Rolling Stone names Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ as the Greatest Album of the 21st Century.

[u/Euphoric_Sea_2404]

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-21st-century-1235177256/radiohead-kid-a-6-1235188695/

Citation:

Since the release of her self-titled fifth album in 2013, each Beyoncé volume has leveled up in some way — yet Lemonade bests them all in storytelling, revelation, and cultural resonance. In all she’s accomplished, she has yet to meet the world as vulnerably as she does here, laying bare the trauma of her very famous husband’s infidelity to their marriage and the empire they built upon it. Still, the shock and intrigue from that ends up trailing far behind the defining ethos Beyoncé constructs from her despair.

It starts with intricate songs that span time and genre, from the sugary, Soulja Boy-sampling reggae of “Hold Up” to the hard rock “Don’t Hurt Yourself” with Jack White to the country yarn “Daddy Lessons.” From there, Lemonade is foundational to the wide arc of studied genius we’ve come to expect from Beyoncé in subsequent years: For instance, the disrespect she and the Chicks faced performing “Daddy Lessons” at the 2016 Country Music Awards informed her hard pivot South eight years later on Cowboy Carter. Perhaps Lemonade incentivized the utter excellence of every work that followed because of its stunning losses at the 2017 Grammys — her third time losing Album of the Year, with another loss to come. For many, that night crystalized that being the best as a Black woman might never be enough. Yet, she continued to be just that.

Lemonade has always been is more than just an album. It’s a music film as layered, gorgeous, and haunting as a canonical drama, a matrix of generational heartbreak, a celebration of legacy, and a hand-drawn map to the intersections of many Black women’s interpersonal and political lives. That last aspect was especially palpable when “Freedom” became Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign theme. In 2016, the defiance and Black radical aesthetic of Lemonade’s hit single “Formation” was so bold that some police unions spitefully called for a boycott of Beyoncé — Lemonade soundtracked a shifting world, and rocked it too. While valid concerns exist as to whether she actually lives out the values of the social iconography she’s channeled or fundamentally contradicts them, the merits of Beyoncé’s artistry are undeniable. Put simply, Lemonade solidified her status among the best musicians of all time.

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[u/jhll2456]

I can’t argue with that.

[u/Euphoric_Sea_2404]

Btw, she’s #1 🏆on the list 🍋!

🚨Self-titled is #16

🚨Renaissance is #37

🚨Cowboy Carter is #126

[u/bigheartedloser → u/Euphoric_Sea_2404]

Not the 4 disrespect

[u/relientkenny → u/bigheartedloser]

4 is a good album. but ironically it doesn’t compare to the FOLLOWING 4 albums she’s dropped after 😂

[u/bigheartedloser → u/relientkenny]

You right you right but it could've been at least top 250

[u/CleverCarrot999 → u/bigheartedloser]

Seriously.

[u/Madam_Nicole → u/Euphoric_Sea_2404]

Idk, self titled above Renaissance…. I’m just a whore for Renaissance so what do I know

And the CC disrespect….

[u/texasjkids → u/Madam_Nicole]

I can understand how self titled made it higher because it was more of a MOMENT, but damn Renaissance is my favorite Beyoncé album. Absolute masterpiece to me.

[u/anonmarmot17 → u/texasjkids]

I mean self titled changed the whole music charts, which in itself is a ridiculous feat

[u/WSJinfiltrate → u/Euphoric_Sea_2404]

rennaisance should be higher than self-titled

[u/QanonQuinoa]

Who needs AOTY when you’ve got AOT21C 🤩

I love that Rolling Stones are giving Bey her flowers.

[u/DareSaintCorsair]

FACTS...

ARE FACTS.

[u/NtroPWins]

Amen! Lemonade is the album that will transcend time. It is raw, intimate, relatable, inspiring, and just absolute perfection. She is a genius and earned this accolade. She’s the Queen for a reason! I love her.

[u/cuntyaunty]

I love being a fan of the greatest artist with the greatest album. She stays on top and continues to make haters mad. I love it sm

[u/phantomswami99]

They put Folklore as 5 I'm hooting and hollering

[u/the_fitertainer → u/phantomswami99]

The gaslighting is basically abusive at this point. Will we EVA get some reprieve from whatever the fuck is going on there?

[u/phantomswami99 → u/the_fitertainer]

not in this lifetime I'm certain of that

[u/Maximum-Violinist-42 → u/phantomswami99]

actually imo the only Taylor album with a high musical value

[u/phantomswami99 → u/Maximum-Violinist-42]

yeah sure I'm just tired of the Tayfirmative Action

[u/missrichandfamous]

I would put Renny as 1 but happy for Lemonade

[u/anonmarmot17]

ugh yes, Lemonade is so amazing, the film, the music, formation drop, the cultural impact in the US (can’t speak to elsewhere)

[u/IShouldBeSoLucky81 → u/anonmarmot17]

While less of a cultural impact here in Scotland the UK reviews for all of this were A+. Which then led to the predictable "she's overrated" comments. No she is not, she's that good.

[u/relientkenny]

Renaissance to me has eclipsed Lemonade. i love Lemonade and it’s her first instant classic masterpiece but Renaissance is the greatest Beyonce album of all time and i STAND on it

[u/murmaider10000]

Finally a Bey ranking I can get behind. 😌 I was so sick of seeing all these various rank lists that were putting, like, Post Malone and Morgan Wallen near or above her 🥴

[u/Remote-Dog1442]

[u/hmtee3]

I thought this was another Billboard list for a minute and was immediately tired. But I can get down with this update. Truly a moment I’ll never get over.

[u/vancitytdotlady]

Does anyone have a link to the movie they can DM me? Thank you so much 🙏🥹

[u/Agreeable_Bother6487]

I would have never expected her to top it for me personally with Renaissance.

[u/Lasermushrooms]

I'mma let you finish but Beyonce had one of the best albums of all time.

[u/Classic-Chick-5756]

How awesome! It's one of my least favorite BEY albums but I appreciate it, and how it seemed to establish her as an even better artist! I have all her albums btw.

[u/Maester_Bates]

I've been saying for years now that the only albums released so far this century that will still be listened to in 500 years are Lemonade and El Mal Querer.

[u/ShotFish7]

True that - music that's been through the crucible.

[u/Cold_Breadfruit_9794]

Exactly

[u/TeeManyMartoonies]

FUCK YEAH THEY DID!!! I feel vindicaaated!!!