Renaissance began Beyoncé’s three-act project, followed by Cowboy Carter. Released on July 29, 2022, it was presented as the first act of a planned trilogy.
The album draws heavily on dance, house, disco, funk, and electronic music. Beyoncé credited Black and queer pioneers of dance music and described the project as a celebration of freedom, joy, and movement.
Its lead single, “Break My Soul,” became Beyoncé’s eighth solo Billboard Hot 100 number one. Renaissance also won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album at the 65th Grammy Awards.
Cowboy Carter, released in 2024, is the second act of the project. Some listeners refer to the trilogy by individual album titles, but Renaissance is the first chapter rather than the entire project’s name.