Beyoncé’s 2011 album containing “Run the World (Girls)” was titled 4.
Released on June 24, 2011, 4 was Beyoncé’s fourth solo studio album, which explains its title. The album followed I Am... Sasha Fierce and marked a period in which she explored a broader mixture of R&B, pop, soul, funk, and adult-contemporary influences.
“Run the World (Girls)” was the album’s lead single and became known for its assertive chorus and large-scale music video. Other songs from 4 included “Best Thing I Never Had,” “Love on Top,” and “Countdown.” “Love on Top” later became especially associated with Beyoncé’s live vocal performances.
The title can be confusing because it is simply a numeral, and Beyoncé’s self-titled album arrived two years later in 2013. Lemonade and Renaissance are also solo albums, but they were released in 2016 and 2022 respectively.