The number that gives Beyoncé’s 2011 album 4 its title is four.
Beyoncé released 4 on June 24, 2011, in Australia and on June 28 in the United States. The album was her fourth solo studio album, which provides the most direct explanation for its title. It followed Dangerously in Love, B’Day, and I Am... Sasha Fierce.
The title also had personal and family associations for Beyoncé. She was born on September 4, her mother Tina Knowles was born on January 4, and her marriage to Jay-Z took place on April 4, 2008. The number therefore carried significance beyond its position in her discography.
4 includes “Run the World (Girls),” “Best Thing I Never Had,” “Love on Top,” and “Countdown.” “Love on Top” became especially prominent after Beyoncé performed it at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. The album’s title is a number, but the canonical written title is simply 4.