Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album about marital betrayal and Black identity was called Lemonade.
Lemonade was released on April 23, 2016, alongside a one-hour film broadcast on HBO. The project combines music, poetry, spoken passages, and imagery to explore betrayal, grief, anger, reconciliation, family history, Black womanhood, and cultural identity. Its narrative is often discussed in connection with public speculation about Beyoncé’s marriage, although the album is broader than a literal diary.
The album includes “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” “Freedom,” and “All Night.” Its guest contributors include Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, James Blake, and The Weeknd. “Formation” became especially influential for its celebration of Black Southern culture and its direct political imagery.
Lemonade was Beyoncé’s sixth studio album and received widespread critical acclaim. It became her sixth consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. It is distinct from her 2013 self-titled visual album, which introduced a different surprise-release format and title.