“Formation” became the lead single from Beyoncé's 2016 album Lemonade.
Beyoncé released the song on February 6, 2016, accompanied by a music video directed by Melina Matsoukas. The track was written by Beyoncé, Mike WiLL Made-It, Swae Lee, and others, and it was produced by Mike WiLL Made-It.
The lyrics celebrate Black identity, Southern heritage, and Beyoncé's family background while addressing police violence and cultural representation. The video includes imagery associated with New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina.
“Formation” was performed during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show the day after its release. It later won the Grammy for Best Music Video and became a central cultural reference point for the Lemonade era.