Beyoncé’s album 4 became her first album to debut at number one in the United Kingdom in 2011.
Released on June 24, 2011, 4 was Beyoncé’s fourth solo studio album and followed I Am... Sasha Fierce. Its title refers directly to the number four, which had personal significance for Beyoncé and her family. The album includes “Run the World (Girls),” “Best Thing I Never Had,” and “Love on Top.”
4 topped the UK Albums Chart and also debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. Its sound drew on R&B, pop, funk, soul, and older vocal-group traditions, reflecting Beyoncé’s interest in creating a more classic, live-oriented record.
The title is easy to confuse with a chart position or a release date. It is the album’s official name, written simply as the numeral 4, rather than “Four.”