Everyone knows who Beyoncé is.

At least I hope. Since before I was born, Beyoncé has had her hold on pop culture and the music industry. The influence she’s held for over 20 years shows how easily she draws in fans. Originating from the most famous nineties girl group Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé has been a mastermind since day one. Nominated for 88 Grammys throughout her career, 32 of which she has won, Beyoncé is the most-awarded Grammy artist in history. She released her seventh solo studio album “Renaissance” last July. Her first since 2016 following the galled, yet cryptic, studio album “Lemonade.” After six long years of waiting, the Beyhive and I were ready for a new era of Beyoncé.

On the eve of July 29, 2022, I was patiently waiting for the clock to strike midnight to hear what Beyoncé had to tell the world this time.

Upon tapping play I was instantly met with “I’m That Girl” and was in awe due to the immediate sound of the album. This sh*t was made for dancing. It was so different from the Beyoncé I’d been listening to all these years. All I could picture was gay bars worldwide eagerly waiting to have celebrations larger than life to the album (as they should).

“Renaissance” from start to finish is ingrained in Black culture and even further in Black queer history. More specifically 1970s ballroom culture. On the project, Beyoncé honed in on ballroom, house music and the celebratory meaning of what dance music was and still is to the Black community. In a tribute to her late queer Uncle Johnny, who passed due to the Aids Epidemic, Beyoncé’s motive was clear – to celebrate life.

Instantly met with acclaim and a surge of conversations, the album received a 91/100 on Metacritic. “Renaissance” quickly became my album of 2022. Swooping in toward the end of the year, it trumped the rest of my library and still does. From studying to getting ready to go out – it is my album of choice.

There is something so fresh about the album that I’ve been failing to get from any other artist over the past few months. If an album is so good you don’t get sick of it, then you’ve found a good one. And in this scenario, that’s exactly how I feel. Beyoncé hit a home run with not only the production, the history and the message of the album, but she truly encapsulated how she felt when producing the album at the height of COVID-19 in early 2020.

In a time when we couldn’t celebrate with our people, Beyoncé took it upon herself to make a record that when we could again, we would. And we did. What excites me the most about this record, other than making me feel what Studio 54 would’ve been like, is knowing we’ve only received act one of a three-piece collection. But for now, I must secure Renaissance World Tour tickets so I can dance the way Beyoncé wished us to when creating “Renaissance.”

Dylan Walker is an opinion writer. Contact him at [email protected].