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 a 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"
2022 - 7th Album - "RENAISSANCE" (ACT i)
After a 6 year hiatus from music, Beyoncé announced the lead single "BREAK MY SOUL" on June 20, 2022, for her seventh studio album “RENAISSANCE" which is the first installment of a three-part project. "RENAISSANCE" was released on July 29, 2022, and was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to inspire joy in listeners. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became the best-rated album of 2022, named the best album of the year by publications such as the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone, which would later place the record at number 71 on their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. It then was nominated for Album of The Year at the 65 Annual Grammy Award Show and won Best Dance/Electronic Album.
2024 - 8th Album - "COWBOY CARTER" (ACT ii)
2 years after her seventh studio album, "RENAISSANCE", Beyoncé announced her eighth studio album "COWBOY CARTER" also known as “ACT ii” released on March 29, 2024. This serves as the second installment of the three-part project, and as long rumoured, its genre is country. The album was teased through a Verizon ad aired during the Super Bowl LVIII and was preceded with two surprise singles both released on February 10, 2024, "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "16 CARRIAGES".
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.
I¡¯m Leaving
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I first met you, you told me exactly how it would be
You had a lady and couldn't spend all your time with me
I only wanted to kick it, so I said 'cool, you can keep her'
Long as you satisfy me
But as the weeks went by I, I started feelin' strange
Somethin' was deep in my heart, somethin' I can't explain
I think I'm fallin' in love with you boy
I gotta leave you
I didn't want no man
I didn't wanna fall in love, and
I didn't care about your girl
I didn't care how we would end up
But that was then, this is now
I think I'm experiencing love
I don't wanna wreck up your home
That's why I'm convinced, I gotta go
[Chorus]
Everytime she calls, you expect
Me to disappear like we never met
At first I didn't mind, but now I
Sometimes feel like you're all mine
You told me it was all about me, me
It's not about me if your still with her
Now I've realized that I've gotta move on
It might be hard, but I,
I gotta move on
[Chorus]
I gotta leave you (gotta leave you)
I gotta leave you (gotta leave you)
[Repeat to fade]
The lyrics to Beyoncé's song "I'm Leaving" describe a complex and emotional situation. When Beyoncé first met the person she's addressing in the song, he was honest with her about the fact that he was already in a relationship. Beyoncé, initially only seeking a casual connection, agreed to this arrangement as long as he made time for her. However, as time passed and their relationship deepened, Beyoncé finds herself unexpectedly falling in love with him. She realizes that she's unwilling to continue their arrangement because she doesn't want to interfere with his existing relationship or cause any harm to his girlfriend. This decision is clearly a difficult one for her, as evidenced by the powerful chorus where she repeats that she has to leave him.
The lyrics of the song highlight the challenges and complexities of romantic relationships. In the beginning, the casual arrangement seemed ideal to Beyoncé because she didn't want any strings attached. However, her emotions get the best of her and she finds herself developing feelings for him. This realization makes her question the entire arrangement and causes her to ultimately decide that she needs to break things off. The song speaks to the inner conflict that individuals experience when caught between what they want and what is right.
Line by Line Meaning
When I first met you, you told me exactly how it would be
You were upfront about having a girlfriend when we met
You had a lady and couldn't spend all your time with me
You were in a committed relationship and couldn't devote all your attention to me
I only wanted to kick it, so I said 'cool, you can keep her'
Initially, I just wanted a casual relationship and was okay with the fact that you had a girlfriend
Long as you satisfy me
As long as you fulfilled my needs, I was content with the arrangement
But as the weeks went by I, I started feelin' strange
Over time, I started to develop unexpected feelings for you
Somethin' was deep in my heart, somethin' I can't explain
I couldn't quite understand or articulate my newfound emotions
I think I'm fallin' in love with you boy
I've realized that my feelings for you have evolved into romantic love
I'm needing you so much, I'm cryin' just to feel your touch
I'm extremely emotionally invested in our relationship and crave physical affection from you
I gotta leave you
Despite my feelings for you, I know that I need to end this relationship
I didn't want no man
Initially, I wasn't interested in a serious relationship with anyone
I didn't wanna fall in love, and
I wasn't looking for love at the beginning of our relationship
I didn't care about your girl
At first, I wasn't bothered by the fact that you had a girlfriend
I didn't care how we would end up
I didn't have any long-term expectations or plans for our relationship
But that was then, this is now
My emotions and desires have changed since we first met
I think I'm experiencing love
I've come to realize that I have fallen in love with you
I don't wanna wreck up your home
I don't want to damage or interfere with your existing relationship
That's why I'm convinced, I gotta go
Leaving you is the only solution to avoid causing harm to others or myself
Everytime she calls, you expect
You anticipate that I will disappear whenever your girlfriend contacts you
Me to disappear like we never met
You want me to erase any evidence or memory of our relationship whenever your girlfriend is around
At first I didn't mind, but now I
Initially, I was okay with being hidden from your girlfriend, but now it bothers me
Sometimes feel like you're all mine
I occasionally have moments of possessiveness and desire to be your only partner
You told me it was all about me, me
You led me to believe that you were willing to prioritize me over your girlfriend
It's not about me if your still with her
I realize now that you can't truly put me first if you're still in a committed relationship with someone else
Now I've realized that I've gotta move on
I understand that it's time for me to let go and move forward from our relationship
It might be hard, but I,
I know that coping with the end of our relationship will be challenging
I gotta move on
But despite the difficulties, it's necessary for me to move on with my life
I gotta leave you (gotta leave you)
Reiteration of the decision to leave the relationship
I gotta leave you (gotta leave you)
Reiteration of the decision to leave the relationship
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KingCurtisRaye
this song randomly popped into my head just now so I had to pull it up.. CLASSIC BEY! 😂🐝💯🎶💣🔥
Imani Birch
Same, right now, today lol
Chloe Lincoln
Omg me 2
Brandon Bowers
This song sounds like it could have been from TWOTW era. The production, the melodies and harmonies. 🙌🏾
Orlando Sumlin
Definitely
Mercurii
she's come so far with her singing
Janette Robles
Always a classic 🔥
Dominique
It’s givin “Now that She’s Gone” & “If you leave Her” 😍
DJ Adams
A SONGWRITER! AN R&B ICON!!! TIMELESS
Nikkie B
love love this song! was on a old cd i had, underground ish...not too many people know about this. glad u posted!