Beyonces surprise album Whats the verdict

(CNN) On a single she previewed as part of a Pepsi ad earlier this year Beyonce sang I'm a grown woman / I can do whatever I want.

The singer proved that on Friday when she released a surprise album with no fanfare.

Beyonce performs on stage during The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour at Staples Center on December 3 in Los Angeles. She surprised fans by dropping her fifth LP entitled Beyonce exclusively on iTunes with no advance notice. Here is a look back at her life and career In 1998 Beyonc was known simply as another member of Destiny's Child a four member girl group who released a self titled debut that year and had a breakthrough with the remix of their single No No No No. Seen here with the final version of the group that put her on the map Destiny's Child Beyonc performs with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for President elect George W. Bush during a pre inaugural event in Washington on January 19 2001. When Beyonc took the stage in Melbourne on April 29 2002 she was just a year away from releasing her first solo album Dangerously In Love. Back in November 2002 before they tied the knot Jay Z and Beyonc fueled rumors that they were dating by becoming musical collaborators. Bey appeared on Jay Z's 2002 single 03 Bonnie Clyde and he appeared on her single Crazy In Love the following summer. A decade before she wowed viewers at the 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show Bey jammed with Carlos Santana during the Super Bowl XXXVII Pregame Show in San Diego on January 26 2003. Having stepped out on her own Beyonc presents the humanitarian award to Michael Jackson at the 2003 Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas on October 27 2003. The singer is affectionately referred to as Queen Bey not in the least because of her heralded work ethic which is often put to good use on stage. Here she performs during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards in New York on August 28 2003. Beyonc was right back at the Super Bowl in 2004 as she performed the the national anthem to kick off Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1 of that year. At the 46th Grammy Awards Show in February 2004 she joined Prince on stage to perform a medley of his hits. The singer left the ceremony with five Grammys in hand. Although her solo career had taken off by 2005 Beyonc still performed with Destiny's Child that year in Sydney Australia on the heels of their 2004 album Destiny Fulfilled. After releasing another best seller with 2006's B'Day and starring in Dreamgirls that same year Beyonc was readying to release a third solo album I Am ... Sasha Fierce when she took the stage at the 50th Grammy Awards Show on February 10 2008. Somehow she snuck in a secret marriage to Jay Z that April. In this publicity image Beyonce Knowles is shown during the filming of her music video Single Ladies (Put A Ring on It). Just months after giving birth Beyonc was red carpet ready at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 7 2012. In 2011 Beyonc stole the show at the MTV Video Music Awards when she walked the red carpet and with the careful placement of her hands revealed that she was expecting. The star and husband Jay welcomed Blue Ivy in January 2012. In this undated image released by Beyonce.com Beyonce Knowles holds her daughter Blue Ivy in a recent family photo. A hand written note accompanying the photos reads We welcome you to share our joy. In April 2012 Bey stepped out for a stroll in New York with her daughter 4 months old at the time. Earlier this year Beyonc found herself at the center a firestorm after it was revealed she used a backup track to sing the national anthem at the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 21. After the inauguration dust up Beyonc had something to prove when she held a news conference for her Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show on January 31. After belting out The Star Spangled Banner the singer paused and turned to the press and asked Any questions Kelly Rowland Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams reunited as Destiny's Child to perform during the Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show on February 3 in New Orleans. In March the singer reveled in her Queen Bey image with the song Bow Down. In early April the singer and her husband were once again the subject of critical headlines when they took a trip to Cuba to celebrate their fifth anniversary. In early May Beyonc was the subject of pregnancy rumors as observers noted that her dress to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala conveniently covered her midsection. The speculation grew stronger after she had to cancel a concert due to exhaustion and dehydration. She denied that she was pregnant. In September 2013 Jay Z and Beyonc once again topped the Forbes list of biggest earning celebrity couples. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Photos Beyonce through the years

Fans promptly lost it and the Internet was on the verge of exploding. Even fellow celebs seemed to have been left breathless.

Singer Katy Perry tweeted Don't talk to me today unless it's about Beyonce THANX.

Added actress Abigail Breslin The new Beyonce album is so perfect wow.

The new Beyonce album is so perfect wow

Abigail Breslin ( yoabbaabba) December 13 2013

The 14 track self titled album was released exclusively on iTunes at midnight and had to be purchased in its totality. Singles will not be available for purchase until December 20. In addition to the songs there are also 17 music videos.

Speaking to fans via a video on her official Facebook page Beyonce called the project a visual album and said I see music.

It's more than just what I hear she said. When I'm connected to something I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion a memory from my childhood thoughts about life my dreams or my fantasies. And they're all connected to the music.

Her fifth studio album has been eagerly awaited since the success of 4 which was released in 2011. Over the past year she has hinted that something new was in the works and previewed singles including Grown Woman Bow Down/I Been On and Standing on the Sun which served as the soundtrack for her HM fashion campaign.

The new album which quickly shot to No. 1 on iTunes Friday features collaborations with rapper Drake singer Frank Ocean and author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and of course her husband rapper Jay Z. Daughter Blue Ivy also makes a cameo.

The bold and innovative move was hailed by critics and fans. USA Today 's Korina Lopez wrote It's a fully baked album no filler remixes and re released greatest hits. By sidestepping promotional blitz and gimmicks this album could be her most personal yet.

According to Gerrick D. Kennedy of the Los Angeles Times Beyonce her producers and writers began work on the project last summer while they were all together in the Hamptons. The end result Kennedy said is a striking collection of work that shows her torching the veil of her carefully crafted image.

Songs on the album jump and dive between genres and are woven together with everything from spoken word and trap raps to the coos of her daughter Blue Ivy and vintage Destiny's Child footage Kennedy wrote. It's a lot to consume but a revelatory look at the singer who has tirelessly calculated what she chooses to share (and it's not always much).

Miles Marshall Lewis the Arts Culture editor for Ebony.com writes that Beyonce has overshadowed some other big name singers who have recently released new projects.

Where pop stars are concerned Beyonc easily bests the latest from both Lady Gaga and Britney Spears rivaling Justin Timberlake with a fraction of the media blitz (so far) Lewis said. Now that's a superpower.

For her part Beyonce said in her video to fans that she was inspired by the legendary Michael Jackson.

I remember watching 'Thriller' on TV with my family. It was an event we all sat around the TV and now looking back I am so happy I was born around that time she said. I miss that immersive experience.

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