Beyoncé to release single 'Run the World (Girls)' to radio, iTunes Thursday

Beyoncé is done making her fans wait.

After the singer’s new single, “Run the World (Girls),” leaked and caused a frenzy among her fans, the speculation on when the single would get an official release ran rampant online.

But the singer, who is gearing up for her fourth solo album, has announced the album’s first offering will be issued to iTunes and radio Thursday morning.

“Run the World (Girls)” fits right into the former Destiny's Child frontwoman’s long line of club-ready girl-power anthems.

The track features a direct sample of Diplo and Switch’s Major Lazer project, specifically the gritty dancehall hit, “Pon De Floor” and was co-written by Beyoncé and The-Dream; they also worked together on her smash “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).”

To further whet fans' appetites, the singer released a quick (and we mean 17 seconds quick) teaser of the upcoming Francis Lawrence-directed clip, but the only image we see of her is on the back of a horse.

In photos that circulated online, Beyoncé can be seen commanding what appears to be a post-apocalyptic war zone, donning an elaborate gold headdress and holding a red flag emblazoned with a black “B.”

Watch the teaser here.

-- Gerrick D. Kennedy

twitter.com/gerrickkennedy

Photo: “Run the World (Girls)” single cover. Credit: Courtesy of Columbia Records