Lemonade is the Beyoncé album that includes “Formation” and centers on Black Southern identity.
Released in 2016, Lemonade combines songs with a film-length visual project. Its themes include betrayal, family, race, womanhood, resilience, and cultural memory. The work draws on musical styles including R&B, rock, country, blues, reggae, and hip-hop.
“Formation,” released before the album, became one of its defining songs. Its lyrics and imagery reference Beyoncé’s Southern heritage, Black identity, Hurricane Katrina, and police violence. The accompanying visual album deepened those themes through poetry, landscapes, and historical imagery.
Lemonade received widespread critical acclaim and became Beyoncé’s sixth consecutive solo album to debut at number one in the United States. It also won the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album.