Beyonce may drop a new surprise album -- or not
Beyonce could be dropping another surprise album -- if you believe the Internet.
Over the weekend, a screenshot of what appeared to be a tracklist for a second volume of the pop diva’s self-titled visual album was circulated on Twitter and Instagram.
It had some legitimate details. It boasted logos of both Columbia (the singer’s longtime label) and Parkwood Entertainment (her management company). According to the document “BEYONCE -- Self Titled -- Volume 2†would arrive on iTunes on Nov. 14 and in stores on Nov. 25.
The album -- again, if you believe the Internet -- would feature 11 tracks and include collaborations with Nicki Minaj and Justin Timberlake.
Minaj’s “Flawless†remix is on the rumored tracklist, as is a new collaboration hilariously titled “DONK†(in all caps, for extra emphasis). Timberlake, who wrote and produced on the last record, is listed on a track called “Renouncement.†Rihanna would appear on a track called “Cherry,†an extension of the saucy “Blow†from her 2013 sneak album.
The new album would also feature visuals for all the tracks.
According to the online rumors, a complete edition will also be released. The edition would include the two installments, a DVD boasting 28 music videos, a full-length recording from her Mrs. Carter Show world tour and a copy of the On the Run show with Jay Z from Paris -- all on a difficult-to-imagine four discs.
Lots of Beyonce truthers have already tried to debunk the document. They note a typo on the release date (Nov. 25 is a Tuesday and not Monday as listed on the sheet) and the implausibility of her recording a track with Rihanna or issuing a song called “Fashion.â€
Whether or not the singer has new music in the works is unclear. But even considering the magnitude of secrecy with which Beyonce Inc. typically operates -- including the game-changing, surprise release of her 2013 album -- it’s impossible to believe that a leak featuring this much information would casually arrive via social media.
If Beyonce already managed to cut a record with Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Drake, Miguel, the Dream, Sia, Ryan Tedder, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean and Hit Boy and shoot accompanying videos all over the world and keep it secret -- along with the many collaborators that it took to produce such a large body of work -- wouldn’t she be able to do it again?
Of course, if you are someone who believes the Internet, Bey is too busy working on that secret joint album with her husband -- you know, the one she was supposedly divorcing after their tour.
A rep for the singer did not return a request for comment.
Twitter: @GerrickKennedy
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