The world stopped for Beyoncé’s Homecoming release last week, which featured an incredible cover of Maze’s “Before I Let Go,” written and produced by lead singer and 2019 ESSENCE Festival honoree, Frankie Beverly.
Beverly recently spoke to Billboard about the cover song, which appeared on the surprise live album that accompanied Bey’s Netflix documentary. The producer called Beyoncé’s homage “one of the high points of my life.”
The pair have been friends for quite some time, but Beverly said he was shocked and delighted when he heard the song.
“She’s a great friend of mine, but I didn’t know she was going to do this,” he revealed. “I was hearing stuff, but I didn’t even want to approach her about it. She kept it quiet, until her people called me one day maybe a week or two ago. When they played it, that’s when I heard the first draft of it, and I was blown away. It’s a blessing.”
Beverly went on the praise the singer as “a sweet person,” who works incredibly hard.
“It’s amazing how she works, she’s very smart. I’m caught off guard, but in a beautiful way,” he added. “Then the way she just released it, it’s off the chain. She’s done so much, this is one of the high points of my life.”
Bey’s fans have taken to the song so much that she recently launched the “Before I Let Go” challenge, which encourages fans to make up dance moves to her cover’s breakdown. Beyoncé has been posting her favorites to her Instagram page.
Be sure to join us as we celebrate Frankie Beverly, where he will return to perform on the ESSENCE Festival mainstage in New Orleans this July!