Queen B’s “Black is King” dazzles but lacks cohesive storyline

Razzle, dazzle, glitter, and glam are the hallmarks of Beyoncé’s much-anticipated “visual album;” it is indeed a panorama of stunning colors and textures.

“Black is King” (BK), currently streaming on Disney+, is part costume party, part Hollywood extravaganza—visually stunning, but overdone.

Queen Bee’s gets A+ for showcasing black artists and celebrities, including Ghanaian singer/actor Shatta Wale, Lupita Nyong’o, Kelly Rowland, and super-models Naomi Campbell and Telly Sveaas.

That sai1d, I got bored about 35 minutes into BK, so I skipped ahead, stopping only when an image caught my eye.

No offense, Beyoncé.

As a fan, I admire your song-writing skills, your work ethic, and your commitment to excellence, but the numerous shots of elegantly styled men, women, and children in pose are reminiscent of haute couture fashion photography. Lovely, but irrelevant to your storyline.

I read that the album is built around themes in Disney’s The Lion King, an artistic decision that I think weakens your message of self-empowerment, pride in blackness, and recognition of one’s African heritage.

In addition, the production jumps from one random scene to another. For example, a young boy wanders into what appears to be headquarters for criminal activities; in another vignette, Beyoncé places her baby in a basket and gently pushes it into a rushing stream. I could not identify a coherent thread that connects scenes.

And seriously, Jay-Z’s cameo appearance serves no purpose.

On the positive side, the soundtrack has several great songs: “Bigger,” “Find Your Way Back,” “Don’t Jealous Me,” “Brown Skin Girl,” “Keys to the Kingdom,” “Otherside,” “My Power,” and “Spirit.”

This audacious project does an excellent job of showcasing the beauty, diversity, and style of African people, yet left me with visual overload.

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