Beyoncé Drops Surprise Song ‘Black Parade’ To Benefit Black-Owned Small Businesses On Juneteenth

Beyoncé has pulled “a Beyoncé” yet again—and it comes with a powerful message and purpose.

On June 19—also known as Juneteenth which is the holiday commemorating the effective end of slavery in the United States that has taken on a deeper meaning in 2020 in the midst of calls for racial justice and recognition that Black lives matter—the superstar surprise-dropped her new song “Black Parade,” as well as an extended, five-minute-plus version exclusively on TIDAL.

The track was co-written and co-produced by Bey herself and marks the first new music from the singer since her contributions to last year’s Lion King companion album The Gift. The song’s message is not only meant to empower the Black community, but will also directly benefit Black-owned small businesses.

Beyoncé shared a message celebrating Juneteenth Weekend—deciding to extend the June 19 holiday in a powerful move—and explaining more on the song’s purpose on her website:

Happy Juneteenth. Being Black is your activism. Black excellence is a form of protest. Black joy is your right. “Black Parade” benefits BeyGOOD’s Black Business Impact Fund, administered by the National Urban League, to support Black-owned small businesses in need.

The singer’s website also includes a directory of Black-owned businesses, created and curated by Beyonce’s personal stylist Zerina Akers who founded the @black.owned.everything business directory.

Earlier this week, Beyoncé wrote a letter to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron calling for “swift and decisive action” in charging the three officers responsible for the death of Breonna Taylor, the innocent woman who was killed by plainclothes officers who forced their way into her apartment with a “no-knock” warrant.

You can listen to “Black Parade” on TIDAL now or stream below via YouTube: