Beyoncé just gave us the album for summer

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter literally gifted us the music of the summer.

Her curated and produced album The Lion King: The Gift was released and it literally slaps. I have been listening to it nonstop, to be honest, and I have no shame. Why should I have any, when music from the continents of Africa and America collide in such a beautiful and expressive way.

For you Lion King purists, you're not going to get "Can you feel the love tonight" or even "Hakuna Matata" on this record. Between the songs, there are interludes from the film. The same way that Black Panther's album was curated by Kendrick Lamar without all of it being in the actual film, Beyoncé's The Gift features music highlighting music of the diaspora. Yes, you hear Beyoncé herself, Jay Z, Pharrell, and Childish Gambino, but you also get a Blue Ivy feature, songs with Ty Dolla $ign and Tierra Whack as well as inclusion of artists from the continent, including WizKid, Mr. Eazi, and others.

This feels like the stamp of approval we needed on the Afrobeats wave. While songs like Afro B. and Wizkid's Drogba (Joanna) and others have finally reached the airwaves of mainstream music, the door for these artists has long been shut. However, with The Gift, the door to the mainstream feels opened to them. Beyoncé has been called one of the tastemakers of our times. Her approval carries weight, her styles of today become the looks of tomorrow. She also pays attention to the undercurrent of trends and amplifies the ones on the move. Of course, she would curate a collection of music driven by Africans for The Lion King. What else would even be right?

While I personally enjoy the songs (which is RARE for me) here are a few stand out songs: MOOD 4 EVA, BROWN SKIN GIRL (which is where we are blessed with Blue Ivy's vocals) NILE (which is probably going on my yoga playlist) and FIND YOUR WAY BACK.

Do yourself a favor and give Lion King: The Gift a listen.