Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album about Black identity and family history is Lemonade.
Lemonade was released on April 23, 2016, after a premiere of its accompanying film on HBO. The album combines R&B, pop, rock, soul, hip-hop, blues, and country influences. Its lyrics and imagery examine betrayal, resilience, heritage, womanhood, and the experiences of Black women in the United States.
The project includes spoken passages by the British-Somali poet Warsan Shire and visual contributions filmed in locations including New Orleans. Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, and daughter Blue Ivy also appear in the film, linking the work’s public themes to family history.
Lemonade debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and received widespread critical acclaim. It earned nine Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, and won Best Urban Contemporary Album and Best Music Video for “Formation.”