Beyoncé’s 2016 album centered on themes of race, identity, and marriage is Lemonade. It was released on April 23, 2016, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, accompanied by a one-hour film broadcast on HBO.
Lemonade combines R&B, pop, soul, hip-hop, rock, blues, and country influences. Its songs include “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” and “All Night.” The album’s visual presentation uses poetry, spoken narration, and imagery connected to African American history and the American South.
The project received widespread critical acclaim and won the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album. “Formation” also won Best Music Video. Lemonade is often discussed alongside the 2013 self-titled album Beyoncé, but the two releases have different formats and release strategies: Beyoncé arrived as a surprise visual album, while Lemonade premiered as a film-and-album project on HBO.