Beyoncé’s highly anticipated seventh studio album, Renaissance, dropped on Friday, July 29th, marking her return to solo album territory after a six-year gap since the groundbreaking Lemonade. While Beyoncé has remained active with projects like Everything Is Love with Jay-Z as The Carters, her iconic Coachella performance leading to Homecoming, and The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack, Renaissance signifies a dedicated focus back on her personal artistic expression. The album was preceded by the hit single “Break My Soul,” a house-infused track featuring Big Freedia, which quickly climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting the stage for the album’s diverse and collaborative nature.
Renaissance is notable not only for its sound but also for the extensive list of talented individuals who contributed to its creation. Beyoncé assembled an impressive and eclectic team of songwriters, producers, and artists to bring her vision to life. This article delves into the key songwriting partners behind each track on Renaissance, highlighting the collaborative spirit that defines this album.
A Roster of Hitmakers and Rising Stars
The songwriting credits for Renaissance read like a who’s who of the music industry, blending established hitmakers with exciting new voices. Frequent collaborator Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, a name synonymous with Beyoncé’s biggest hits, is heavily involved throughout the album. His contributions are evident in tracks like “I’m That Girl,” “Cozy,” “Cuff It,” “Energy,” “Break My Soul,” “Church Girl,” “Thique,” “America Has a Problem,” and “Pure/Honey,” showcasing his versatility and enduring creative partnership with Beyoncé.
Adding to the star power, legendary guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers, known for his work with Chic and countless iconic artists, lends his expertise to “Cuff It,” bringing his signature funk-infused sound to the track. Raphael Saadiq, another respected figure in R&B and soul music, also contributes to “Cuff It” and “Pure/Honey,” enriching the album’s sonic tapestry with his soulful touch.
The album also embraces contemporary talents. Hitmakers NOVA and NO ID, alongside artists like Honey Dijon, Chris Penny, Luke Solomon, Skrillex, Beam, Grace Jones, and Tems, all play a part in shaping the sound of Renaissance. This blend of veteran experience and fresh perspectives underscores Beyoncé’s commitment to innovation and pushing musical boundaries.
Track-by-Track Breakdown of Songwriting Collaborations
To fully appreciate the collaborative nature of Renaissance, let’s examine the songwriting credits for each of the 16 tracks:
1. “I’m That Girl”: Written by Beyoncé, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Kelman Duran, Mike Dean, Tommy Wright III. This track sets the tone for the album with a confident and assertive energy, co-crafted with long-time partners and new collaborators like Kelman Duran.
2. “Cozy”: Written by Beyoncé, Honey Redmond, Christopher Lawrence Penny, Luke Francis Matthew Solomon, Dave Giles II, Nija Charles, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Mike Dean, Corece Smith, Curtis Alan Jones. “Cozy” is a testament to self-love and empowerment, featuring a broad team of writers, including Honey Redmond and Nija Charles, alongside frequent collaborators.
3. “Alien Superstar”: Written by Beyoncé, Honey Redmond, Christopher Lawrence Penny, Luke Francis Matthew Solomon, Denisia “@Blu_June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, S. Carter, David Debrandon Brown, Dave Hamelin, Timothy Lee McKenzie, Danielle Balbuena, Rami Yacoub, Leven Kali, Atia Boggs p/k/a Ink, Levar Coppin, Saliou Diagne, Mike Dean, Robert Francis Anthony Manzoli, Richard Peter John Fairbrass, Christopher Abbott Bernard Fairbrass, John Michael Holiday, Barbara Ann Teer, Kim Cooper, Peter Rauhofer. This track boasts an extensive list of contributors, highlighting its sample-heavy and layered production, drawing from diverse musical and spoken word sources.
4. “Cuff It”: Written by Beyoncé, Denisia “@Blu_June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, Morten Ristorp, Raphael Saadiq, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Mary Christine Brockert, Allen Henry McGrier, Nile Rodgers. A standout track with disco and funk influences, “Cuff It” benefits from the combined songwriting prowess of Nile Rodgers and Raphael Saadiq, alongside Beyoncé’s core team.
5. “Energy” feat. BEAM: Written by Beyoncé, Tyshane Thompson, Skrillex, Almando Cresso, Jordan Douglas, Tizita Makuria, Denisia “@Blu_June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Mary Christine Brockhert, Allen Henry McGrier, Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, Adam James Pigott, Freddie Ross. The high-energy track “Energy” sees Beyoncé collaborating with Skrillex, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (The Neptunes), indicating a fusion of electronic and hip-hop influences.
6. “Break My Soul”: Written by Beyoncé, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Christopher A. Stewart, S. Carter, George Allen, Fred Craig McFarlane, Adam James Pigott, Freddie Ross. The lead single, “Break My Soul,” is a powerful anthem of resilience, penned with The-Dream and Christopher A. Stewart, and notably samples Robin S.’s “Show Me Love,” adding a classic house music touch.
7. “Church Girl”: Written by Beyoncé, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Ernest “NO ID” Wilson, Elbernita Clark Terrell, Jimi Stephen Payton, Dion Lamont Norman, Derrick Robert Ordogne, James Brown, Orville Erwin Hall, Phillip Glen Price, Ralph Macdonald, William Salter. “Church Girl” is a complex track that blends gospel and dance elements, with songwriting contributions from NO ID and samples from gospel legend Elbernita Clark Terrell of The Clark Sisters, and James Brown.
8. “Plastic Off the Sofa”: Written by Beyoncé, Sydney Bennett, Sabrina Claudio, Nick Green, Patrick Paige II. This smoother, more soulful track features a different set of songwriting partners, including Sydney Bennett (Syd from The Internet) and Sabrina Claudio, showcasing Beyoncé’s versatility in collaborating across genres.
9. “Virgo’s Groove”: Written by Beyoncé, Leven Kali, Solomon Fagenson Cole, Daniel Memmi, Dustin Dab Bowie, Darius Dixson, Jocelyn Donald, Jesse Wilson, Denisia “@Blu_June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney. “Virgo’s Groove” leans into a sensual and groovy vibe, bringing in writers like Leven Kali and Darius Dixson to craft its smooth sound.
10. “Move” feat. Grace Jones and Tems: Written by Beyoncé, Richard Isong, Ariowa Irosogie, Denisia “@Blu_June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, Temilade Openiyi, Ronald Banful. Featuring Grace Jones and Tems, “Move” is an Afrobeat-infused track, with songwriting contributions from Tems herself (Temilade Openiyi) and Richard Isong, reflecting its global sonic palette.
11. “Heated”: Written by Beyoncé, Aubrey Drake Graham, Matthew Samuels, Jahaan Sweet, Rupert Thomas, Jr., Sean Seaton, Denisia “@Blu_June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, Ricky Lawson, Oliver Rodigan. “Heated” includes Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham) among its writers, alongside Boi-1da (Matthew Samuels), adding a hip-hop edge to the album’s diverse sound.
12. “Thique”: Written by Beyoncé, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Chauncey Hollis Jr, Atia Boggs p/k/a Ink, Julian Martrel Mason, Jabbar Stevens, Cherdericka Nichols. “Thique” is a confident and body-positive anthem, co-written with The-Dream and Chauncey Hollis Jr. (Hit-Boy), among others.
13. “All Up In Your Mind”: Written by Beyoncé, Jabbar Stevens, Cherdericka Nichols, Michael Tucker, Alexander Guy Cook, Mike Dean, Larry Griffin Jr., Jameil Aossey. This track explores a more experimental sound, with contributions from Alexander Guy Cook, known for his work with Charli XCX, indicating Beyoncé’s willingness to venture into different sonic territories.
14. “America Has a Problem”: Written by Beyoncé, Terius ‘The-Dream’ Gesteelde-Diamant, S. Carter, Mike Dean, Andrell D Rogers, Tino Santron McIntosh. “America Has a Problem” tackles social commentary with a sharp edge, featuring songwriting from The-Dream, Jay-Z (S. Carter), and samples from Kilo Ali’s “Cocaine.”
15. “Pure/Honey”: Written by Beyoncé, Michael Tucker, Darius Dixson, Michael Pollack, Denisia “@Blu_June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Raphael Saadiq, Moi Renee, Eric Snead, Jerel Black, Michael D Cox , Kevin Marquis Bellmon, Andrew Richardson, Count Maurice. “Pure/Honey” is a multi-layered track with numerous samples and interpolations, reflecting its diverse sonic influences and extensive list of contributors, including Raphael Saadiq and samples from Moi Renee and Kevin Aviance.
16. “Summer Renaissance”: Written by Beyoncé, Denisia “@Blu_June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Leven Kali, Mike Dean, Atia Boggs p/k/a Ink, Levar Coppin, Saliou Diagne , Ricky Lawson, Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Peter Bellotte. Closing the album, “Summer Renaissance” is a vibrant and celebratory track that directly interpolates Donna Summer’s iconic “I Feel Love,” paying homage to disco’s legacy, and features songwriting input from disco legends Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, and Peter Bellotte themselves.
A Testament to Collaboration and Innovation
Beyoncé’s Renaissance is a powerful statement not just musically, but also in its collaborative spirit. By bringing together a diverse range of songwriting partners, from long-time collaborators to genre-bending innovators, Beyoncé has crafted an album that is both deeply personal and broadly resonant. The extensive list of credits underscores the immense amount of talent and creative energy poured into this project, solidifying Renaissance as a landmark album in Beyoncé’s discography and a celebration of collaborative artistry in contemporary music.
