4 (Beyoncé album)

4 is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on June 28, 2011, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. Following a career hiatus which reignited her creativity, Beyoncé conceived 4 as a record rooted in traditional rhythm and blues that stood apart from contemporary popular music.

Severing professional ties with her father and manager Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé eschewed the commercially oriented music of her previous releases in favor of an intimate, personal album. Her collaborations with songwriters and record producers The-Dream, Tricky Stewart and Shea Taylor resulted in a mellower tone that incorporates vocal styles and influences from funk, hip-hop, and soul music. The lyrics are about monogamy, female empowerment and self-reflection, a result of Beyoncé considering a maturer message to contend artistic credibility.

4 was promoted in mid-2011 by television performances and festival appearances, such as Beyoncé's headlining Glastonbury Festival set. The album received generally positive reviews by music critics; several publications included it on their year-end lists. It was her fourth consecutive album to debut atop the US Billboard 200, and it also reached number one in Brazil, Ireland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. As of November 2016, 4 had sold five million copies worldwide. The album spawned seven singles: "Run the World (Girls)", "Best Thing I Never Had", "Party", "Love On Top", "Countdown", "I Care" and "End of Time". At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards (2013), "Love On Top" won Best Traditional R&B Performance.