Though it finds her croon flawless, the song shines when she shifts to a raspy rap and deploys a series of lethal one-liners, culminating in a masterful parting shot: ‘You know you that bitch when you cause all this conversation.’ It’s a brilliant single, but Bey transcended the sonic realm with her self-titled album in 2013, and every track she’s recorded since is inseparable from the imagery rolled out to accompany it. Like the album itself, ‘Formation’ is a defiant celebration of black womanhood and the singer’s Southern heritage. In 2018, NPR ranked this as the #19 greatest song by a female or nonbinary artist in the 21st century, saying:īeyoncé’s two great obsessions - love and power - combine on her personal-is-political masterpiece, 2016’s Lemonade. After some initial controversy, a rep for Beyoncé confirmed proper credit and compensation had been attributed to the film makers. Shots from the music video come directly from Chris Black and Abteen Bagheri’s 2012 That B.E.A.T., a bounce music documentary filmed in New Orleans. New Orleans bounce musician Big Freedia, who appears on the interlude, noted the song and video showcase Bey “paying homage to her roots.” Bounce music originated in New Orleans and is a faster paced style of hip-hop music. “Formation” was later included as the closer for Beyoncé’s sixth album, LEMONADE, which was surprise-released on April 23, 2016. After her performance, she announced The Formation World Tour.
Martin and Bland’s deaths are focal points of Black Lives Matter.Ĭontinuing the trend commonly attributed to her surprise 2013 album release, “Formation” was surprise-released alongside an unlisted music video the day before her appearance as part of the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, where she performed this track. The song was released one day after what would have been Trayvon Martin’s 21st birthday and one day before what would have been Sandra Bland’s 29th birthday. “Formation” is a Black Power anthem, a fitting contribution to Black History Month and an important conversation piece in the Black Lives Matter movement. You know you that bitch when you cause all this conversationĪlways stay gracious, best revenge is your paper Okay, ladies, now let's get in formation, I slay Slay trick, or you get eliminated, I slay Okay, okay, ladies, now let's get in formation, I slay I slay (Okay), I slay (Okay), I slay (Okay), I slay (Okay) Take what's mine (Take what's mine), I'm a star (I'm a star) I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making You just might be a black Bill Gates in the making, 'cause I slay I might get your song played on the radio station, 'cause I slay If he hit it right, I might take him on a flight on my chopper, I slayĭrop him off at the mall, let him buy some J's, let him shop up, 'cause I slay When he fuck me good, I take his ass to Red Lobster, we gon slay When he fuck me good, I take his ass to Red Lobster, 'cause I slay Prove to me you got some coordination, 'cause I slay Okay, ladies, now let's get in formation, 'cause I slay Okay, okay, ladies, now let's get in formation, 'cause I slay I slay (Okay), okay (Okay), I slay (Okay), okay, okay, okay, okay We gon' slay (Slay), gon' slay (Okay), we slay (Okay), I slay (Okay)
'Cause I slay (Slay), I slay (Hey), I slay (Okay), I slay (Okay)Īll day (Okay), I slay (Okay), I slay (Okay), I slay (Okay) Get what's mine (Take what's mine), I'm a star (I'm a star) Sometimes I go off (I go off), I go hard (I go hard) I twirl on them haters, albino alligatorsĮl Camino with the seat low, sippin' Cuervo with no chaser I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it I see it, I want it, I stunt yellow bone-it Y'all haters corny with that lluminati messĮarned all this money but they never take the country out me I like cornbreads and collard greens, bitch I did not come to play with you hoes, haha
Oh yeah, baby, oh yeah I, oh, oh, yes, I like that I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrilsĮarned all this money, but they never take the country out me I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros You mix that negro with that Creole, make a Texas bama I'm so possessive so I rock his Roc necklaces I'm so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress (Stylin') Paparazzi, catch my fly and my cocky fresh Y'all haters corny with that Illuminati mess