'I see music!': Beyonce shocks fans as she releases groundbreaking self titled album... along with SEVENTEEN new videos featuring Jay Z, Blue Ivy and her mom

She is known as an Independent Woman, and when it comes to her music it seems Beyonce Knowles really does like to do things her own way.

On Thursday, after almost a year of speculation over the release of her fifth album, the 32-year-old singer rush released her latest studio effort on iTunes with no promotion or prior warning to her fans.

In a surprise and game-changing move, the album comes complete with seventeen videos already filmed for each track.

Showcase: Beyonce stars in seventeen videos for her surprise visual album, with the videos shot everywhere from Brazil to her hometown of Houston

In an accompanying statement, the 32-year-old entertainer spoke
about her decision to create a what she is calling a 'visual album'.
'I see music. It’s more than just what I hear.' she revealed.

Hometown: In the video for Partition Bey plays the role of a beauty pageant queen, representing her home borough in Houston

New look: The Haunted video shows the hit-maker changing up her image with a cropped blonde do and dressed in a masculine tuxedo

'When I’m connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they’re all connected to the music.'
The accompanying videos feature cameo appearances from the star's friends and family including husband Jay Z, baby daughter Blue Ivy, her mother and her Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

Me and my girl: Beyonce's baby girl Blue Ivy makes an appearance in the video for ballad, Blue

Riding the loops: The video for XO was shot at New York's famous Coney Island where Beyonce enlisted the help of her real life friends for the shoot

Collaborations on the 'exclusive visual album' meanwhile include appearances from husband Jay Z, Kelly and Michelle, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, Drake and even her Blue Ivy.
Interestingly, previously leaked tracks Grown Woman and Standing in the Sun did not make the final cut of the album.

From neurotic beauty pageant star to new alter-ego Yonce: Beyonce's seventeen videos from self-titled album BEYONCE in full

Pretty Hurts: Beyonce plays a troubled beauty queen addicted to diet pills, representing '3rd Ward', the area of Houston where the star grew up.

Blue: Co-directed by Beyonce herself, the video sees a dressed-down star carrying her daughter Blue Ivy to the beach as she sings to her little girl 'won't you hold onto me'.

Drunk in love: The arty black and white visual sees the singer dressed in a sheer black dress as she dances on the beach in Brazil.

Yoncé: Beyonce introduces us to her alter ego Yonce, with models Chanel Iman and Joan Small prancing around with Bey in skimpy street wear.

XO: Shot at New York's famous Coney Island fairground, Beyonce is seen beaming away as the rides the rollercoaster and dances to the upbeat tune with her friends.

Ghost: The most simple of all the videos sees Beyonce in flawless close up, as we cut between images of the star in a flowing black gown and mesh top, showcasing her abs.

Grown Woman: The psychedelic visual sees Bey in full on 70-s style party mode as she shows off her twerking skills while her mom Tina makes a cameo.

Haunted: With a short blonde do and dressed in a tuxedo, the superstar struts through a hallway as scantily dressed dancers put on a show in the lavish rooms.

Jealous: Set to a slinky slow beat, Beyonce is seen hitting the town with her girlfriends after being stood up on a date.

Heaven: With tears running down her first this emotional video sees Beyonce showing off her vocal skills on the piano ballad as flashbacks show the star reminiscing about a lost friend.

Mine: The ballad featuring Drake is given a fast paced video featuring flashes of Beyonce and her dancers whipping up a sandstorm as they dance on the beach.

No Angel: Dressed in a white furry jacket, a skimpy leotard and sporting lilac lips, Bey returns to her hometown of Houston with appearances from Texas hip hop stars like Bun B.

Partition: Jay Z gets a treat in this steamy vid which sees his wife cage dancing for her husband of five years as well as writhing around on a mirrored floor in little more than a thong.

Flawless: Set in a graffiti covered alley, the black and white video sees Beyonce in hot pants and a plaid shirt as she showcases her moves with a team of street dancers.

Rocket: The slow motion visual sees the star showing some skin and flashes of skimpy underwear as she writhes around in bed.
Superpower: Part parade, part protest, Beyonce leads a pack of pals through the streets with a few famous faces spotted in the crowd including her Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

Blow: Dressed in a tiger print coat the candy coloured visual sees Bey and her girlfriends hitting a roller disco as they skate in hotpants.

More traditional release campaigns recently demonstrated by the likes of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears see months of hype, single releases and 'buzz' tracks released to radio stations.
There are also advertising campaigns, promotional trails including endless television appearances and performances at award shows.

Album artwork: The sleeve of the set on iTunes features a plain black background with the singer's name emblazoned in pink across it

Game-changing: Unlike Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga who have all embarked on pre-planned album campaigns prior to a release date, Beyonce dropped her album with no prior warning

Risque: Beyonce has created 17 different looks for videos that accompany the tracks of the album

But Beyonce seems to have skipped all of that.

Instead, the mother-of-one has been hard at work on her world tour The Mrs Carter Show, and joining her husband Jay Z on a special vegan diet until Christmas.

However, the singer has clearly also been secretly beavering away in the studio finishing what will surely be considered as her most surprising effort to date.
A statement explained: 'That the album is available on the day the world is learning about its release is an unprecedented strategic move by the artist to deliver music and visual content directly to her fans when she wants to and how she wants to, with no filter.'

Check out the waist: Beyonce is measured up in the visual for Pretty Hurts

Candy coloured: Blow sees Bey and her girlfriends hitting up a roller disco dressed in tiny hot pants and crop tops

'I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it,' Beyonce states.  'I am bored with that.  I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans.  
'There’s so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans.'

Grown woman: Beyonce reveals her toned physique in another sexy still from a video   

Bikini babe: Beyonce shows off her body in another video - Blue - from her brand new self-titled album

'I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.'
The rush-release of the album also means that music critics will not have time to give their verdict, be it good or bad.

Britney Spears has seen her latest effort Britney Jean suffer in the charts which can't have been helped by the scathing reviews it has received.