Beyoncé released the 2011 album 4, featuring “Love on Top” and “Countdown.”
The album is Beyoncé’s fourth solo studio album, which explains its simple numerical title. It followed I Am... Sasha Fierce and marked a period in which she drew more openly on classic R&B, soul, funk, and pop influences. “Love on Top” became especially noted for its series of upward key changes and won the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Other songs on 4 include “Run the World (Girls),” “Best Thing I Never Had,” and “Party.” The album’s title is sometimes confused with Beyoncé’s 2013 self-titled visual album or with “4” as a general reference to her birthday and family birthdays. In this context, 4 is the official album title.
The record debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. It also became the fourth consecutive Beyoncé studio album to reach the top of that chart.