parade
Talkin' slick to my folk (my folk), lift that lip like lipo (lipo)
You hear 'em swarmin', right? Bees is known to bite
Now here we come on our thrones, sittin' high
Follow my parade, oh, black parade
In "Black Parade," Beyoncé celebrates her black heritage and roots by referring to the ancestral knowledge and history that her forebears passed down. She sets the scene by declaring that she's heading "back to the South," unapologetic in her desire to embrace her Southern roots. She then mentions that her "roots ain't watered down," which refers to her ancestors' struggles since they weren't allowed to have their cultural heritage. She then talks about how her growth is reminiscent of the Baobab tree, the tree of life in African culture that starts small and grows to immense sizes, symbolizing the never-ending cycle of life. Beyoncé sings of her pride in being black and the gravity of the love that her ancestors poured into her. She talks about the importance of her heritage and the knowledge passed down from her ancestors. Beyoncé speaks about the beauty and intricacy of the black culture, how it runs deep through her veins, and how even her drip is skin-based. Overall, the song has an overarching message of black unity and empowerment, as Beyoncé encourages listeners to follow her parade and feel the love and strength of their roots.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm goin' back to the South
I am returning to the South, where my roots are deep
Where my roots ain't watered down
I am going back to a place where my cultural heritage is valued
Growin', growin' like a Baobab tree
My growth is unhampered and sturdy like the Baobab tree
Of life on fertile ground, ancestors put me on game
My ancestors have given me valuable knowledge to grow and thrive
Ankh charm on gold chains, with my Oshun energy
I have a symbol of life and vitality on my gold chains, representing the energy of Oshun
Drip all on me, woo, Ankara Dashiki print
I am wearing an Ankara Dashiki print, exuding confidence and style
Hol' up, don't I smell like satya, Nag Champa incense?
I am also fragrant with satya and Nag Champa incense
Yeah, pure ice (ice), ice (ice), buss down
I am wearing pure, high-quality jewelry that is dazzling and awe-inspiring
Uh, flooded (flooded), flooded (flooded), on my wrist, ow
My wrist is adorned with multiple layers of jewelry that complement each other perfectly
Ooh, goin' up, goin' up, motherland, motherland drip on me
I'm rising up and I want to be infused with the energy and essence of the motherland
Ooh, melanin, melanin, my drip is skin deep, like
What I wear also reflects the beauty of my melanin-rich skin
Ooh, motherland, motherland, motherland, motherland drip on me
I am infused with the essence of the motherland that makes me strong and resilient
Eeya, I can't forget my history is her story, yeah
My history is intertwined with the history of my female ancestors
Being black, maybe that's the reason why they always mad
Perhaps the reason why some people are always angry is because of my blackness
Yeah, they always mad, yeah
Yes, they are always angry
Been passed 'em, I know that's the reason why they all big mad
I have surpassed their expectations, making them even angrier
And they always have been
They have always been angry and that will never change
Honey, come around my way, around my hive
Please come to my place, where we live and work together
Whenever momma says so, momma say
I follow my mother's guidance in all aspects of my life
Here I come on my throne, sittin' high
I am here, feeling powerful and regal
Follow my parade, oh, my parade
Join me and follow my lead in this beautiful celebration of blackness
Talkin' slick to my folk (my folk), nip that lip like lipo (lipo)
If anyone talks disrespectfully about my community or family, I will shut them down
You hear them swarmin', right? Bees is known to bite
People are gathering around me, eager to join my movement
Now here we come on our thrones, sittin' high
We are all here, feeling powerful and majestic
On fours, all black
We are all dressed in black, a symbol of power and elegance
All chrome, black-owned
Our possessions and businesses are owned by the black community
Black tints, matte black
Even our cars are a symbol of our blackness, with black tints and matte black finish
Walked by, my window down, let 'em see who in it
As I walked by, I lowered my car window to let everyone see me, confident and proud
Crack a big smile (ding)
I am so happy and proud of who I am that I cannot help but smile
Go figure, me and Jigga, fifty 'leven children
It's surprising, but I have an amazing life with Jay-Z, my husband, and our large family
They like, "Chick, how?"
People are amazed and curious about how I have achieved so much with such ease
I charge my crystals in a full moon
I believe in the power of crystals and charge them during the full moon to harness their energy
You could send them missiles, I'ma send my goons
I may face violence or aggression, but I am unafraid and will respond with strength and courage
Baby sister reppin' Yemaya (Yemaya)
I am representing and embodying the spirit of Yemaya, a powerful deity in my culture
Trust me, they gon' need an army
Any person or group who tries to fight me will need a massive army to succeed
Rubber bullets bouncin' off me
Even rubber bullets will not stop me because I am powerful and resilient
Made a picket sign off your picket fence
I took the materials of my oppressors and made something powerful out of them
Take it as a warning
Take notice of who I am, what I stand for, and the power I wield
Waist beads from Yoruba (woo)
I am wearing waist beads that have significant meaning in my Yoruba culture
Four hunnid billi', Mansa Musa (woo)
I am as wealthy and powerful as Mansa Musa, a renowned African king
Stroll line to the barbeque
I take pride in my community and will confidently strut to any social event
Put us any damn where, we gon' make it look cute
No matter where we are, the black community will always exude style and grace
Pandemic fly on the runway, in my hazmat
Even during a pandemic, I will walk the runway with confidence and in style with my hazmat suit
Children runnin' through the house and my art, all black
My kids are free to play and create, surrounded by beautiful and black art
Ancestors on the wall, let the ghosts chit-chat
My ancestors are always with me, and I feel comfort in that even if I can't see them
(Ancestors on the wall, let the ghosts chit-chat)
I am saying it again to emphasize how much I value my ancestors
Hold my hands, we gon' pray together
Let's come together in prayer
Lay down, face down in the gravel
I am showing respect and humility by laying face down in the gravel, possibly as part of a ritual or ceremony
We wearin' all attire white to the funeral
We are at a funeral and have chosen to wear all white clothing as a symbol of peace and purity
Black love, we gon' stay together
I am affirming my commitment to the black community, and we will always remain together and strong
Curtis Mayfield on the speaker (woo)
I am listening to the soulful music of Curtis Mayfield on the speakers
Lil' Malcolm, Martin, mixed with momma Tina (woo)
I am inspired by the legacies of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and my own mother Tina Knowles
Need another march, lemme call Tamika (woo)
I need to organize another march, so I am calling on Tamika Mallory, a prominent activist
Need peace and reparation for my people (woo)
I am demanding peace and reparations for the black community
Fuck these laid edges, I'ma let it shrivel up (shrivel up)
I am embracing my natural hair texture and letting it do what it wants
Fuck this fade and waves, I'ma let it dread all up (dread all up)
I am also embracing the beauty and power of dreadlocks instead of conforming to societal beauty standards
Put your fists up in the air, show black love (show black love)
Let's stand in solidarity and show that we support and love each other
Motherland drip on me, motherland, motherland drip on me
I am again calling on the energy of the motherland to give me strength and vitality
You hear 'em swarmin', right? Bees is known to bite
People are starting to gather around me, but they should be careful because I can be fierce and unafraid
We got rhythm (we got rhythm), we got pride (we got pride)
We have rhythm and a sense of pride that no one can take away from us
We birth kings (we birth kings), we birth tribes (we birth tribes)
We are responsible for giving birth to great leaders and communities
Holy river (holy river), holy tongue (holy tongue)
We are connected to the sacred river and have an important language to express ourselves
Speak the glory (speak the glory), feel the love (feel the love)
Let's celebrate our greatness and feel the love from one another
Motherland, motherland drip on me, hey, hey, hey
I am still calling on the power and energy of the motherland
I can't forget my history, it's her story
I cannot forget about my history and the impact that women have had on it
Talkin' slick to my folk (my folk), lift that lip like lipo (lipo)
I will not tolerate any disrespectful talk towards my community and will respond with force
Follow my parade, oh, black parade
I am leading a powerful and empowering parade to celebrate blackness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Akil Fresh, Beyonce Giselle Knowles, Brittany Coney, Denisia Andrews, Derek Dixie, Kimberly Krysiuk, Ricky Tice, Shawn C. Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carl Coyoca
Im a Filipino, but we sometimes get bullied bec of our skin color. I stand for black people and for what they are fighting for! U guys are awesome!! 🌼
Nirvana Vybz
Thank you. You are awesome yourself.
Yvette A
@she sneezed on the beat and the beat got sicker love and be proud of your skin color!!! Trust and believe there are many people that are wishing for your melanin. Here in the U.S. we do have colorism issues sometimes BUT for the most part we KNOW "Black is Beautiful"❤ and "I'm Black and I'm Proud!!!" ~ James Brown
desi_black girl
@Terrie Granger hugeee scoff too ... and a talk to the hand as well 🤣😂🖤🖤🖤💚💚💚❤❤❤
desi_black girl
@Jordan Johnson and native too
Sade' Sebastian
Any black person that has ANY knowledge of ancient African spirituality can never say this song is trash! She's dropping some jewels in this song!
The Alkemist Magician
@Amber Brown it’s not demonic, it’s just not for YOU
Myricale Robinson
@Amber Brown it's not demonic at all
Will Axson
@🌻Julia 🌻 z,
kk wilson
FACTS!