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The Lion King: The Gift (frequently referred to as simply The Gift) is a soundtrack album created by American singer Beyoncé for the 2019 photorealistic animated remake of Disney's movie The Lion King and for Black Is King (2020).

It was released on July 19, 2019, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The album was also produced by Beyoncé and features African artists such as Wizkid, Shatta Wale, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Tekno, Yemi Alade, Busiswa, Moonchild Sanelly and Salatiel, as well as appearances from Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter, Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Tierra Whack, 070 Shake, and Jessie Reyez, among others.

Background and release[]

On July 9, 2019, it was revealed that Beyoncé produced and curated an album titled The Lion King: The Gift, which features new songs inspired by the film, as well as "Spirit" from the soundtrack.[1] Beyoncé called the album "Sonic Cinema" and said that the film "Is a new experience of storytelling", and that the album "Is influenced by everything from R&B, pop, hip hop and afrobeats".[2]

Beyoncé also said that "[She] wanted to put everyone on their own journey to link the storyline" and that the songs were inspired by the remake's storyline, which "Gives the listener a chance to imagine their own imagery, while listening to a new contemporary interpretation". The songs were also produced by African producers, which Beyoncé said was because "Authenticity and heart were important to [her]", since the film is set in Africa.

The tracklist was revealed through Beyoncé's official website on July 16, 2019.[3] On September 16, 2019, Beyoncé released a behind-the-scenes TV special, titled Beyoncé Presents: Making the Gift, documenting the album's creation and her journey through Africa, shot in Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and United States.[4] The documentary was aired on ABC.[5] It was written, directed and produced by Beyoncé alongside co-director Ed Burke,[6] with executive producers Steve Pamon and Erinn Williams.[7]

Critical reception[]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received a weighted average score of 77, based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[8]

Writing for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung describes the album as "a buoyant hybrid of futuristic, cross-Atlantic Afro-pop", adding that the "expertly curated collection is an artistic showcase celebrating Africa and black musical traditions, elevating the movie experience with strategic thematic interludes that could help this album endure far longer than the film".[9] The Lion King: The Gift was chosen as The New York Times's Critic's Pick, with Jon Pareles writing that "Beyoncé flexes both her musicianship and her cultural leverage... It's her latest lesson in commandeering mass-market expectations, as she bends The Lion King to her own agenda of African-diaspora unity, self-worth, parental responsibility and righteous ambition". A.D. Amorosi for Variety praises the album as "a wild, wonderful offering dedicated to sounds and soul of the motherland", calling it an "offering to the idea of bringing connection to those who never realized such was possible, maintaining heritage in the face of aborted and abbreviated histories".[10]

Accolades[]

At the 2019 Soul Train Music Awards, "Spirit" was nominated for Best Video of the Year and Best Dance Performance, while "Brown Skin Girl" was nominated for Best Collaboration and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award, winning the latter. The Lion King: The Gift was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards while "Spirit" received two nominations: for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media. "Brown Skin Girl" went on to Best Music Video at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.[11]

Vibe included The Gift on their list of the 30 best albums of 2019, while The Fader also included the release on their selections of the best albums of the same year.[12] Both City Pages and Fuse included The Gift on their lists of the best albums of 2019, while Brooklyn Vegan listed the soundtrack at number 22 on their ranking of the best rap and R&B albums of the same year.[13] In December 2020, PopMatters named The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe Edition) the 9th best pop album of 2020.[14]

Track listing[]

Standard Edition
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Balance (Mufasa Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonDerek Dixie · Knowles-Carter 0:43
2. "BIGGER" (featuring RAYE)Knowles-Carter · Richard Lawson · Derek Dixie · Stacy Barthe · Worldwide Fresh · RAYEKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 3:46
3. "The Stars (Mufasa Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:46
4. "FIND YOUR WAY BACK"  Sarz · Knowles-Carter · Bankulli · Bubele Booi · Magwenzi · StarrahKnowles-Carter · Bubele Booi · Magwenzi · The Imports 2:42
5. "Uncle Scar (Scar Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:13
6. "DON'T JEALOUS ME"  Earlly Mac · Yemi Alade · Tekno · Mr Eazi · Ari PenSmith · Knowles-Carter · Lord AfrixanaKnowles-Carter · P2J 2:35
7. "Danger (Young Simba & Young Nala Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:16
8. "JA ARA E"  Knowles-Carter · P2J · Burna BoyKnowles-Carter · P2J 3:10
9. "Run Away (Scar & Young Simba Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:29
10. "NILE"  NOVA WAV · Keanu Beats · Sounwave · Brittany Coney · Knowles-Carter · Baby Keem · Blu June · Kendrick Lamar · Johnny KosichJohnny Kosich · Knowles-Carter · Keanu Beats · Baby Keem · Sounwave 1:47
11. "New Lesson (Timon, Pumbaa & Young Simba Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:53
12. "MOOD 4 EVA"  NOVA WAV · Teo Halm · Michael Uzowuru · Jeff Kleinman · DJ Khaled · Danja · Ant Clemons · Oumou Sangaré · Knowles-Carter · JAY-Z · ANATII · Brittany Coney · Blu June · Childish GambinoDanja · Knowles-Carter · DJ Khaled · Teo Halm · Michael Uzowuru · Jeff Kleinman 4:32
13. "Reunited (Nala & Simba Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:09
14. "WATER"  P2J · Pharrell Williams · AoD · Knowles-Carter · Nija · Nana The Writer · Lord AfrixanaKnowles-Carter · P2J 2:32
15. "BROWN SKIN GIRL"  SAINt JHN · Knowles-Carter · Blue Ivy Carter · Bipolar Sunshine · Stacy Barthe · Michael Uzowuru · JAY-Z · ANATIIKnowles-Carter · P2J 4:08
16. "Come Home (Nala Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:14
17. "KEYS TO THE KINGDOM"  Mr Eazi · P2J · Guilty Beatz · Tiwa Savage · Derek Dixie · Rickie Tice · Kaydence · Gerald White · Rich King · Knowles-Carter · Ari PenSmith · Worldwide FreshNorthBoi · Knowles-Carter 3:18
18. "Follow Me (Rafiki Interlude"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:31
19. "ALREADY"  Smooky MarGielaa · Clément Picard · Maxime Picard · Guilty Beatz · Diplo · Knowles-Carter · Shatta Wale · StarrahPicard Brothers · Knowles-Carter · Diplo 3:42
20. "Remember (Mufasa Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:45
21. "OTHERSIDE"  Dave Rosser · Knowles-Carter · Syd · Nicky Davey · BankulliKnowles-Carter · Nicky Davey 3:39
22. "War (Nala Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:18
23. "MY POWER"  Blu June · Brittany Coney · Tierra Whack · Knowles-Carter · NOVA WAV · Moonchild Sanelly · Nija · Yemi Alade · Busiswa · DJ LagKnowles-Carter · DJ Lag 4:19
24. "Surrender (Simba & Scar Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · P2J · Jeff NathansonP2J · Knowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:14
25. "SCAR"  Knowles-Carter · Ari PenSmith · P2J · Tim Suby · Dave Hamelin · Jessie Reyez · 070 ShakeTeo Halm · Dave Hamelin · Knowles-Carter · Tim Suby · P2J 3:06
26. "I'm Home (Mufasa, Sarabi & Simba Interlude)"  Derek Dixie · Knowles-Carter · Jeff NathansonKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 0:43
27. "SPIRIT"  Knowles-Carter · ILYA · LabrinthILYA · Knowles-Carter · Labrinth 4:33
Total length:
54:00
Deluxe Edition[15]
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "BIGGER" (featuring RAYE)Knowles-Carter · Richard Lawson · Derek Dixie · Stacy Barthe · Worldwide Fresh · RAYEKnowles-Carter · Derek Dixie 3:46
2. "FIND YOUR WAY BACK"  Sarz · Knowles-Carter · Bankulli · Bubele Booi · Magwenzi · StarrahKnowles-Carter · Bubele Booi · Magwenzi · The Imports 2:42
3. "DON'T JEALOUS ME"   Knowles-Carter · P2J 2:36
4. "JA ARA E"  Knowles-Carter · P2J · Burna BoyKnowles-Carter · P2J 3:10
5. "NILE"  NOVA WAV · Keanu Beats · Sounwave · Brittany Coney · Knowles-Carter · Baby Keem · Blu June · Kendrick Lamar · Johnny KosichJohnny Kosich · Knowles-Carter · Keanu Beats · Baby Keem · Sounwave 1:47
6. "MOOD 4 EVA"  NOVA WAV · Teo Halm · Michael Uzowuru · Jeff Kleinman · DJ Khaled · Danja · Ant Clemons · Oumou Sangaré · Knowles-Carter · JAY-Z · ANATII · Brittany Coney · Blu June · Childish GambinoDanja · Knowles-Carter · DJ Khaled · Teo Halm · Michael Uzowuru · Jeff Kleinman 4:32
7. "WATER"  P2J · Pharrell Williams · AoD · Knowles-Carter · Nija · Nana The Writer · Lord AfrixanaKnowles-Carter · P2J 2:33
8. "BROWN SKIN GIRL"  SAINt JHN · Knowles-Carter · Blue Ivy Carter · Bipolar Sunshine · Stacy Barthe · Michael Uzowuru · JAY-Z · ANATIIKnowles-Carter · P2J 4:08
9. "KEYS TO THE KINGDOM"  Mr Eazi · P2J · Guilty Beatz · Tiwa Savage · Derek Dixie · Rickie Tice · Kaydence · Gerald White · Rich King · Knowles-Carter · Ari PenSmith · Worldwide FreshNorthBoi · Knowles-Carter 3:19
10. "ALREADY"  Smooky MarGielaa · Clément Picard · Maxime Picard · Guilty Beatz · Diplo · Knowles-Carter · Shatta Wale · StarrahPicard Brothers · Knowles-Carter · Diplo 3:43
11. "OTHERSIDE"  Dave Rosser · Knowles-Carter · Syd · Nicky Davey · BankulliKnowles-Carter · Nicky Davey 3:40
12. "MY POWER"  Blu June · Brittany Coney · Tierra Whack · Knowles-Carter · NOVA WAV · Moonchild Sanelly · Nija · Yemi Alade · Busiswa · DJ LagKnowles-Carter · DJ Lag 4:120
13. "SCAR"  Knowles-Carter · Ari PenSmith · P2J · Tim Suby · Dave Hamelin · Jessie Reyez · 070 ShakeTeo Halm · Dave Hamelin · Knowles-Carter · Tim Suby · P2J 3:07
14. "SPIRIT"  Knowles-Carter · ILYA · LabrinthILYA · Knowles-Carter · Labrinth 4:37
15. "BLACK PARADE" (Extended Version)Stephen Bray · Knowles-Carter · NOVA WAV · Rickie Tice · Kaydence · Derek Dixie · Worldwide Fresh · Brittany Coney · Blu June · JAY-ZDerek Dixie · Knowles-Carter 5:16
16. "FIND YOUR WAY BACK" (MELO-X Remix)Magwenzi · Sarz · Knowles-Carter · Bubele Booi · Starrah · BankulliKnowles-Carter · Magwenzi · Bubele Booi 3:36
17. "BLACK PARADE"  Stephen Bray · NOVA WAV · Rickie Tice · Knowles-Carter · Blu June, Brittany Coney · Worldwide Fresh · Derek Dixie · Kaydence · JAY-ZDerek Dixie · Knowles-Carter 4:41
Total length:
61:33

References[]

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