Blue Ivy Convinced Beyoncé to Release ‘Brown Skin Girl’

We all know and love Beyoncé’s empowering anthem ‘Brown Skin Girl,’ but did you know it almost didn’t make it onto The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack? Believe it or not, it was none other than Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, who convinced the superstar to keep the song.

A Song Almost Left on the Cutting Room Floor

Steve Carless, Warner Records President of A&R, recently shared fascinating behind-the-scenes details on the ‘One of One: A PLLRS Podcast.’ He revealed that when pitching songs for the 2019 soundtrack, Beyoncé initially rejected the demo of ‘Brown Skin Girl,’ a track created by SAINt JHN and producer P2J.

Carless explained that despite his and Beyoncé’s longtime A&R Mariel Gomerez’s insistence, Queen Bey was firm in her decision. ‘She’s like, ‘No, that’s not it. Stop playing me that sh*t,’” Carless recalled. Beyoncé, known for her strong creative vision, seemed set on passing on the song.

Blue Ivy Steps In

The turning point came during a crucial meeting involving Beyoncé, Disney executives, Jay-Z, and others involved in the soundtrack. With the deadline looming, Carless decided to play the song one last time. That’s when a young Blue Ivy, present in the meeting, began to sing along to the hook: ‘Your skin’s just like pearls. The best thing in the world.’

Her involvement instantly changed the room’s dynamic. ‘Now, [Beyoncé’s] like, ‘Play it again,’’ Carless recounted. ‘Now, we’re in the room for 15 minutes listening to this song.’ Ultimately, Blue Ivy’s enthusiasm swayed Beyoncé, who declared, ‘Alright, I like it. I’ll take it. It’s going to be the single.’

A Historic Hit

Released in 2019, ‘Brown Skin Girl’ quickly became a beloved anthem, celebrating Black beauty and empowerment. The song earned a Grammy Award for Best Music Video in 2021, and Blue Ivy herself received a writing credit, making her one of the youngest Grammy winners in history. It’s incredible to think this iconic track might not have made it to the album without Blue Ivy’s persuasive intervention.