Last summer, unreleased music from Beyoncé was stolen in Atlanta after a break-in involving a vehicle tied to her touring team. This incident occurred according to police records. The theft happened in July as the singer’s “Cowboy Carter” tour rolled through the city. It drew tens of thousands of fans to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. What should have been a brief stop between rehearsals instead became a serious breach involving sensitive creative material. Consequently, the incident has raised questions about how vulnerable high-profile productions can be while on the road.
The break-in happened while Beyoncé’s choreographer, Christopher Grant, and a dancer visited Krog Street Market. When they returned to their rental car about an hour later, they discovered the trunk window had been smashed. Multiple suitcases were gone. Among the stolen items were laptops, designer sunglasses, clothing, AirPods Max headphones, and—most critically—hard drives containing unreleased Beyoncé music. The hard drives also contained tour setlists and video planning materials. The loss carried both personal and professional consequences for the team.
According to the police report, “Mr. Grant advised he was also carrying some personal sensitive information for the musician Beyoncé.” Investigators noted that the stolen materials included content tied directly to the artist’s ongoing tour and future releases. The presence of unreleased recordings elevated the case beyond a routine theft. Authorities treated the incident as a targeted loss of high-value property.
A case that puts the security of creative work under the spotlight
By September, police identified a suspect after tracking digital signals from the stolen devices. Kelvin Evans, 30, was taken into custody on an unrelated parole violation. This led investigators to recover the missing items while he was already incarcerated. Court records show Evans later posted a $20,000 bond and was released from Fulton County Jail in October. He appeared virtually in court on January 7, where he pleaded not guilty to charges. These included entering a vehicle with intent to commit theft and criminal trespass.
The case is scheduled to return to court on February 11 for a management hearing. While the legal process continues, the incident has drawn attention to the risks surrounding creative assets in the music industry. As Beyoncé continues her award-winning run, including a recent Grammy win for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album, fans remain focused on the music that did make it out. They are also interested in the material that nearly didn’t.
