The single “Run the World (Girls)” appears on Beyoncé’s studio album 4.
Beyoncé released 4 on June 24, 2011, as her fourth solo studio album. The title refers directly to the number of solo albums she had released at that point. Its sound explored R&B, pop, soul, funk, and African musical influences, while moving beyond the heavily electronic approach common in some contemporary pop releases.
“Run the World (Girls)” was released as the lead single and became known for its forceful refrain, energetic production, and performance-focused music video. Other songs from 4 include “Best Thing I Never Had,” “Countdown,” and “Love on Top.”
The album title is easy to confuse with a numerical release year or with later Beyoncé projects, but 4 is the official name. The song’s title also differs from the album title: “Run the World (Girls)” is a track, not the name of the record.