I Am... Sasha Fierce is the third studio album by American recording artist Beyoncé. It was released on November 15, 2008, by Music World Entertainment and Columbia Records. In its initial release, the album was formatted as a dual disc, intending to market Beyoncé's contrasting facets of artistry. The first disc, I Am..., contains slow and midtempo pop and R&B ballads, while the second, Sasha Fierce (named after Beyoncé's on-stage alter ego), focuses on more uptempo beats that blend electropop and Europop genres. In composing the songs' lyrics, Beyoncé worked with many writers, with each session accompanied by live orchestration.

Beyoncé credited both her husband, rapper Jay Z, and jazz singer Etta James for inspiring her to push the limits of her songwriting and artistry. Musically, I Am... drew inspiration from folk and alternative rock, while blending acoustic guitar elements into contemporary ballads. The tracks on the first disc were written and produced by Beyoncé, during collaborative efforts with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Terius "The-Dream" Nash and Ryan Tedder. Sasha Fierce boasted production from Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Sean "The Pen" Garrett. The album received generally lukewarm reviews from critics, many of whom felt that it does not properly differentiate the double-discs' contrasts and goals.