Lemonade was Beyoncé’s surprise-released 2016 album accompanied by a film.
The album appeared on April 23, 2016, after an HBO premiere of an hour-long visual work also titled Lemonade. Its songs and imagery examine themes including relationship conflict, ancestry, Black identity, grief, resilience, and reconciliation. The project’s format connected music, poetry, film, and visual symbolism.
Lemonade was released through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. It followed Beyoncé’s self-titled 2013 visual album, but its rollout used a different combination of television premiere, streaming release, and promotional secrecy.
The album received widespread critical acclaim and earned multiple Grammy nominations. It is often discussed as a complete visual and thematic work rather than simply a collection of singles. Songs associated with it include “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” and “Freedom,” featuring Kendrick Lamar.