Like an elite athlete, an artist is hard wired to reach a goal and then, having achieved it, to raise the bar even higher, always pushing to perform at top capacity, crafting a personal best.

Beyoncé knows this. She's blessed with a relentless spirit that fuels her. "Everything that I do creatively has to make me work harder and hopefully steer me in a direction I've never been before, " she explains." If it's easy, then the excitement is gone because I don't like to be bored and comfortable when it comes to my music. I like to challenge myself and all those around me to get the very best creatively."

That creativity took center stage on Beyoncé's 2003 solo debut, Dangerously In Love, which won an astounding five Grammy Awards, confirming her status as one of pop/R&B's premier songwriters, producers and singers. With hits like "Crazy In Love" and "Baby Boy," Beyoncé shattered sales records, headlined sold-out tours worldwide, and presented the full range of her artistic vision, redefining herself in the process. So, how do you top a personal best?

Beyoncé's answer is B'Day, executive produced by Beyoncé Knowles and Mathew Knowles for Music World Productions Inc. Dropping worldwide on her 25th birthday, B'Day is a celebration and a milestone. Soulfully deep, emotionally expansive, musically far reaching and filled with banging beats, muscular rhythms and lyrics that are grown, smart and just flat out sexy, B'Day is the sound of an artist raising the bar.

That musicality present throughout B'Day is just one of the motivations behind Beyoncé's frankly cool decision to form a 10 piece all female band for her forthcoming tour.

Since wrapping up her first solo tour in 2004, Beyoncé has kept up a whirlwind pace. In 2005, Destiny's Child said good-bye with Destiny Fulfilled, a farewell tour and the greatest hits collection 1's. That same year Beyoncé and her mother, Destiny Child's stylist Tina Knowles, launched a fashion line, House of Deréon, named for Beyoncé's maternal grandmother. House of Deréon will launch its junior line, Deréon, later this year.

The creative multi-tasking didn't stop. The following year Beyoncé began filming what she described as the role of a lifetime: "Deena Jones" in the long awaited cinematic version of the Broadway classic Dream Girls. The film's grueling 4-month shoot wrapped in April 2006 and Beyoncé, who hadn't slowed down since Dangerously In Love, was more than ready to chill. Yet after spending hours coming up with concepts and lyrics, Beyoncé discovered that rather than being drained she was invigorated and inspired by possibility. And so, two days into her vacation, Beyoncé left the chaise lounge by the pool for the darkness of a studio. Not only was the move unexpected it was on the DL."I told (my A&R guy)," she remembers. "'This is a secret. Don't tell my daddy, or my mommy or anybody; even the label.'"

Working quickly Beyoncé assembled her dream team -- Swizz, Jerkins, Harrison, Sean Garrett -- brought them all to the same New York City studio and put them in different rooms. Then the games began as Beyoncé (who was in a separate room with co-writers Angela Beyince, Makeeba and younger sister Solange Knowles) would run from studio to studio. In a musical version of the dozens, she'd drop good natured subtle jabs like "Oh, Rodney, he's got some heat up there," then head over to Harrison's session exclaiming, "Hey, Swizz is really bringing fire, you gotta come with it! " Beyoncé laughs, "There was no negative competition. Everything just happened so quickly, so I didn't have to arrange expensive flights and deal with drama and schedules. The process was magical, everyone was truly excited to be in the studio, just getting to be creative."

Working at breakneck speed, the sessions took less than 3 weeks and yielded 25 songs, which were whittled down to B'Day 's 11, and mastered in early July. (read less)

Like an elite athlete, an artist is hard wired to reach a goal and then, having achieved it, to raise the bar even higher, always pushing to perform at top capacity, crafting a personal best.

Beyoncé knows this. She's blessed with a relentless spirit that fuels her. "Everything that I do creatively has to make me work harder and hopefully steer me in a direction I've never been before, " she explains." If it's easy, then the excitement is gone because I don't like to be bored and co... (read more)