Beyonce brings forth "4"

Years without Beyonce have been years without rain for fans of the Queen Bey. However, on June 28, desiccated followers are promised royal satisfaction with her new album titled 4.

The album name not only identifies the artist’s fourth solo production, but it also holds a great deal of significance. Beyonce’s second record, B-Day, was released in 2006 on the star’s birthday, Sept. 4. Successful rapper and the star’s hubbie, Sean Carter, stage name Jay-Z, has a birthday that falls on Dec. 4.

The couple married on April 4, 2008, and both allegedly have a roman numeral four tattooed on their left hand ring fingers. Although Beyonce hasn’t specified any of these dates as influencing the title, the number definitely includes meaning.

The artist's album was leaked almost a month in advance of its drop date, but early exposure hasn’t slowed promotion. The first single, “Run the World (Girls),” was released on April 21. It parallels her 2009 major hit “Single Ladies” off her album I am.. Sasha Fierce as an upbeat, women-empowerment single.

She not only released a video for her new song, but she also performed it at the Billboard Awards and as a part of the Oprah Winfrey Show’s finale. Her hit, however, only reached No. 17 on the iTunes charts.

To enforce album anticipation, a countdown is displayed on her website, beyonceonline.com, as well as a new song every day leading up to sales. The album can also be pre-ordered on iTunes.