(Video) Jay-Z Talks Fatherhood on New Album "Magna Carta Holy Grail"
2 min read
Melissa Byers
Melissa is the Chief Marketing Officer at National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI). Melissa oversees the organization's marketing, communications, graphic design, and product fulfillment functions.
"My pop left when I was young, so he didn't teach me how to be a man nor how to raise a child...or treat a woman...of course..the two things I need I don't have...and I have a daughter." —Jay-Z
US Magazine posted about Jay-Z talking fatherhood and the inspiration behind his new song "Jay-Z Blue" from the upcoming album Magna Carta Holy Grail in Jay-Z Almost Cries About Blue Ivy."
Jay-Z is obvisiously emotional as he talks about his new song and his daughter, Blue Ivy. In the new commercial for his album, you're placed "behind the scenes" with Jay-Z opening up privately with the one and only music producer Rick Rubin. Rubin's laying on a sofa and Jay-Z says, "[She's] something that we both created, you know, we still marvel at her..."
He continues talking directly to Rubin about the weight and worry he feels of not having a dad to show him right and wrong and is obviously pointing out the inspiration behind his song "Jay Z Blue." He says:
"It deals with, you know, my pop left when I was young, so he didn't teach me how to be a man nor how to raise a child or treat a woman..."
In a moment of holding back tears, Jay-Z says, "So, of course, my karma, the two things I needed I don't have, right?...And I have a daughter..." He continues, "It's the paranoia of not being a great dad."
Catch the video now. If you can't view it above—it's here.
Verse three of the song "Jay-Z Blue (Daddy Dearest)" reveals the fear Jay-Z has of not being an involved dad to his daugther and trying to deal with his past:
Father never taught me how to be a father Treated mother I don't wanna have to just repeat another leave another Baby with no daddy want no mama drama I just wanna Take her back to a time when Everything was calmer Out in Paris on a terrace Watching the Eiffel Tower And a Ferris wheel yet and still Nothing could prepare us For the beauty that you be Blue be Looking in your eyes is like a mirror Have to face my fears Cheer up Why could you just be happy Without these back and forth thoughts You too much like your daddy Badly I just wanna spend more time with him Sadly life wouldn't let me get around with him Now I got my own daughter Taught her how to take her first steps Cut the cord watch her take her first breath And I'm trying and I'm lying if I said I wasn't scared But in life and death If I ain't here
What's your biggest fear as a parent? "Magna Carta Holy Grail" releases July 9. Here's to Blue Ivy growing up able to sing, "99 problems but a dad ain't one." Sorry, someone had too.