When Beyoncé’s voice cracks with sorrow on “Sandcastles,” it shows that pop’s most celebrated independent woman isn’t immune to pain. Lemonade uses those emotions and an incendiary narrative about infidelity as jumping-off points; “Hold Up,” “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” and “Sorry” are middle-fingered clap-backs to galvanize the BeyHive. But focus solely on Becky and you’ll miss the big picture. With “Freedom” and “Formation,” Beyoncé offers fierce celebrations of blackness. The accompanying film combines words by Somali-British poet Warsan Shire with radical imagery, reaffirming Bey's stature as one of the most visionary artists and provocateurs of her generation.
