The self-proclaimed “god” of rap and Queen Bey have had some tumultuous experiences over the last few years. Perhaps the music world’s most famous married couple has struggled with infidelity, marital discord and miscarriage, all of which were chronicled on Beyoncé’s album Lemonade and Jay-Z’s platinum 4:44.
But the Carters’ first album together (which is how it’s officially credited) has still more to say about all that drama. And, perhaps surprisingly, Everything Is Love has a lot of positive stuff to say about marriage. Despite the rage that Beyoncé vented on her last solo effort, she insists that the pair has healed from their heartaches. Not only that, they say they’ve actually grown as a couple, putting to rest the notion that their celebrity union is on the brink of dissolution.
Oh, and they also remind us that they’re loaded, too.
In “SUMMER,” Bey and Jay reignite their marriage on the road to healing. “Let’s … make plans/To be in each other’s arms, yeah,” they tell each other. They also recognize that this lifelong commitment requires vulnerability and hard work: “We never been this far from the shore/ … Tell me your desires, I won’t ever tire.” An additional line tells us, “Love is going to express itself as a form of forgiveness and compassion for each other.” We hear a similar focus on the power of love in “BLACK EFFECT.”
In “LOVEHAPPY,” the two practice forgiveness and commit to save their marriage at all costs: “You did some things to me, boy, you do some things to me/But love is deeper than your pain, and I believe you can change/Baby, the ups and downs are worth it, long way to go, but we’ll work it.” And in “713,” Jay-Z recalls meeting Beyoncé and falling in love with her: “Fate had me sitting next to you on the plane/And I knew straight away, uh.”
Jay-Z and Beyoncé agree that one ingredient for a successful marriage is surrounding themselves with great relationships. Accordingly, “FRIENDS” tips the hat toward all of those who’ve stuck with them through every season of life: “I don’t know what I would do without all of my crew/…Never let them out my sight, they’re right by my side.”
In “NICE,” guest contributor Pharrell Williams sings about persevering through tough times (albeit with a vaguely New Agey shout-out to the universe): “Anybody ever had an error/When things could’ve been better/Feeling like you was on a stretcher, and all you remember was the hecklers/But the universe uplifts that weight/Then you shine like a new feather.”
“BOSS” and “APES—” both recognize the blessings of financial prosperity. On the former, we hear, “My great-great-grandchildren already rich.”
If only we could have stopped with that positive content. Unfortunately, we’ve got a lot of explicit stuff to wade through here as well.
The Carters get physically intimate in “SUMMER.” Beyoncé sings, “Let’s make love in the summertime, yeah/On the sand, beach sands, make plans.” And Bey minces no words at all as she describes working through her husband’s infidelity: “Yeah, you f—ed up the first time, we had to get remarried … /Lucky I ain’t kill you when I met that b—.”
And in songs such as “713,” “BLACK EFFECT,” HEARD ABOUT US,” “NICE,” “BOSS” and “APES—,” the power duo spends plenty of time flexing their fame, reminding us of their wealth and lavish lifestyle. In “713,” Jay-Z gives us a peek into their mansion: “Cash, hit deposit, 24-carat faucets/Louis V and Goyard trunks all in the closet.” In “HEARD ABOUT US,” Beyoncé blends bling-filled brags with violent threats: “Got no time, but we got Pateks/I come around, stepping on necks/My nicca got n-ggas upset, why?/Oh, why these b–ches so mad for/They don’t want ‘Yoncé on their door.”
In “713,” Jay-Z comments profanely on racism, rapping, “America is a motherf—a to us, lock us up, shoot us/Shoot our self-esteem down, we don’t deserve true love.” And in “NICE,” he says that being taken to court for his past drug-dealing is a form of racism: “After all these years of drug trafficking, huh/Time to remind me I’m black again, huh.” The threat of violence again creeps into “BLACK EFFECT,” where he quips “I’m good on any MLK boulevard/See my vision with a TEC, b–ch, I’m Malcom X.”
“APES—” and “FRIENDS” reference drug and alcohol use. In the former, we hear, “I’m not poppin’ my b–ch, I’m poppin’/We go to the dealer and cop it off/Sippin’ my favorite alcohol/Got me so lit I need Tylenol … /Smoke gorilla glue like it’s f—ing legal.”
God’s name is misused a few times. Other profanities include frequent uses of the f-word and s-word, as well as “n-gga,” “b–ch,” and “d—n,” enough vulgarity to earn all nine tracks an “Explicit” warning.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have come a long way, both professionally and personally. There aren’t many famous couples, especially those on their level, who have managed to weather personal storms and remain united on the other side.
Despite serious issues—including infidelity—they refused to give up, admirably fighting for their marriage instead of fighting against each other. And for that tenacity and commitment to their union, Jay and Bey deserve credit.
But before we get too caught up in praise, however, it’s important to be aware of the content and context here. Harsh profanity abounds on every track. We also hear references to drug and alcohol abuse, violent threats, excessive bravado and intimate sexual details.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé have some profound things to say about life and marriage here … and more than a few profane things, too.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
