With the release of Everything is Love, Beyoncé and Jay Z stunned the world with their surprise joint album and the first visual for the single "Apes**t."
The Carters, while on their On The Run Tour II, dropped a new visual where the music power couple took over the famous French art museum, the Louvre, to flaunt their wealth and power for the world.
In the opening moments of the Ricky Saiz-directed video, the Carters, dressed in pastel power suits, stand together in front of Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." The camera then flys over beautiful black dancers in nude bruberry leotards as the two stand in front of the Hellenistic winged victory of Samothrace statute.
"Apes**t" is a visual that utilizes ancient works of art, neo-classical and baroque paintings as background to Beyoncé and Jay Z's majesty.
Beyoncé skips the Met Gala and that corny Vogue photoshoot in the galleries "to take a vacation" but really goes to Paris to film a music video with Jay in the Louvre by themselves. She’s like “I see your Water Lily Pond and raise you The Mona Lisa”. That is what you call a Queen pic.twitter.com/m39LPWg0vU
— Beyoncé Tea (@beyonce_tea) June 16, 2018
The couple changed outfits that complemented the art they posed in front of. For example, Bey and Hov are wearing regal attire similar to costumes seen in the cult classic film “Coming to America” as they are posted up in front of the busts of an ancient Egyptian Pharoah.
MOST POWERFUL COUPLE OF INDUSTRY. #TheCarters
pic.twitter.com/7POVVzhbgB— guilherme (@ifsnicki) June 16, 2018
Every frame was intentional and a grandiose painting within itself.
SHE REALLY GOT BLACK GIRLS IN FORMATION AT THE LOUVRE! pic.twitter.com/BrkO3530ip
— Jasmyn Lawson (@JasmynBeKnowing) June 16, 2018
Shot last month, the visual captures Queen Bey and Hov's transcendence from pop culture icons to living high art.
Jay & Bey stay scheming. #EverythingIsLove
pic.twitter.com/LiDKR1bYGG— Wanna (@WannasWorld) June 16, 2018
The visuals were one thing but the lyrics to the song were another. Bey let everyone know that she is queen by proclaiming her value as a star. Themes of generational wealth, pride and not compromising oneself for public approval are common in "Apes**t." The first single has proven to be a worthy successor to Lemonade and 4:44.
Watch the full video below: