For about a month or two now, Beyoncé's Black is King "movie-album," which served as a visual representation to her 2019 Lion King album: The Gift has been released. It comprises choreographed dance clips, scenes re-telling the Lion King story but in live-action-to-the-live-action and had voice messages from people talking about what it meant to be black. Now, I'm not reviewing the album (You can get those from my friend Andrea's blog. His album reviews are dope, and he covers many genres, so if you know any album you're skeptical about listening to, he's your guy for the details. Yes, He's a He) I only want to talk about the one song I sincerely enjoyed watching(No! Not Brown Skin Girl)

In all honesty(and I beat my chest about it), I wasn't a fan of both the Lion King album or the movie. I had felt two emotions: Ennui, for the one too many live-action adaptations to some great classics that Disney had been peddling these days. For me, Alladin, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and Lion King live-action adaptations were redundancies that should not have been made(but who could deny that Will Smith played an excellent genie). And Disappointment, for the subtle but very ambiguous way they turned The Lion King into another Black movement like Black Panther, was(God rest Chadwick's soul) with their almost all-black cast. It felt like yet another strategy by Disney to peddle an idea for the sake of "being woke." So I boycotted the movie. And even when Brown Skin Girl- a song from the album-was the rave at the time, I wasn't still hyped. I mean, I loved the ethnic diversity the album presented, with features like Tiwa Savage, Mr. Eazi, Burna Boy, Shatta Wale, Yemi Alade, etc. I wasn't that much of a fan. That was until Black is King came out.

When the visual album popped out, I was surprised. I did not believe that the songs were from The Gift album of about a year ago. It may have been the dance routines or the way Beyoncé and the other artistes(but especially Beyoncé) came to life in the video that made me love the music even more. Even I liked Brown Skin Girl as well(Though I'd never admitted it out loud). I'm more of a beats guy, falling in love with a song's sound before I begin to contemplate the lyrics, but for Black is King, the lyrics attracted me first(thanks to tfpdl's embedded subtitles) and the song that has always been on my lips: Find your way back.

The song tells a young girl(talking about Beyoncé) who was always being led - with father in hand. The 'in hand,' to me, symbolized a father's protection for his child. Taking her outside and then leading her back home. Then everything changed when she was old enough to go out on her own. It's a natural thing for children to outgrow the protective covering of their parents' wings and the father understood that. He did not try to shield her from the dangers the 'outside' had to offer. Instead, he left her on her own to venture out but not without leaving her with one piece of advice: Find your way back.

He told her that the world might be big and scary, but he knew she had it, for he had already passed down to her the skills needed to survive. The world may be full of many distractions and vices that could blind her eyes, but it should not drive her crazy, and that she should come back before the street lights go on - before it got too late. Then add a bunch of African dance moves and enchanting rhythms and incantations and then boom! A song is formed.

What I love about the song- about all the pieces in the album- is its r/wholesome content and real-world practicality. In this generation, we've become too blinded by the lures of the outside, forgetting our roots and morals as we pursue a dream painted on by the world, like a light that we try to reach at the end of a never-ending tunnel. As the visual representation of the song JA ARA E, we see young Simba become entranced by the hollowed beauty of the jungle(which, according to the African Giant himself, was Lagos). He had forgotten his father's words and became entangled in the sultry hands of the world.

Nobody is saying that you should not be your person and not learn to strive on your own. But no matter where you are, remember that you came from somewhere. Remember who you are. You did not fall from the sky or were made from clay, so don't forgo your family all for the sake of the 'hustle.' Don't let the street lights get turned on before you remember yourself. Find your way back, king.

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