Before I Let Go: Difference between revisions

"Before I Let Go"
"Before I Let Go"
Song by Beyoncé
from the album Homecoming
Released	April 17, 2019
Recorded	2018–2019
Genre	R&B; trap;
Length	4:00
Label	Parkwood
Songwriter(s)	Frankie Beverly; Larry Blackmon; Tomi Jenkins; Beyoncé; Jerome Temple;
Producer(s)	Frankie Beverly; Tay Keith; Beyoncé;

"Before I Let Go"
"Before I Let Go"
Single by Maze
from the album Live in New Orleans
B-side	"Golden Time of the Day"
Released	1981
Genre	R&B; soul; funk;
Length	3:42 (7" edit); 5:07 (album version)
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Frankie Beverly
Producer(s)	Frankie Beverly
Maze singles chronology

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"Before I Let Go" is a song performed by American R&B band Maze, issued as the second single from the band's fifth album and first live album Live in New Orleans. Although Live in New Orleans is a live album, "Before I Let Go" appears on the album as a studio recording.^[4] Written and produced by lead singer Frankie Beverly,^[2]^[3] the song peaked at #13 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1981.^[5] The song has been noted for its enduring popularity in Black American culture as a staple of gatherings and parties.^[6]^[7]

Beyoncé covered the song for her 2019 film Homecoming, and it's the focus of a 2021 episode of Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris's New York Times podcast, Still Processing.^[8]

Rapper K-Solo also sampled the song for his single “Your Mom's In My Business”.

Production

According to Frankie Beverly, he had originally written the song as a ballad about his conflicted feelings when Delores Marie "D'Marie" Warren of Alton McClain and Destiny died in a car crash while he was in love with her but in a relationship with another woman. After the rest of the band was introduced to it by Beverly, they changed the sound to be more uptempo as they rehearsed.^[9]

Chart positions

Chart (1981–2016)^[5]	Peak position
US R&B Singles (Billboard)	13

Beyoncé version

Beyoncé covered the song for her 2019 film Homecoming, and included the cover on the accompanying live album. It also includes a sample of New Orleans bounce artist, DJ Jubilee, one of the pioneers of bounce music, recorded on Take Fo' Records. An interpolation of "Candy" by Cameo also runs throughout the song.

Beverly told Billboard that the cover was "one of the high points of (his) life... in a class of its own" and made him "feel bigger than ever! I feel like I have a huge smash out there."^[10]

Live performances

In 2023, Beyoncé performed the song during her "Renaissance World Tour".

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[11]	9
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	71
Lithuania (AGATA)^[13]	47
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[14]	90
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[15]	73
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	77
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	65
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[18]	24
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)^[19]	5

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)	Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[20]	69

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[21]	Gold	20,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[22]	Gold	15,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[23]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Before I Let Go / Golden Time Of The Day at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Before I Let Go – Frankie Beverly, Maze | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Before I Let Go / Golden Time Of The Day (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ Easlea, Daryl (2012). "BBC – Music – Review of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – Live In New Orleans". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Maze | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^ Blistein, Jon (11 September 2024). "Frankie Beverly, Soul Legend With Maze Who Delivered Indelible Hit 'Before I Let Go,' Dead at 77". Retrieved 2024-11-10.
^ Garcia, Sandra E. (September 11, 2024). "'Before I Let Go' and 5 More Essential Frankie Beverly and Maze Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
^ "Before I Let Go". The New York Times. May 20, 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
^ "Black Music Month: The Oral History Of Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly's 'Before I Let Go'". Essence. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
^ "Frankie Beverly Responds to Beyonce Covering His Maze Hit 'Before I Let Go'". Billboard. 24 April 2019.
^ "Beyoncé – Before I Let Go" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Beyoncé". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 26, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 17. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
^ "Beyoncé – Before I Let Go". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
^ "Beyonce Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
^ "Beyoncé Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
^ "Brazilian single certifications – Beyoncé – Before I Let Go" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – Beyonce – Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live)". Radioscope. Retrieved 2024-12-15. Type Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live) in the "Search:" field.
^ "American single certifications – Beyonce – Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

External links

"Before I Let Go" at AllMusic
"Before I Let Go" at Discogs (list of releases)

This 1980s R&B/soul music song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[discogs-1] "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Before I Let Go / Golden Time Of The Day at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

[allmusic-2] "Before I Let Go – Frankie Beverly, Maze | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

[discogs2-3] "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Before I Let Go / Golden Time Of The Day (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

[bbc-4] Easlea, Daryl (2012). "BBC – Music – Review of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – Live In New Orleans". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 15 April 2015.

[allmusic2-5] "Maze | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

[6] Blistein, Jon (11 September 2024). "Frankie Beverly, Soul Legend With Maze Who Delivered Indelible Hit 'Before I Let Go,' Dead at 77". Retrieved 2024-11-10.

[7] Garcia, Sandra E. (September 11, 2024). "'Before I Let Go' and 5 More Essential Frankie Beverly and Maze Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 November 2024.

[8] "Before I Let Go". The New York Times. May 20, 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.

[9] "Black Music Month: The Oral History Of Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly's 'Before I Let Go'". Essence. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 2024-11-10.

[10] "Frankie Beverly Responds to Beyonce Covering His Maze Hit 'Before I Let Go'". Billboard. 24 April 2019.

[sc_Flanders_Tip_Beyoncé-11] "Beyoncé – Before I Let Go" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 17, 2019.

[sc_Ireland3_Beyoncé-12] "Irish-charts.com – Discography Beyoncé". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 4, 2019.

[13] "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 26, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.

[sc_Slovakdigital2_-14] "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 17. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved April 30, 2019.

[sc_Sweden_Beyoncé-15] "Beyoncé – Before I Let Go". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 4, 2019.

[sc_UK_-16] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 27, 2019.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Beyonce-17] "Beyonce Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2019.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Beyonce-18] "Beyonce Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2019.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphopairplay_Beyoncé-19] "Beyoncé Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2022.

[20] "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2019.

[BrazilBeyoncéBefore_I_Let_GosingleCertRef-21] "Brazilian single certifications – Beyoncé – Before I Let Go" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 4, 2022.

[New_ZealandBeyonceBefore_I_Let_Go_(Homecoming_Live)singleCertRef-22] "New Zealand single certifications – Beyonce – Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live)". Radioscope. Retrieved 2024-12-15. Type Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live) in the "Search:" field.

[United_StatesBeyonceBefore_I_Let_Go_(Homecoming_Live)singleCertRef-23] "American single certifications – Beyonce – Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 8, 2022.

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@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 }}
-"'''Before I Let Go'''" is a song performed by American [[rhythm and blues|R&B]] band [[Maze (band)|Maze]], issued as the second [[single (music)|single]] from the band's fifth album and first [[live album]] ''[[Live in New Orleans (Maze album)|Live in New Orleans]]''. Although ''Live in New Orleans'' is a live album, "Before I Let Go" appears on the album as a studio recording.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/drnv|title=BBC – Music – Review of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – Live In New Orleans|work=[[BBC Music]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|last=Easlea|first=Daryl|date=2012|access-date=15 April 2015}}</ref> Written and produced by lead singer [[Frankie Beverly]],<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/before-i-let-go-mt0026931906|title=Before I Let Go – Frankie Beverly,Maze {{!}} Listen, Appearances, Song Review {{!}} AllMusic|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Network]]|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref><ref name="discogs2">{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Maze-Featuring-Frankie-Beverly-Before-I-Let-Go-Golden-Time-Of-The-Day/release/3897536|title=Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Before I Let Go / Golden Time Of The Day (Vinyl) at Discogs|work=Discogs|publisher=Zink Media|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> the song peaked at #13 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] chart in 1981.<ref name="allmusic2">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/maze-mn0000401114/awards|title=Maze {{!}} Awards {{!}} AllMusic|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref>
+"'''Before I Let Go'''" is a song performed by American [[rhythm and blues|R&B]] band [[Maze (band)|Maze]], issued as the second [[single (music)|single]] from the band's fifth album and first [[live album]] ''[[Live in New Orleans (Maze album)|Live in New Orleans]]''. Although ''Live in New Orleans'' is a live album, "Before I Let Go" appears on the album as a studio recording.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/drnv|title=BBC – Music – Review of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – Live In New Orleans|work=[[BBC Music]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|last=Easlea|first=Daryl|date=2012|access-date=15 April 2015}}</ref> Written and produced by lead singer [[Frankie Beverly]],<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/before-i-let-go-mt0026931906|title=Before I Let Go – Frankie Beverly, Maze {{!}} Listen, Appearances, Song Review {{!}} AllMusic|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Network]]|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref><ref name="discogs2">{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Maze-Featuring-Frankie-Beverly-Before-I-Let-Go-Golden-Time-Of-The-Day/release/3897536|title=Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Before I Let Go / Golden Time Of The Day (Vinyl) at Discogs|work=Discogs|publisher=Zink Media|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> the song peaked at #13 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] chart in 1981.<ref name="allmusic2">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/maze-mn0000401114/awards|title=Maze {{!}} Awards {{!}} AllMusic|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> The song has been noted for its enduring popularity in Black American culture as a staple of gatherings and parties.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Jon|last1=Blistein|access-date=2024-11-10|title=Frankie Beverly, Soul Legend With Maze Who Delivered Indelible Hit 'Before I Let Go,' Dead at 77|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/frankie-beverly-maze-before-i-let-go-dead-obit-1235099847/|date=11 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=Sandra E. |title=‘Before I Let Go’ and 5 More Essential Frankie Beverly and Maze Songs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/11/arts/music/frankie-beverly-maze-songs-before-i-let-go.html |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 11, 2024}}</ref>
+[[Beyoncé]] covered the song for her 2019 film ''[[Homecoming (2019 American film)|Homecoming]]'', and it's the focus of a 2021 episode of [[Jenna Wortham]] and [[Wesley Morris]]'s ''[[New York Times]]'' podcast, ''[[Still Processing]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Before I Let Go |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/20/podcasts/still-processing-before-I-let-go-frankie-beverly-maze.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=23 May 2021 |date=May 20, 2021}}</ref>
-[[Beyoncé]] covered the song for her 2019 film ''[[Homecoming (2019 film)|Homecoming]]''.
+Rapper [[K-Solo]] also sampled the song for his single “[[Your Mom's In My Business]]”.
+==Production==
+According to [[Frankie Beverly]], he had originally written the song as a ballad about his conflicted feelings when Delores Marie "D'Marie" Warren of [[Alton McClain and Destiny]] died in a car crash while he was in love with her but in a relationship with another woman. After the rest of the band was introduced to it by Beverly, they changed the sound to be more uptempo as they rehearsed.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2024-11-10|title=Black Music Month: The Oral History Of Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly's 'Before I Let Go'|url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/black-music-month-oral-history-maze-featuring-frankie-beverly-before-i-let-go/|date=26 October 2020|website=Essence}}</ref>
 ==Chart positions==
@@ Line 40: / Line 45: @@
 ==Beyoncé version==
-{{col-begin}}
-{{col-2}}
 {{Infobox song
 | name     = Before I Let Go
 | cover    =
 | alt      =
-| type     =
+| type     = song
 | artist   = [[Beyoncé]]
-| album    = [[Homecoming: The Live Album]]
+| album    = [[Homecoming: The Live Album|Homecoming]]
 | released = {{Start date|2019|04|17}}
 | recorded = 2018–2019
 | studio   =
-| genre    = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
+| genre    = *[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
+*[[Trap music|trap]]
-| length   =
+| length   = 4:00
 | label    = [[Parkwood Entertainment|Parkwood]]
-| writer   = [[Frankie Beverly]], [[Larry Blackmon]], Tomi Jenkins, [[Beyoncé]] & Jerome Temple
+| writer   = {{hlist|[[Frankie Beverly]]|[[Larry Blackmon]]|Tomi Jenkins|[[Beyoncé]]|Jerome Temple}}
-| producer = Frankie Beverly, [[Tay Keith]], & Beyoncé
+| producer = {{hlist|Frankie Beverly|[[Tay Keith]]|Beyoncé}}
 | misc     =
 }}
-[[Beyoncé]] covered the song for her 2019 film ''[[Homecoming (2019 film)|Homecoming]]'', and included the cover on the accompanying [[Homecoming: The Live Album|live album]]. It also includes a sample of New Orleans bounce artist, [[DJ Jubilee]], one of the pioneers of bounce music, recorded on [[Take Fo' Records]]. An interpolation of "[[Candy (Cameo song)|Candy]]" by [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]] also runs throughout the song.
+[[Beyoncé]] covered the song for her 2019 film ''[[Homecoming (2019 American film)|Homecoming]]'', and included the cover on the accompanying [[Homecoming: The Live Album|live album]]. It also includes a sample of New Orleans bounce artist, [[DJ Jubilee]], one of the pioneers of bounce music, recorded on [[Take Fo' Records]]. An interpolation of "[[Candy (Cameo song)|Candy]]" by [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]] also runs throughout the song.
-Beverly told [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] that the cover was "one of the high points of (his) life... in a class of its own" and made him "feel bigger than ever! I feel like I have a huge smash out there."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8508606/frankie-beverly-beyonce-homecoming|title = Frankie Beverly Responds to Beyonce Covering His Maze Hit 'Before I Let Go'}}</ref>
+Beverly told [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] that the cover was "one of the high points of (his) life... in a class of its own" and made him "feel bigger than ever! I feel like I have a huge smash out there."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8508606/frankie-beverly-beyonce-homecoming|title = Frankie Beverly Responds to Beyonce Covering His Maze Hit 'Before I Let Go'|magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date = 24 April 2019}}</ref>
+===Live performances===
+In 2023, Beyoncé performed the song during her "[[Renaissance World Tour]]".
 ===Chart positions===
@@ Line 78: / Line 85: @@
 | 47
 |-
-{{single chart|Slovakdigital|90|year=2019|week=17|rowheader=true|access-date=April 30, 2019}}
+{{single chart|Slovakdigital2|90|year=2019|week=17|rowheader=true|access-date=April 30, 2019}}
 |-
 {{single chart|Sweden|73|artist=Beyoncé|song=Before I Let Go|rowheader=true|access-date=May 4, 2019}}
@@ Line 85: / Line 92: @@
 |-
 {{single chart|Billboardhot100|65|artist=Beyonce|rowheader=true|access-date=May 7, 2019}}
-|-
-{{single chart|Billboardadultrandbsongs|5|artist=Beyonce|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}}
 |-
 {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|24|artist=Beyonce|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}}
+|-
+{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphopairplay|5|artist=Beyoncé|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2022}}
+|-
 |}
@@ Line 97: / Line 105: @@
 ! scope="col"| Position
 |-
-! scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019|work=Billboard|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>
+! scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019|magazine=Billboard|date=2 January 2013|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>
 | 69
 |}
+=== Certifications ===
+{{Certification Table Top}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|certyear=2023|relyear=2019|artist=Beyoncé|title=Before I Let Go|award=Gold|type=single|access-date=January 4, 2022}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Beyonce|title=Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live)|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=2024-12-15}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Beyonce|title=Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live)|award=Platinum|relyear=2019|certyear=2022|access-date=August 8, 2022}}
+{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 105: / Line 120: @@
 ==External links==
-* {{Allmusic|song|id=mt0026931906|label="Before I Let Go"}}
+* {{AllMusic|song|id=mt0026931906|label="Before I Let Go"}}
 * {{Discogs master|type=single|336556}}
-* {{MetroLyrics song|frankie-beverly|before-i-let-go}}
 {{Maze}}
@@ Line 115: / Line 129: @@
 {{authority control}}
+[[Category:1981 songs]]
 [[Category:1981 singles]]
-[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
+[[Category:2019 singles]]
 [[Category:Maze (band) songs]]
+[[Category:Beyoncé songs]]
 [[Category:Song recordings produced by Frankie Beverly]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Frankie Beverly]]
-[[Category:1981 songs]]
+[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
 {{1980s-R&B-song-stub}}

v t e Maze
Frankie Beverly
Studio albums	Maze featuring Frankie Beverly Golden Time of Day Inspiration Joy and Pain We Are One Can't Stop the Love Silky Soul Back to Basics
Live albums	Live in New Orleans
Singles	"Before I Let Go" "Back in Stride" "Can't Get Over You"

v t e Beyoncé songs
Albums discography Singles discography
Dangerously in Love	"Crazy in Love" "Naughty Girl" "Baby Boy" "Me, Myself and I" "The Closer I Get to You" "Dangerously in Love 2" "Daddy"
B'Day	"Déjà Vu" "Get Me Bodied" "Suga Mama" "Upgrade U" "Ring the Alarm" "Kitty Kat" "Freakum Dress" "Green Light" "Irreplaceable" "Resentment" "Listen" "Check on It" "Beautiful Liar / Bello Embustero" "Welcome to Hollywood" "Flaws and All" "Still in Love (Kissing You)" "Amor Gitano"
I Am... Sasha Fierce	"If I Were a Boy" "Halo" "Broken-Hearted Girl" "Ave Maria" "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" "Radio" "Diva" "Sweet Dreams" "Video Phone" "Ego" "Honesty" "Why Don't You Love Me" "Poison"
4	"1+1" "I Care" "I Miss You" "Best Thing I Never Had" "Party" "Rather Die Young" "Start Over" "Love On Top" "Countdown" "End of Time" "I Was Here" "Run the World (Girls)" "Lay Up Under Me" "Schoolin' Life" "Dance for You"
Beyoncé	"Pretty Hurts" "Haunted" "Drunk in Love" "Blow" "No Angel" "Partition" "Jealous" "Rocket" "Mine" "XO" "Flawless" "Superpower" "Heaven" "7/11" "Ring Off" "Standing on the Sun" "Grown Woman"
Lemonade	"Pray You Catch Me" "Hold Up" "Don't Hurt Yourself" "Sorry" "6 Inch" "Daddy Lessons" "Love Drought" "Sandcastles" "Freedom" "All Night" "Formation"
The Lion King: The Gift	"Bigger" "Find Your Way Back" "Mood 4 Eva" "Brown Skin Girl" "Already" "Spirit" "Black Parade"
Renaissance	"Cozy" "Alien Superstar" "Cuff It" "Energy" "Break My Soul" "Plastic Off the Sofa" "Virgo's Groove" "Heated" "America Has a Problem" "Pure/Honey"
Cowboy Carter	"Blackbiird" "16 Carriages" "Texas Hold 'Em" "Bodyguard" "Jolene" "II Most Wanted" "Levii's Jeans" "Ya Ya"
As featured artist	"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" "Delresto (Echoes)" "Family Feud" "Feeling Myself" "Fighting Temptation" "Hollywood" "Hymn for the Weekend" "I Got That" "Just Stand Up!" "Lift Off" "Love a Woman" "Love in This Club Part II" "Make Me Say It Again, Girl" "Mi Gente" "Part II (On the Run)" "Put It in a Love Song" "Runnin' (Lose It All)" "Savage (Remix)" "Say Yes" "See Me Now" "Shining" "Telephone" "Top Off" "Until the End of Time" "Walk on Water" "What More Can I Give"
Other songs	"A Woman Like Me" "All I Could Do Was Cry" "Apeshit" "At Last" "Back to Black" "Be Alive" "Before I Let Go" "Boss" "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" "Die with You" "Fever" "God Bless the U.S.A." "I'd Rather Go Blind" "My House" "One Night Only" "Perfect Duet" "Pink + White" "Sexy Lil Thug" "So Amazing" "Sorry Not Sorry" "Summertime" "Wishing on a Star" "Work It Out"
Category

v t e NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song
Song (1971–2015)	"Theme from Shaft" – Isaac Hayes (1971) No Award (1972–1994) "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" – Whitney Houston (1995) "I Believe I Can Fly" – R. Kelly (1996) "A Song for Mama" – Boyz II Men (1997) "Lean on Me" – Kirk Franklin (1998) "Spend My Life with You" – Eric Benét featuring Tamia (1999) "Open My Heart" – Yolanda Adams (2000) "A Woman's Worth" – Alicia Keys (2001) "Brighter Day" – Kirk Franklin (2002) "Dance with My Father" – Luther Vandross (2003) "If I Ain't Got You" – Alicia Keys (2004) "Unbreakable" – Alicia Keys (2005) "I Am Not My Hair" – India Arie (2006) "Like You'll Never See Me Again" – Alicia Keys (2007) "Yes We Can" – will.i.am (2008) "God in Me" – Mary Mary (2009) "Bittersweet" – Fantasia (2010) "I Smile" – Kirk Franklin (2011) "I Look to You" – Whitney Houston and R. Kelly (2012) "All of Me" – John Legend (2013) "We Are Here" – Alicia Keys (2014) "Back Together" – Jill Scott (2015)
Contemporary (2016–2019)	"Freedom" – Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar (2016) "HUMBLE." – Kendrick Lamar (2017) "Boo'd Up" – Ella Mai (2018) "Before I Let Go" – Beyoncé (2019)
Traditional (2016–2019)	"I See Victory" – Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams (2016) "That's What I Like" – Bruno Mars (2017) "Long as I Live" – Toni Braxton (2018) "Spirit" – Beyoncé (2019)
Soul/R&B (2020–present)	"Do It" – Chloe x Halle (2020) "Pick Up Your Feelings" – Jazmine Sullivan (2021) "Cuff It" – Beyoncé (2022) "ICU (Remix)" – Coco Jones featuring Justin Timberlake (2023)
Hip Hop/Rap (2020–present)	"Savage (Remix)" – Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé (2020) "Fye Fye" – Tobe Nwigwe featuring Fat Nwigwe (2021) "Hotel Lobby" – Quavo and Takeoff (2022) "Cobra" – Megan Thee Stallion (2023)
International (2020–present)	"Lockdown" – Original Koffee (2020) "Essence" – Wizkid featuring Tems and Justin Bieber (2021) "No Woman, No Cry" – Tems (2022) "Me & U" – Tems (2023)