Beyoncé
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Terius “The-Dream” Gesteeldt-Diamant stands on the verge of several big milestones: He’s nominated for six Grammys, including Album of the Year for Beyoncé’s Renaissance, and Song and Record of the Year for that album’s “Break My Soul.” And, in what is perhaps the most personal accomplishment, he got a nod for the first-ever award for Songwriter of the Year for his part in penning music for Bey, Rosalía, Brent Faiyaz and Pusha T.

Over two conversations, one sitting in the pool house of his Atlanta residence and another over the phone, The-Dream goes deep into what inspires him, the unlikely origins of “Break My Soul” and more.

Let’s talk about the relationship between you and Beyoncé. This is an artist who does anthems. It’s one thing when you talk wild shit to other people, how do you work with someone like her where you’re telling her, “You should say it this way…”

That's my Virgo sister right there. So I'm the friend that's there that just happens to know how to relate musically, of course. I could look at her and just like, Nah. I know exactly what to say for this thing. People don't believe this most times, but it's the same thing that you're doing. I am a reporter. I'm just reporting emotions. I'm reporting Bey back to herself. Even shit she's missed. “You can't keep up with what the fuck you doing. I saw what happened yesterday and I could write the whole day down whole album if you needed me to, because I saw. You couldn't have seen it. You were doing it.” So in most things like “Single Ladies,” and I've said this before, where it's like, Oh, it's actually an easy story to write. … She's already written most of the shit that you're trying to write because there's only one motherfucker you can write that for.

On Friday night, lines formed outside of a relatively unmarked warehouse space in Downtown Los Angeles for “Club Renaissance,” a two-night event in celebration of Renaissance, Beyoncé‘s seventh studio album. The album, released in July, is a kaleidoscopic exploration of genre, escapism and self-expression; on it, Beyoncé experiments with different shades of dance, house, disco, pop and R&B.

The party’s unspoken 1970s-era theme was interpreted by attendees for their outfits in a range of ways, much like the sonic versatility of the project itself. The event, presented by Amazon Music and Parkwood Entertainment, featured several notables in attendance, including Kenya Barris, Lori Harvey, and singers Syd, Victoria Monét and Lucky Daye.

The building was lined with graphic posters of a Renaissance promotional image, which several partygoers used as a backdrop for their photographs. And there was another wall ripe for photo opportunities, decorated with neon signs that bore song lyrics and titles from the album, like “Church Girl” and “Cozy.”

Guests chatted and sipped thematically named cocktails (“Cuff It” and “Alien Superstar,” also Renaissance titles) once doors were open, and approximately an hour after the event started at 9 p.m., the DJ began to play Renaissance top to bottom and in spatial audio. Attendees enjoyed it from the dance floor for the duration, creating the very Studio 54-esque dance party the project promises. (A group of engineers tucked along the periphery were controlling the sensory displays, which included strobe lights and fog elements.)

The glowing, holographic horse Beyoncé is seated on in the album’s cover art was prominently placed in the center of the room, enclosed in a glass box like a museum artifact. Throughout the night, the air was buzzing with the question of if Beyoncé herself would join the event, like she did in previous cities (ultimately, she did not, but she did record a special message for the attendees).

Free tickets were released online to her subscribers last week and sold out in under 20 minutes.

"BREAK MY SOUL is Certified Platinum. Thank you so much for all the love and for releasing the wiggle."

BLACKPINK‘s Rosé has never been shy about how Beyoncé inspired her to become a musician, although her goal of becoming “like Beyoncé” has since changed.

"My dream? When I was really little, my dreams were very absurd. I really wanted to become a great singer like Beyoncé or Michael Jackson."

When she was little, Rosé admits that she used to play piano and loudly sing Beyoncé songs, which possibly annoyed her parents into realizing how seriously she wanted to pursue music.

"Once I grew up, they told me, ‘Rosie, to be honest, it was really hard for us to go to bed when you were singing at the top of your lungs.’ I think I would sing Beyoncé’s ‘Listen’ when I couldn’t reach the notes cause I was a terrible singer."

Of course, Rosé has become a global superstar, currently on BLACKPINK’s BORN PINK world tour and constantly impressing fans with her tremendous talent.

The global icon was also recently featured on the cover of Vogue Hong Kong, stunning fans with her gorgeous and elegant visuals.

And in her interview with the magazine, Rosé continued to express her admiration for Beyoncé, having felt honored to be able to attend a Tiffany & Co. event with her idol.

NYLON talked to ten artists, designers, and photographers responsible for some of the year’s best album covers to learn how Beyoncé’s mirror-covered Renaissance horse came together, Steve Lacy’s delightfully weird collage for Gemini Rights was assembled, beabadoobee’s whimsical Beatopia was conceived, and more.

Beyonce’s Renaissance horse by set designer Nicholas des Dardins

How did you get involved with Beyoncé's Renaissance?
Not the most exciting story, but producers reached out to me based on previous work of mine. Not entirely sure what previous stuff of mine got me the gig.

How did you conceptualize covering the horse with disco balls?
The horse came about working with her and her creative team. Originally we were going to do a giant 8-inch disco ball that was already in production when we shifted ideas. The job from the start was under an immense time crunch, so for a while I was hesitant about the horse. Install was Monday after Easter weekend and the concept came about on Thursday night. We negotiated down to just doing a saddle covered in disco ball mirrors, but me and my studio manager knew it would be so worth it if we could pull it off, so we scoured the greater Los Angeles area for an available life-size horse. We waited until we knew it was possible to pull it off before we let her and her team know that we were going to deliver the full horse that inevitably became the cover.

What was the biggest challenge you faced bringing the horse to life?
Time. We had very little. Thankfully, we discovered a secret source for old fiberglass horses, as many of the current manufacturers had months-long wait periods. We found and picked it up that day and immediately started to work on covering it in 1/4" glass mirror pieces. The mirrors were coming in shipments from different vendors to get enough in time. Me and the rest of the team were literally waiting for the mail person and ripping the boxes open and continuing the task as the mirrors trickled in.

On Saturday, the hippest trip awards show in America—a.k.a. the 2022 Soul Train Awards—took place.

On the winners front, the most awarded recipient of the night went to Beyoncé, who walked away with wins in the categories of Song of the Year (“Break My Soul”), Album of the Year (Renaissance), and Best Collaboration (“Make Me Say It Again, Girl” Ronald Isley & the Isley Brothers feat. Beyoncé).

Congratulations!

Beyoncé’s Renaissance album, which was released in July by Parkwood/Columbia Records and debuted atop the all-genre Billboard 200, as well as Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top R&B Albums, now arrives on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart at No. 1 (on the list dated Nov. 26). The set’s arrival on the list follows a reevaluation of its album genre chart categorization by Billboard, after Renaissance’s further embrace by the dance community in the months following its release.

Upon its release, the 16-track album launched a quartet of hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart (“Break My Soul,” “Pure/Honey,” “Summer Renaissance,” and “Thique”). Since then, the album spawned a new dance hit in its second single, “Cuff It.” The song debuted on the Hot Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart dated Nov. 19 at No. 28, following its explosion as a viral dance phenomenon (termed the “Cuff It” Challenge). The disco-leaning track was co-written by dance icon Nile Rodgers, who also plays bass on it.

Starting in September, “Cuff It” was added to dance-focused playlists across all major streamers, including Amazon, Apple Music and Spotify. Beyond “Cuff It,” further album cuts picked up new dance playlist adds in the months following the album’s release.

The 50th American Music Awards took place on Sunday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Out of 6 nominations, Beyoncé won in two categories:

Favorite Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé *WINNER
Doja Cat
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA

Favorite R&B Album
Beyoncé, “Renaissance” *WINNER
Drake, “Honestly, Nevermind”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak), “An Evening with Silk Sonic”
Summer Walker, “Still Over It”
The Weeknd, “Dawn FM”

“Renaissance” is a different kind of accomplishment: a piece of music gargantuan in its carefully crafted density. It already feels timeless. “Most of the writing took place not in a fancy place” — he waves a dismissive hand at the multicolored petit-fours and the bottle of Brut on the table in front of him. While the recording HQ was a house in the Hamptons, The-Dream posted up in a trailer out front. He wanted to be forced to feel hungry. “I need to write like I’m trying to get out of here,” he says. It was that feeling that led to lines like “Now, I just fell in love / And I just quit my job,” on “Break My Soul.” “Now everyone’s saying, ‘Oh, my God, this is crazy, where did this come from?’ It came from us in the dark in a f— trailer.”

During the creative process, The-Dream says, “I don’t have any fear at all. I welcome whatever — I want all the smoke. Bey is unafraid too. That’s my Virgo sister.” Together, they put their heads down and push through songwriting blocks. “I can try it a thousand times,” he says. “I have no ego. The only thing she can do is make me write a part better, make me play a part better.”

While The-Dream was one of her primary co-writers, “Renaissance” was made by a swirling pool of talent, orchestrated by Beyoncé. Everyone from Skrillex to Grace Jones has credits. “We could have easily made it about a money grab and spent the whole time just me and her writing the whole thing,” The-Dream says. But Beyoncé wanted a collective effort. “We haven’t even spoken about it that much, but in our minds — the world was in a space. What better place to gather than here on Beyoncé's album?”

Beyoncé is the top nominee for the 2023 Grammy Awards, which were announced on Tuesday (Nov. 15). Bey received nine nods. This is the sixth time Beyoncé has led (or co-led) the annual Grammy nominations.

This brings Beyoncé’s career total of nominations to 88, which puts her in a tie with her husband Jay-Z for the most Grammy nominations in history. Jay received five nods this year.

Beyoncé moves ahead of Frank Sinatra to become the artist with the most career record of the year nods. Beyoncé and Sinatra had been tied for that record with seven nods each

Beyoncé is the first woman of color to receive four album of the year nominations (as a lead artist). She had been tied with Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and H.E.R. with three nods each in the category.

Here’s the complete list of Beyoncé's nominations:

The 2022 MOBO Awards are soon to be upon us and at long last, we have this year’s full list of nominees.

Beyoncé is nominated for Best International Act. Make sure to vote here.

The MOBO Awards will take place on November 30 at London’s OVO Arena.

Best International Act
Beyoncé
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
Jack Harlow
Jazmine Sullivan
Kendrick Lamar
Skillibeng
Summer Walker
Tems

Beyonce sent flowers and a thank you note to the "Plastic Off The Sofa" writer Syd:

"Thank you for contributing so much to the film. I’m looking at the footage and you’re inredible.
I’m forever grateful."

The full list of nominations for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards were released last week! Beyonce is nominated in three categories.

Fans can vote 25 times per day in every category at votepca.com. Voting will close on November 9.

The People’s Choice Awards airs live on NBC and E! on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 9 p.m.

The Female Artist of 2022
Beyoncé
Camila Cabello
Doja Cat
Lady Gaga
Lizzo
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Taylor Swift

With seven nominations each, Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige lead the way going into the 2022 Soul Train Awards.

The two stars are competing against each other in categories like Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best R&B/Soul Female Artist.

The Soul Train Awards will be handed out Nov. 13 in Las Vegas and broadcast on Nov. 27.

Check out the nominations below:

Album of the Year
An Evening With Silk Sonic, Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
Away Message (EP), Ari Lennox
Breezy, Chris Brown
Good Morning Gorgeous, Mary J. Blige
Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe, Jazmine Sullivan
R&B Money, Tank
Renaissance, Beyoncé
Special, Lizzo

Beyoncé is looking to secure her first Grammy nominations in the dance/electronic music categories. Voting for the 2023 Grammy Awards began on Thursday, and the ballot reveals that Renaissance was submitted for Album of the Year and Best Dance/Electronic Album. Similarly, “Break My Soul” was submitted for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Dance/Electronic Recording.

In addition to attempting to compete in the general and dance/electronic categories, Beyoncé submitted music for R&B consideration: “Heated” and “Virgo’s Groove” are eligible for Best R&B Performance, while “Cuff It” was submitted for Best R&B Song.

American Music Awards announced the nominations for the 2022 ceremony, with Beyonce up for six awards. The November 20 show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET and delayed at 8 p.m. PT in the West.

Artist of the Year
Adele
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Drake
Harry Styles
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Favorite Female Pop Artist
Adele
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Lizzo
Taylor Swift

The NRJ Music Awards 2022 now have a place, a date and the list of its nominees. In a press release broadcast this Monday, October 10, TF1 and NRJ have lifted the veil of the artists in competition for the traditional award ceremony, which will be held on Friday, November 18, at the Palais des Festivals and Congresses in Cannes. Beyonce is up for one award:

International Female Artist
Adele
Anitta
AvaMax
Beyonce
Camila Cabello
Lady Gaga
Lizzo
Shakira

MTV just announced the nominations for 2022’s MTV European Music Awards, taking place in Düsseldorf on November 13. Beyonce is nominated in one category:

Best Artist
Adele
Beyoncé
Harry Styles
Nicki Minaj
ROSALÍA
Taylor Swift

Fans are able to vote for their favorite performers from today until November 9.

RENAISSANCE Deluxe Vinyl available in stores NOW. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and at your local indie retailer.

Cardi B received a vinyl copy of Beyoncé's Renaissance album, signed with a personalized note from the superstar — and she doesn't want anyone's hands on it.

In a video shared to Twitter on Monday, the "WAP" rapper showed off the autographed record and warned viewers that she'll be protecting the prized possession like a piece of fine art.

"Look what Beyoncé sent me! Read it, bitch!" said Cardi, 29, with a laugh.

Addressed to the former Love & Hip-Hop star, the silver-marker-written note from Beyoncé read, "Hard working, beautiful and talented queen, thank you for always supporting me. Sending so much love to you and yours. Respect, Beyoncé."