Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album featuring “Formation” was titled Lemonade.
Lemonade was released on April 23, 2016, after a premiere on HBO. It combines a music album with a long-form film divided into chapters. The project explores themes including relationships, betrayal, family, Black identity, resilience, and cultural memory. Its music incorporates R&B, rock, country, blues, pop, and hip-hop.
“Formation” was first released in February 2016 and became the project’s best-known political and cultural statement. Other Lemonade songs include “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” “Daddy Lessons,” and “Freedom.” The album features guest appearances from artists including Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, and The Weeknd.
Lemonade is often confused with Beyoncé, the 2013 self-titled visual album. Both projects were accompanied by films, but Lemonade followed a chapter-based narrative and arrived three years later. Lemonade received widespread critical acclaim and earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.