It was like any other day. The birds were chirping, the summer heat had restricted many to their homes, and I was sitting peacefully in my living room, enjoying my morning. It was in that moment that it happened. I got the notification; “Beyoncé and Jay-Z release surprise album to the public.” My wig flew straight off my head and smashed into the wall, Beyoncé did it again, another surprise album. The album “EVERYTHING IS LOVE” is the Carters first joint album together.

I will admit, it took me until the album was put onto Spotify, after being a Tidal exclusive for a few days, to listen to it in full. But alas, it was finally put on the streaming service for the masses to hear. The album was a departure from Beyoncé’s usual music, but a step in the direction of her evolution over the years. This is her most hip-hop sounding record to date. There are many tracks, like “Boss” and “Heard About Us”, where she is dropping straight bars on us. However, most songs on the album have her blending both rap and signing within the same song, which creates a very unique sound. The main reason for the more hip-hop sounding album is because of Jay-Z’s influence on it. Even though this is a joint album, Beyoncé stands out as the obvious star in it. The best tracks, which in my opinion are “APESHIT” and “FRIENDS”, have Beyoncé taking the lead vocals, and Jay-Z providing backup vocals. Mrs. Carter definitely brings the prestige and quality that would be expected of this album, more so than the Mr.

“EVERYTHING IS LOVE” has some amazing vocals and beats to it. However, the subject matter and lyrics are not up to the same level of excellence as the other factors in the album. A majority of the songs are just Beyoncé and Jay-Z talking about their lavish lifestyle, success, and huge sums of money. After an album like “LEMONADE” which delves deep into Beyoncé’s personal life, as well as politics, an album with a relatively basic and common theme is a bit disappointing. However, it is still extremely enjoyable to listen to and is not a failure by any means.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are America’s most influential power couple, and that power transferred over to “EVERYTHING IS LOVE.” They were able to bring their respective talents together and create an album that showcases both of their respective talents. This collaboration between the two biggest names in music is truly iconic, and no other people would be able to release an album with absolutely no marketing or advertising, and still have it be able to be a hit. This just goes to show the magnitude and esteem the couple has in the industry.