That year was 2002, and after much success and growth with Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé began to focus on her solo career. With Destiny’s Child on a break, Beyoncé was dealing with a lot of hate and blame from the media, as people were failing to understand that this break was meant to be a temporary hiatus, and that it was a decision that the group had made collectively. But her solo album was one of the most anticipated of the year, and she was receiving a great amount of doubt from haters and critics who felt she had no place as a solo artist. The New York Times even released an article in 2003 claiming that “[Beyoncé] is no Ashanti.”2 But Beyoncé was hungry and determined to prove every single person wrong.
After starring in the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember as character Foxxy Cleopatra, and after being featured in Jay-Z’s “‘03 Bonnie & Clyde,” Beyoncé began working on her first solo project. The album would be called Dangerously in Love, the same title as a song she had written for Destiny’s Child’s album Survivor. She chose this title because the album would essentially be a body of work that expresses the “steps [involved] in relationships and love.”3 Beyoncé wanted to include numerous collaborations on this album, because she wanted to use this as an opportunity to learn and grow as an artist. She worked with many legends during this era, including Luther Vandross. Vandross worked with Beyoncé on a cover of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s “The Closer I Get to You.” Their cover of the song was included in Vandross’ album, Dance With My Father, and in Beyoncé’s album Dangerously in Love. Beyoncé considered this a blessing, because Vandross was someone that she knew she could learn a lot from, being the R&B legend that he is.4 Beyoncé also had the opportunity to work with legendary rapper Missy Elliott. Elliott wrote a song for Dangerously In Love called “Signs.” She played the song for Beyoncé in the studio. It describes the characteristics of the different zodiac signs. The song discussed experiences that people of different signs have.5 Beyoncé’s now husband, and legendary rapper, Jay-Z, would also be featured on the album, on the tracks “That’s How You Like It” and “Crazy In Love.”
“Crazy in Love” was the turning point for Beyoncé. She released it as the lead single for the album. The song was exciting and fierce and in 2018 would be named the “Greatest song of the century” according to Rolling Stone Magazine.6 The iconic horns blasting in the song, accompanied by Beyoncé’s soaring vocals, Jay-Z’s flow, and the widely recognized “uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh- oh no no” bridge, all contributed to the song’s acclaim and longevity. The horns were sampled from the Chi-Lites’ “Are You My Woman” by producer Rich Harrison.7 Harrison had hung on to the sample hoping for the right artist to come along and record a song with it. After receiving a call from Beyoncé, he played it for her and it took her some time to warm up to it, but she did and he ended up writing the hook and verses in two hours.8 Beyoncé came back into the studio, looked at herself in the mirror and said “I’m looking so crazy right now,” and that became the chorus. She then wrote the bridge, and Jay-Z would later record his rap.9
The music video for “Crazy in Love” begins with an iconic strut from Beyoncé wearing jean shorts, a white tank top, and red heels. The camera zooms into her face and she asks the audience, “You Ready?” Long story short, nobody was. She does a series of different dances in different settings, wearing different outfits. Beyoncé had a vision for the video, wanting it to be fashionable, alluring, urban, and fresh.10 The video is fierce, innovative, and adds to the song’s charisma.
When Beyoncé first played her album for Columbia Records, the label did not believe it would sell. “They told me I didn’t have one hit song on my album. I guess they were kind of right. I had five,” said Beyoncé in her show at New York’s Roseland Ballroom.11 Following Dangerously In Love’s release, which was postponed to June 2003, “Crazy In Love,” “Baby Boy,” “Naughty Girl,” “Me, Myself and I,” and “Dangerously in Love 2,” all became hits, with “Crazy In Love” and “Baby Boy” each peaking at number 1. The album would also go #1, receive 5 Grammy Awards, and as of 2011, would sell over 11 million copies worldwide.12 Clearly the label thought wrong. With the album, came a short tour. The “Dangerously In Love Tour” was a 10-show tour in Europe in November 2003.13
The 2004 Grammy Awards was a big night for Beyoncé. She would win 5 awards in one night, and would perform twice. She performed “Dangerously in Love 2,” and she performed with the legendary artist formerly known as Prince. Prince wanted Beyoncé to perform with him and she was originally hesitant because it was a huge night for her and she wasn’t sure if she needed much more. She also wanted to make sure she would be able to have her solo performance. Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich found her at a photoshoot, talked to her, and she agreed to do the performance with Prince. Afterwards, Beyoncé felt amazing about it. She felt it was one of her best performances yet.14 The show was a great night for her, as she had worked so hard on her album and was proud of what she had accomplished. Her debut year as a solo artist was extremely strong, and would set the tone for her future. At that point, the music industry knew Beyoncé was a force to be reckoned with.
Following their hiatus and the release of their solo projects, Destiny’s Child would come back together and create one last album together. After growth as individuals and uncovering their strengths and weaknesses, Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle would release an album that celebrated friendship, love, and their journeys.15 It would be called Destiny Fulfilled, as they felt that their time as a group was complete and that their careers as individuals were just beginning.
Beyoncé’s career has taken her to legendary status. She has become the standard of the music industry and has had an undeniable impact on peoples’ lives. She is 22 years into her career and she only seems to improve in each of her eras. Her longevity is a result of her work ethic, vision, versatility, and of course, talent. In 2018, she became the first black woman to headline Coachella, and for two hours straight she was serving powerful vocals, intense choreography, and an arrangement that paid tribute to historical black colleges. She opened the performance with none other than “Crazy In Love,” and brought out Kelly and Michelle in what was an unforgettable Destiny’s Child reunion. It is clear that Beyoncé continues to embrace her roots as an artist, knowing that where she is today is a result of the path that she has taken, which all began with Destiny’s Child. Now 38 years old and a mother of 3, Beyoncé continues to pour her heart and soul into her music, and works tirelessly to create bodies of work that tell her story and performances that go down in history.
- Royal, “Beyoncé passes $1 billion in total tour gross!,” FOTP, 2018, https://fotpforums.com/topic/168000-beyoncé-passes-1-billion-in-total-tour-gross. ↵
- Madeline Bourdman, “The New York Times in 2003: Beyoncé is ‘No Ashanti’,” Huffpost, 2013, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/new-york-times-2003-beyonce-no-ashanti_n_3874838. Ashanti was another popular female R&B artist at the time. ↵
- HoneyBey3, “Beyoncé The Making of Dangerously in Love,” Juanxoyo, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wcnzJHxE7I. ↵
- Walter Scott, “Beyoncé Reveals Her Greatest Accomplishment,” Parade, 2013, https://parade.com/14496/walterscott/beyonce-answers-reader-questions. ↵
- HoneyBey3, “Beyoncé The Making of Dangerously in Love,” Juanxoyo, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wcnzJHxE7I. ↵
- Christian Hoard et al., “The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century- So Far,” RollingStone, 2018, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-100-greatest-songs-of-the-century-so-far-666874/crazy-in-love-beyonce-feat-jay-z-666905. ↵
- Vanessa Quilantan, “‘Crazy In Love,’ Beyoncé’s Coronation Anthem, Turns 10 Years Old,” Dallas Observer, 2013, https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/crazy-in-love-beyonces-coronation-anthem-turns-10-years-old-7049625. ↵
- Joe D’Angelo, “Road To The Grammys: The Making of Beyonce’s ‘Crazy In Love’,” MTV News, 2004, http://www.mtv.com/news/1484784/road-to-the-grammys-the-making-of-beyonces-crazy-in-love. ↵
- Ian McCann, “‘Crazy In Love’- Beyoncé’s hit began as a modest selling 1970s soul single,” Financial Times, 2018, https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/crazy-in-love.html. ↵
- Javier LoBe, ” Beyoncé- Crazy in Love (feat. Jay-Z)(The Making of), 2011, https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xonpt9. ↵
- Eddie Fu, “Knowledge Drop: Beyoncé’s Label Said ‘Dangerously In Love’ Didn’t Have a Hit Single,” Genius, 2019, https://genius.com/a/beyonce-s-label-said-dangerously-in-love-didn-t-have-a-hit-single. ↵
- Idolator, “Backtracking: Beyoncé’s ‘Dangerously In Love’ Turns 10′”, Vibe, 2013, https://www.vibe.com/2013/06/backtracking-beyonces-dangerously-love-turns-10. ↵
- “Dangerously In Love Tour,” Revolvy,https://www.revolvy.com/page/Dangerously-in-Love-Tour. ↵
- Dan Rys, “Prince and Beyoncé at the 2004 Grammy Awards: The Story Behind How the Duet Came Together,” Billboard, 2016, https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7341600/prince-beyonce-2004-grammy-awards-duet-producer-ken-ehrlich-interview. ↵
- Benzzhit Knowlezzz, “Destiny’s Child- The Destiny Fulfilled Interview,” 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MuA_XkVxng. ↵
This Post Has 60 Comments
I agree with this article that the Queen B is a legend. Her first hit single as a solo artist “Crazy in Love” is iconic and she got so much hate for going solo. I did not know that Destiny’s Child was only taking a break that was mutually agreed on, and though they all individually did great things, Beyonce was the one to break records and set standards. This was a great article but I did think it could of been more informative for the author to go into her past. I know she did a lot of things as a child even before she joined Destiny’s Child.
I never knew that Destiny’s child splitting up was supposed to be a temporary break. I also never knew that she acted in Goldmember before ever releasing a solo album. I don’t follow a lot of what Beyonce does but it’s interesting to hear her story and how she broke off from a group and found fame. She’s always been a strong female in the spotlight, crazy to think that she’s been in the industry for over 22 years.
I have always loved Beyoncé and I think she is a wonderful artist. Didn’t really know a lot about her background and I am thankful for this article. I was surprised to learn that her and Destiny’s Child separation was mutual. I had always thought that because she was getting so much attention that that was the reason. Yet, she still kept going and thrived even with all that backlash from social media, a true legend indeed.
As much as I love Beyonce and Destiny’s Child, I did not know that the decision to take a break was mutual I had thought it was only Beyonce’s choice to leave because of all the coverage that was made. I’m surprised that despite the backlash she received from social media she was able to thrive and prove all those haters wrong.
i would have never guessed that was beyonce’s background story, I mean I had no clue about it. She has really come along way and with a lot of confidence, that is for sure. Especially when everyone criticized her, she didn’t care. She probably motivated herself with all that hate. Now shes amazing performer and singer !
I love Beyonce she is a definition of how the music industry should go, she is fierce, talented and creative. her work ethic proves to all that one could rise to fame if that person has faith and works hard. juggling motherhood and music is hard but she makes it look so easy and that you could have both and could still look flawless.
It’s crazy to read this and see how okay people were with harshly doubting her but her determination is admirable, I know some people would’ve been discouraged and immediately would’ve let the doubts go to their head but it’s good she used as fuel to work even harder. Some people may hate on her and claim she’s overrated but I think she’s worked very hard for every single ounce of fame that she’s received and after reading this I still stand by my statement. It’s also good to see how she remains as humble as she can possibly be.
Before reading this article, I really did not know much about Beyonce. I have only known about her and her music, never any background. It was amazing to read about the journey she has gone through, I never realized how strong of a person she is. She has definitely made a huge impact on many people just with her music alone. I admire her work ethic and accomplishments.
I did not know Beyoncé was part of Destiny’s Child but it is very admiring to know that she went from a group artist to a solo icon. Everyone I know is aware of Beyoncé and respects her even if they do not like her music. She has had a long journey to have the image she has now, but it is very clear that she is incredibly talented.
It is really amazing to see her rise to fame in words. I knew she was in Destiny’s Child but not about her journey with the group. At the time I couldn’t believe someone of her talent and recognition would star in a movie such as Austin Powers Gold member but now I can’t believe I ever missed seeing her in the movie. She truly set the standard of what it means to be an artist in every sense of the word for the early 2000’s. I believe when music today becomes a trend Beyonce holds her own among the sea of artists and when all the fads exit she will go down in history.