The Carters' surprise debut: a musical therapy session for a global duo
In short: In 2018, Beyoncé and Jay-Z shocked the world by announcing a collaborative album mid-concert. Known as The Carters, the couple used the project to explore themes of romantic love, wealth, and black pride, transforming their personal journey into a high-stakes hip-hop and R&B blockbuster.
Released on June 16, 2018, 'Everything Is Love' was a surprise announcement made by the duo while onstage during their On the Run II Tour in London. Originally exclusive to the streaming service Tidal, the album was later released to a wider audience on June 18, 2018. The project was reportedly conceived over several years, though its production was temporarily halted as the couple focused on their individual landmark albums, 'Lemonade' and '4:44'. The duo's unexpected reveal occurred during a London performance. Following the announcement, the music video for 'Apeshit' was broadcast on the stage's LED screens.
The album's sonic landscape is a blend of hip-hop and R&B, incorporating elements of trap and 1960s–1970s soul. Critics noted that the record felt less vulnerable than their solo works, instead serving as a 'hip hop conversation' through snappily repetitive beats. While some reviewers found the focus on wealth and fashion to be superficial, others viewed it as a tactical piece of family brand management that completed a conceptual trilogy. The record earned a weighted Metacritic score of 80. It achieved a number two debut on the US Billboard 200.
The recording process was global, with tracks captured at U Arena in Paris, Kingslanding Studios West in Los Angeles, and The Church Studios in London. Beyond the music, the album's visual identity was equally striking; the cover art features two dancers, Jasmine Harper and Nicholas 'Slick' Stewart, positioned in front of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa at the Louvre. This imagery, alongside the music video for 'Apeshit', underscored the album's themes of fame and cultural iconicity. The album's cover art uses a still from the 'Apeshit' music video. This visual features dancers at the Louvre museum.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Everything Is Love
- Also: Wikidata — Everything Is Love · CC0
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