Beyonce soars to number one with new album Renaissance

Beyonce has claimed her fourth UK number one album with Renaissance – but missed out on securing the chart double.

Her seventh studio album, which incorporates house music and dance floor-focused Afrobeats, outsold its closest competition three to one to reach the top spot.

The 40-year-old has previously topped the UK charts on three occasions as a solo artist – with debut Dangerously In Love (2003), 4 (2011) and Lemonade (2016).

As a member of Destiny’s Child, she reached number one with Survivor in 2001.

However, her single Break My Soul reached only number two on the singles chart following tough competition from Afraid To Feel by LF System.

Excluding her 2010 appearance as a featured artist on Lady Gaga’s number one Telephone, Break My Soul is now Beyonce’s highest-charting solo hit in 14 years, since If I Was A Boy reached number one in 2008.

Her tracks Cuff It and Alien Superstar both also break into the top 20 at number 14 and number 16 respectively.

Renaissance is Beyonce’s seventh studio album, and her first solo offering in six years following the release of the critically acclaimed Lemonade in 2016.

While receiving rave reviews, it has also prompted backlash after listeners noticed the song Heated featured an ableist slur twice towards its end.

The singer said she intends to remove the word, with a spokesperson telling the PA news agency: “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful manner, will be replaced in the lyrics.”

Later, Beyonce also removed a snippet of Kelis’ song Milkshake from her track Energy following reported criticism from the singer.

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