By 2010, Beyoncé was the undisputed queen of pop-R&B. But behind the scenes, she was exhausted. In a now-famous interview, she revealed that she had recorded over 60 songs for 4 before scrapping nearly everything. The initial sessions leaned into the slick, Auto-Tuned, electro-pop sound dominating the charts. Her label, Columbia Records, reportedly pushed for more obvious hits. Instead, Beyoncé fired her longtime manager (her father, Mathew Knowles) and started over.
Celebrating the underdog masterpiece.
The album is celebrated for its vocal range and blend of funk, soul, and 90s-inspired R&B. Track Type Songs to Check Out Energetic Anthems "Run the World (Girls)," "Countdown," "End of Time" Soulful Ballads "1+1," "I Care," "Best Thing I Never Had" Fan Favorites "Love On Top," "Party" (ft. André 3000), "Dance for You" Impact & Performance Chart Success album 4 beyonce
Instead of club bangers, we got ballads with grit. By 2010, Beyoncé was the undisputed queen of pop-R&B