Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album inspired in part by her experiences with Black womanhood is Lemonade.
Lemonade was released on April 23, 2016, through an unusual surprise-release strategy associated with Beyoncé’s earlier self-titled album. It combines an audio album with a 65-minute film that premiered on HBO. The project is organized into chapters with titles such as “Intuition,” “Denial,” “Anger,” “Apathy,” “Hope,” and “Redemption.”
Its music draws from R&B, rock, country, blues, soul, reggae, and hip-hop. Songs including “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” and “Freedom” helped make the project both a commercial success and a major cultural event. The visual film features poetry by Warsan Shire and appearances by Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
Lemonade debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and earned nine Grammy nominations. It is distinct from Renaissance, Beyoncé’s 2022 studio album, and from Everything Is Love, her 2018 collaborative album with Jay-Z.