“Formation” is a Black Power anthem, a fitting contribution to Black History Month and an important conversation piece in the Black Lives Matter movement. 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. Martin and Bland’s deaths are focal points of Black Lives Matter.

Continuing 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. After her performance, she announced The Formation World Tour. “Formation” was later included as the closer for Beyoncé’s sixth album, LEMONADE, which was surprise-released on April 23, 2016.

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.

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. After some initial controversy, a rep for Beyoncé confirmed proper credit and compensation had been attributed to the film makers. Watch That B.E.A.T. below.