Subscribe

* indicates required
Okayplayer News

To continue reading

Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy

Beyoncé Closes Juneteenth with New Song "BLACK PARADE"
Beyoncé Closes Juneteenth with New Song "BLACK PARADE"
(Photo by Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)

Beyoncé Celebrates Juneteenth with Surprise Release of New Song "BLACK PARADE"

The celebratory track arrived in the final hours of Juneteenth.

Beyoncé lit the internet ablaze with an out-of-the-blue release last night.

The new track "BLACK PARADE" marks the iconic singer's first original solo single since her last surprise drop, 2016's all-angles-assault, Lemonade. Released just before midnight on Juneteenth, the song celebrates the holiday with a batch of bars and shoutouts to her Texas home, African symbols and traditions, and the myriad cultural touchstones rooted in the centuries-long struggle for social and political justice.

Proceeds from "BLACK PARADE" will be donated to Black-owned small businesses through BeyGOOD's Black Business Impact Fund, a non-profit initiative founded by the artist in 2017. Along with the track, BeyGOOD has launched an online marketplace of Black vendors to support, created and curated by Zerina Akers, founder of Black-Owned Everything and longtime stylist for the artist.

In a short statement posted to Instagram along with the track, Beyoncé wished her followers a happy Juneteenth, asking them to "continue to share joy and celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle."

Hear Beyoncé's new song "BLACK PARADE" below. Hold tight for her next transmission.