Beyoncé released the album Lemonade in 2016 after previewing it through an accompanying film.
Lemonade was released on April 23, 2016, initially as a Tidal-exclusive visual album. The project combined music with a one-hour film broadcast on HBO and explored themes including betrayal, grief, identity, family, Black womanhood, and resilience.
The album includes songs such as “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” and “Freedom.” Its collaborators included Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, and James Blake. The project’s structure moves through titled emotional chapters, giving the album a strong narrative design.
Lemonade followed Beyoncé’s self-titled 2013 album but used a different release strategy from that surprise project. It received widespread critical acclaim and won the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album.