"In 2011, Lady Gaga had 'Born This Way,' Adele had '21,' and Beyoncé dropped '4.' Everyone called it a 'flop' because it didn't have massive radio hits. But here is the truth: '4' is the album where Beyoncé stopped playing the game. She fired her father as manager, left the safe pop sound, and started sampling Fela Kuti, Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Jackson 5. Without '4,' you don't get 'Beyoncé' (the 2013 album). Without '4,' you don't get 'Lemonade.' It was the pivot. The growl. The freedom."
It features a rich, live-instrumentation feel, incorporating heavy drums, brass, and 1980s funk influences. Essential Tracklist Guide album 4 beyonce
Released 10 years after her debut, was Beyoncé walking away from the algorithm. No safe pop hooks. Just raw soul, risk-taking vocals, and the birth of the "visual album" DNA. "In 2011, Lady Gaga had 'Born This Way,'
: The name 4 was suggested by fans and carries personal weight for Beyoncé, as her birthday ( 4 September ), Jay-Z's birthday ( 4 December ), and their wedding anniversary ( 4 April ) all fall on the fourth day of their respective months. Without '4,' you don't get 'Beyoncé' (the 2013 album)
The Artistic Rebirth: Why Beyoncé’s ‘4’ Is Still That Girl
The album features 12 tracks, including the hit singles "Run the World (Girls)", "Love on Top", and "Countdown". "4" received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many praising Beyoncé's vocal performance and the album's eclectic sound.