Beyoncé’s 2016 studio album inspired partly by themes of infidelity and Black identity was Lemonade.
Lemonade was released on April 23, 2016, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. It was accompanied by a one-hour film on HBO, also titled Lemonade, which combined music, poetry, and visual storytelling.
The album moves through musical styles including R&B, rock, country, blues, and reggae. Its themes include betrayal, reconciliation, family history, Black womanhood, and cultural identity. Public discussion often connected its relationship themes to Beyoncé’s marriage, although the work is artistic rather than a straightforward documentary.
Lemonade received widespread critical acclaim and won the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. It is distinct from Beyoncé’s 2013 self-titled visual album, which was released without advance promotion and used a different album structure.