5 Reasons Lemonade Is the Best Beyoncé Album to Date

You can skim the surface and say this is all about Beyoncé, Jay Z's potential infidelity, and the decision to forgive and move on. You can go a bit deeper and say it's a triumphant stance for black Americans, specifically black women, say it's a celebration of black culture. On all counts, you'd be right. But the layer underneath that means so much more. It cuts through skin color, flesh, heartbreak, and it lands on a basic human plight. We've heard the adage a million times, and it's the heart of Bey's album: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Beyoncé does place this wisdom in the hands of black women, who are often handed more lemons than most. Make no mistake: this album is for black women. But the fact that her message can scrape the bottom of any human soul and inspire strength is a beautiful, visceral thing.