We conclude our season-long analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade . We begin with a sweeping summary of the album’s narrative, followed by a detailed investigation of its major themes and recurring symbols. Finally, we hear from YOU - Dissect listeners -- sharing their biggest takeaways from the album and season. Stay in touch over the break by following us on social media @dissectpodcast. Limited S6 merch can be purchased at shop.dissectpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...
Jul 14, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Season 6Ep. 13
The Season 6 team answers listener submitted questions about Beyoncé, Lemonade , and more. Stay in touch over the break by following us on social media @dissectpodcast. Limited S6 merch can be purchased at shop.dissectpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 09, 2020•1 hr 27 min•Season 6Ep. 13
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its final song and video “Formation.” The track is Beyoncé’s clarion call to the sisterhood of black women we’ve seen throughout Lemonade . She encourages them to “get in formation” -- to unite and take a stand against injustice and discrimination through unity, excellence, and harnessing Black Girl Magic. A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com. Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. S6 merch ...
Jul 07, 2020•51 min•Season 6Ep. 12
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its eleventh and final chapter “Redemption,” which features the song “All Night.” Beyoncé marks the conclusion of her personal journey and the redemption of her marriage. She has triumphed over the curse that plagued her and her family throughout the film, and she celebrates having turned lemons into lemonade. A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com. Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. S6 me...
Jun 30, 2020•46 min•Season 6Ep. 11
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its tenth chapter “Hope,” which features the song “Freedom.” Beyoncé gathers her sisterhood at a former slave plantation to deliver an empowering message of hope and transcendence over oppressive forces. A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com. Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. S6 merch can be purchased at shop.dissectpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/...
Jun 23, 2020•54 min•Season 6Ep. 10
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its ninth chapter “Resurrection,” which features the song “Forward.” Having restored her relationship, Beyoncé turns her attention to social action and communal healing, beginning with a moving portrait of the Mothers of the Movement. Support the ongoing fight of systemic racism and equality for all by visiting these links: trayvonmartinfoundation.org , colorofchange.org, joincampaignzero.org , and 8cantwait.org . A visual g...
Jun 16, 2020•39 min•Season 6Ep. 9
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its eighth chapter “Forgiveness,” which features the song “Sandcastles.” Beyoncé finally opens herself up completely, requires her husband to do the same, and forgives. As a result, Beyoncé breaks the curse of broken male-female relationships in her family. A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com. Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. S6 merch can be purchased at shop.dissectpodcast.com. Learn...
Jun 09, 2020•34 min•Season 6Ep. 8
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its seventh chapter “Reformation,” which features the song “Love Drought.” Beyoncé extends an olive branch to her husband, expresses the potential of the love they share, and entertains the idea of reconciliation. A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com . Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. S6 merch can be purchased at shop.dissectpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
Jun 08, 2020•40 min•Season 6Ep. 7
8 minutes and 46 seconds. The amount of time Officer Derek Chauvin's knee was pressed into George Floyd's neck. We encourage our listeners to use this time of silence to remember the Black lives lost to police brutality, reflect on the Black lives affected every day by systemic injustice and discrimination, and how we can individually and collectively fill this silence with sustained action. Visit blacklivesmatters.carrd.co to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...
Jun 02, 2020•9 min•Season 6Ep. 6
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its sixth chapter “Accountability,” which features the song “Daddy Lessons.” Beyoncé looks to her past to better understand the history of broken male-female relationships in her family. She realizes that the “gun” she inherited from her father must be disarmed if she wishes to reconcile with her partner. A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com . Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. S6 merch ...
May 26, 2020•46 min•Season 6Ep. 6
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its fifth chapter “Emptiness,” which features the song “6 Inch.” We find Beyoncé wielding her sexuality for profit in a powerful anthem for working girls. But is there something else beneath her external show of dominance? A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com . Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. S6 merch can be purchased at shop.dissectpodcast.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
May 19, 2020•39 min•Season 6Ep. 5
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its fourth chapter “Apathy,” which features the song “Sorry.” The inside of the Madewood Plantation big house in Louisiana becomes the backdrop for Beyoncé’s apathetic dismissal of her partner. A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com . Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
May 12, 2020•42 min•Season 6Ep. 4
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting its third chapter “Anger,” which features the song “Don’t Hurt Yourself.” Beyoncé flips stereotypical gender roles to command the respect of her partner and reclaim her agency. But how long can her anger sustain? A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com. Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
May 05, 2020•47 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Hear S6 co-host Titi and Cole in conversation about their experience traveling together to the Louisiana sugar plantations seen throughout the visuals of Lemonade . We’ll also learn more about Titi, her educational background, and both Cole and Titi’s history with Beyoncé’s music. Listen to Titi’s podcast Dope Labs: https://open.spotify.com/show/3pCF6hcNsAHKlKAillCOuZ?si=DZ-hYwjPQ0OS5oW39bjODQ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Apr 30, 2020•53 min•Season 6Ep. 2
We continue our serialized analysis of Beyoncé’s Lemonade by dissecting it’s second chapter “Denial,” which features the song “Hold Up.” After unsuccessfully attempting to change for her husband’s sake, Beyoncé channels the Yoruba water goddess Oshun to deliver a spiteful message. A visual guide for this episode can be found at dissectpodcast.com . Follow us on social media @dissectpodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Apr 28, 2020•41 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Surprise! Season 6 is dedicated to Beyoncé’s masterwork Lemonade . Through in-depth, highly researched analysis, we follow Beyoncé on her transcendent journey from subjugation to freedom. Today we unpack the visual album’s opening chapter “Intuition,” which features the song “Pray You Catch Me.” We’ll come to understand the curse that looms over Beyoncé and how she must take a leap of faith to overcome this curse for the sake of her family. We also welcome our very first co-host Titi Shodiya. Li...
Apr 23, 2020•46 min•Season 6Ep. 1
We conclude our season on DAMN. by recapping the album’s narrative in standard track order before speculating on an alternative narrative when listening in reverse track order. Finally, we present a new theory about the album’s track listing (did someone say “chiasm”?). Stay connected over the break by following @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Megaphone....
Jan 28, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 20
DUCKWORTH. tells the remarkable true story of the chance encounter between Kendrick’s father Kenny Duckworth and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith. Kendrick uses this story to illustrate the album’s central message: the (unpredictable) blessings that come from choosing weakness. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc...
Jan 21, 2020•54 min•Season 5Ep. 19
After receiving guidance from Cousin Carl on FEAR., Kung Fu Kenny expresses the joyous feeling of being filled with the spirit of GOD. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jan 14, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 18
In part two of our analysis of FEAR., we come to understand how fear has been the primary motivating factor in Kung Fu Kenny’s life. Kenny consolidates the album’s major themes into one extremely dense final verse, which unlocks many of the album’s mysteries. Finally, we dissect Cousin Carl’s voicemail that explains the reasons behind Kenny’s tumultuous emotional journey over the course of DAMN. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcas...
Jan 07, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 17
FEAR. is the pivotal track in the narrative of DAMN. We begin our two part analysis by dissecting the song’s virtuosic use of samples before digging into the appearance of Kendrick Lamar’s two real life cousins: Carl and Charles. Finally, we unpack the song’s first verse, which is rapped from the perspective of Kendrick’s mother. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spot...
Dec 30, 2019•57 min•Season 5Ep. 16
In part two of our analysis of XXX., we discover the dramatic twist in the narrative of DAMN. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 24, 2019•57 min•Season 5Ep. 15
XXX. is a multipart suite that begins to reveal the deep-rooted themes of DAMN. We find Kung Fu Kenny seemingly under demonic influence as he portrays himself as a heartless, bloodthirsty killer. By the song’s second half, we discover the event that triggered such ruthlessness. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
Dec 23, 2019•39 min•Season 5Ep. 14
Coming off the heels of LUST., LOVE. presents the flipside of the coin as Kung Fu Kenny explores the youthful, romantic love he felt as a teenager. As we’ll discover, this isn’t the first time Kendrick has explored the love/lust dichotomy in his music: it was actually the basis for his major label debut good kid, m.A.A.d. city . Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti...
Dec 17, 2019•39 min•Season 5Ep. 13
When DAMN. released just months after Donald Trump was elected president, many were anticipating the moment Kendrick Lamar -- the greatest rapper of our generation -- addressed the election on the album. LUST. presents that moment, but not in a way many people were expecting… Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
Dec 10, 2019•54 min•Season 5Ep. 12
We continue our season-long analysis of DAMN. with the album’s hit single HUMBLE. Coming off the heels of PRIDE. in which Kung Fu Kenny admitted his imperfections, we are puzzled to find Kenny egotistically lifting himself up by putting down others. But as we’ll hear, this mentality embodies the central biblical theme that powerful rulers and nations often become corrupted by pride. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . List...
Dec 03, 2019•44 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Kung Fu Kenny takes a big step forward by admitting his imperfections and humbling himself. As track 7 of 14, we hypothesize about PRIDE. being a micro-resolution to DAMN’s first half. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 26, 2019•45 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Kung Fu Kenny teams with Bad Girl RiRi for a meditation on the concept of LOYALTY. What begins as a self-serving demand for absolute devotion eventually unfolds into a recognition that one’s highest degree of loyalty should be shown to God. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 19, 2019•43 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Kung Fu Kenny’s pursuit of sex, money, and murder comes to a head in FEEL. In a violent storm of emotions, Kenny reveals the underlying isolation and suffering caused by his self-centered way of life. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 12, 2019•40 min•Season 5Ep. 8
ELEMENT. is a brutal meditation on Kung Fu Kenny’s intuition toward preemptive violence. But upon analysis we realize that beneath Kenny’s aggression is an underlying fear of his family going back to a life of poverty. In this way, the track exemplifies how self-preservational pride tilts toward death and destruction. Say hi @dissectpodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Purchase Dissect merch at https://shop.dissectpodcast.com/ . Listen to original Dissect themes on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k8BsZM...
Nov 05, 2019•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 7
