The Lion King: The Gift
by Beyoncé
  • Record Label: Parkwood
  • Release Date: Jul 19, 2019
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 1106 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 962 out of 1106
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 1106
  3. Negative: 117 out of 1106
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  1. Sfisosabelo
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    One of her best bodies of work. I truly haven't stopped listening since it dropped. Her crown is safe
  2. Chuck101_
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Beyoncé has released a soundtrack album that brings some of Africa’s best musicians to most (if not all) popular music markets. We have no choice BUT to stan
  3. jajajajaja
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Brilliant. Empowering for the culture, specially for the upcoming generations. It follows exactly the thread of the lion king. The songs truly send messages and they have many fire phrases. Beyonce shows the power of her voice and the ones who collaborated too. A truly Gift to Africa and to the world.
  4. KellyAnne21
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Welcome to Mother Africa. I love the journey this album took me on. I love the fact she include all these different artists from Africa. If you are reading this, you should really go buy this album & listen to it.
  5. TiroKetso
    Jul 24, 2019
    10
    Black Excellence
  6. Kholzen2
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Really great album. Terrific. Beyoncé continues to outdo herself and produce excellent music.
  7. Jovin
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. BEYONCEs bestttt!!! Thiss album is really a game changer. . . Teamin up with a wide variety of artist . . . Creatin music that promotes love, culture and empowerment of not just women bbut every people of color. . My top picks are SPIRIT. . .BROWN SKIN GIRL. . .MOOD 4 EVAH. . . MY POWER. . NILE. . almost everythingggg… Expand
  8. Vannder
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Perfect! Beyoncé was able to bring an incredible sound and all tracks pass the greatness of the work.
  9. LeoLeonardo1998
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    O álbum trás referência africana, além de ter participações afrodescendente! Beyoncé dificilmente falha em vocal, é possível sentir as vibrações, impecável.
  10. AnaGa
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Amazing!!!! This album is pure perfection. Brown Skin Girl, Mood 4 Eva and Spirit are my favorite ones.
  11. Chefmoze85
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Beyonce does it again. This time bringing together the beat sounds from Africa to create track and melodies beyond life. From bigger to Spirit each song tells it's own story.
  12. comicxwarrior
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    I feel blessed by this album, that's all we needed, along with the movie. simply GREAT.
  13. Alef10
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    Maravilhosa, minha grande inspiradora! Que Deus abençoe cada dia mais! Te amo
  14. Davidesaputo28
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    Amazing album. A beautiful mix between Africa and America. It's such a profound experience. I love for this masterpiece of sonic cinema!!
  15. simplyreviewer
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    Simply an amazing album, she gave opportunities to smaller African artists and created an outstanding album with a fantastic sonority
  16. Serialkelly
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    Beyoncé provando como sempre que consegue inovar trazendo representatividade para a sua cultura, trazendo também visibilidade a cultura africana e referencias do filme "O rei leão" que foram mais do que importantes para entender o conceito que a obra estava propondo.
  17. kevingontijo
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Extremamente bem produzido, trazendo artistas africanos aos olho do mundo todo, enaltecendo a beleza e cultura africanas. Mais uma vez Beyoncé se superando.… Expand
  18. rodrelton96
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    AOTY 2019. Beyonce's masterpiece. I really loved all the songs. The best thing of the album, in my opinion, is the song "Brown Skin Girl", because of it representativity. But, of course, there are differents songs, some more beautiful, some more dancing. Now, go to spotify and give Beyonce the streams she worths.
  19. ianece757
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    Let’s just take a minute to appreciate that Beyoncé could’ve completely taken over this album and made it a complete Beyoncé album. But instead she let other artists shine too. Not only artists, she let other black artists shine. She let them and herself use their melanin, their story, and their music to uplift the black community and to shed light, love, and appreciation for the blackLet’s just take a minute to appreciate that Beyoncé could’ve completely taken over this album and made it a complete Beyoncé album. But instead she let other artists shine too. Not only artists, she let other black artists shine. She let them and herself use their melanin, their story, and their music to uplift the black community and to shed light, love, and appreciation for the black community. And of course, we can’t forget about the love they showed for not only black girls, but for brown skin girls in general. The song “Brown Skin Girl” really made me love and appreciate my brown skin truly for the first time. For the first time, I saw nothing wrong with my brown skin, nappy curls, and my natural curves. I saw nothing wrong with being a black girl, especially in America, where the blackness of my skin is a good enough reason for me to be murdered in cold blood. Not only did I not see anything wrong with it, I felt proud of my skin color, or my heritage. I felt myself truly see what it’s like to honestly appreciate myself, just as I am. I saw fit to wear my skin color as a badge of honor. And there aren’t enough words to thank Beyoncé, SAINt JHN, WizKid, and ofc Blue Ivy for what that song did for me.… Expand
  20. Frenchbees
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    Beautiful love letter to Africa from the only one Queen B. The album is a bold move considering the fact that Afro beat genre has never crossed the Atlantic and that it’s an additional soundtrack from a remake movie. A classic movie and soundtrack that is often hailed as one of the greatest Disney artwork , in a completely new era of music, where we consume it differently. It’s a beautifulBeautiful love letter to Africa from the only one Queen B. The album is a bold move considering the fact that Afro beat genre has never crossed the Atlantic and that it’s an additional soundtrack from a remake movie. A classic movie and soundtrack that is often hailed as one of the greatest Disney artwork , in a completely new era of music, where we consume it differently. It’s a beautiful album where she blend perfectly with Africa most popular artists without sounding out of touch or doing too much. A masterpiece if you ask me… Expand
  21. Orezi
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    It has been on repeat all day. Love My Power, Keys to the kingdom, Brown skin, Scar, Find your way back e.t.c. Just lovely
  22. ycamurca
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    I heard this album over and over since Friday and it's DEFINITELY her best work till now.
  23. Rell1999
    Jul 22, 2019
    10
    This album is amazing. Beyoncé is a musical genius. When I first heard it was going to be an Afro beats album I didn’t think I would like it, but Beyoncé knows how to nail every genre. The things she can do with her voice is spectacular.
  24. joanne7
    Jul 22, 2019
    10
    Beyonce has done it again! The authentic diasporic talent that this album highlights is so real and the music is so good. Not only does Beyoncé feature herself throughout the album, of course, she allows Many African and African-American artists to contribute to this album inspired by the Lion King movie and its themes. Standouts from this album include the beautiful Bigger album opener,Beyonce has done it again! The authentic diasporic talent that this album highlights is so real and the music is so good. Not only does Beyoncé feature herself throughout the album, of course, she allows Many African and African-American artists to contribute to this album inspired by the Lion King movie and its themes. Standouts from this album include the beautiful Bigger album opener, Ja Are E by Burna Boy, the empowering Brown Skin Girl with her daughter (although she needs no introduction) Blue Ivy, Wizkid, and Saint Jhn. As a Gaga fan and appreciator of the arts, I can recognize the beauty of this album. However, I notice a lot of the fanbase want to hate on this album jist because its Beyonce, who they hate for whatever reason. Perhaps their own projections and insecurities. She is a talent who we have to appreciate while she is still breathing.… Expand
  25. AlexNS
    Jul 22, 2019
    10
    Endless and powerfull! It's all about Africa, Proud and Art! Beyoncé always giving us the her best!!!
  26. blessed_banana
    Jul 22, 2019
    10
    A concept of always fighting for balance like Ying and Yang (Scar and Simba on the cover image) is bringing a lot of interesting lyrical content from Beyoncé. At some point you understand that it is a celebration of self love, confidence, harmony in life and happiness and an album without any skips. Periodt. She is really taking it to a whole another level with the new sound, concept,A concept of always fighting for balance like Ying and Yang (Scar and Simba on the cover image) is bringing a lot of interesting lyrical content from Beyoncé. At some point you understand that it is a celebration of self love, confidence, harmony in life and happiness and an album without any skips. Periodt. She is really taking it to a whole another level with the new sound, concept, melodies and an authentic image by bringing many fresh african musicians like Shatta Wale, Wizkid, Tierra Whack, Moonchild Sanelly etc. Great choice of artists, also Pharell and Childish Gambino really complemented the sound. Love the fact that the album kinda tells you a story of Simba, but also all of us, while you listen to it. Sounds much better with all the interludes, gave chills at some point. She is not belting a G5 to be valid in music world anymore, her voice is expressing emotion and owns the vision and in the best way possible. Really amazing seeing her artistry flourish. Also saw a video the other day of a bunch of africans kids singing along to "Brown skin girl, your skin just like pearls, the best thing in the world!" and it gave me life! Beyoncé, you're doing it for the culture and I'm so happy to see so many people around our planet Earth being touched and impacted by your art. In conclusion we stan even harder.… Expand
  27. beyladies
    Jul 22, 2019
    10
    Álbum super bem explorado, músicas com afrobeat ficou lindo demais, a música brow skin girl mostrou para meninas negras terem autoestima e orgulho de sua etnia, beyoncé lenda viva que não se importa com charts e sim a mensagem e o legado que ela passa!
  28. saintsxsavage
    Jul 22, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A TRULLY GIFT! Beyoncé starts the album with a interlude of Mufasa talking about the delicated balance and then BIGGER starts... with inspirational lyric and i fell it. Her intention was tell us the movie story based on music and she did it well. The album is also a celebration to her african heritage and we can realize this in some songs with a huge afro beat and she knows perfectly how to match the lyrics in these types of music… Expand
  29. LuccasDuelle
    Jul 22, 2019
    10
    Simplesmente magnífico, a representatividade a mil, cada dia mais os trabalhos da Beyoncé me deixam com a auto-estima lá em cima, e me deixando mais orgulhoso de ser quem eu sou.
  30. amarilis
    Jul 22, 2019
    10
    simplesmente surreal... Só quem é, sabe a importância e relevância. Contempla à ancestralidade africana de forma extremamente elegante, moderna e Necessária.
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Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Most Discussed Album of 2019
22
#22 Most Shared Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. HipHopDX
    Jul 25, 2019
    86
    Overall, it works and is another jewel in her crown — one that she, overall, can be proud to call hers.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    Jul 24, 2019
    70
    Ultimately, The Gift is a deft balancing act that weighs personal songwriting flourishes and meaning with Disneycore tropes, as well as a sincere desire to celebrate the music of the African diaspora with its fundamentally commercial obligations.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    Jul 24, 2019
    80
    On The Lion King: The Gift, Beyoncé deftly connects a kid's flick to something bigger, honoring not only Africa and its traditions but also shifting perspective to future destiny and greatness. It's a superior statement and a lesson on how to properly execute a winning soundtrack.
    Read full review
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