Beyoncé goes solo, Crazy in Love goes global

# Beyoncé

# Hip-hop

# R&B

18 May 2003: Number 45 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of R&B and hip-hop music

Hard as it is to imagine, there was a time when Beyoncé wasn't the biggest R&B artist on the planet. Then came Crazy in Love, the horns-heavy, boisterous lead single for her debut solo album, with the booty-shaking video to match, and the former voice of the Destiny's Child Christmas album had clearly evolved into a force to be reckoned with. Eight years on and the song's prominence on dancefloors literally everywhere has only been usurped by Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). Also by Beyoncé.

Contributor

Rosie Swash

The GuardianTramp

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