Is Beyoncé’s Song ‘Crazy In Love’ About Jay-Z?
On May 14, 2003, Beyoncé released her song “Crazy In Love,” featuring rapper Jay-Z, into the world. Though this was her first lead single as a solo artist, the track did not disappoint in the slightest as it went on to top the global music charts. While “Crazy In Love” solidified Beyoncé’s spot in the music industry, it also put her budding relationship with Jay-Z on everyone’s radar. With lyrics describing a romantic relationship, it would be easy to assume that the song is about the rapper, but is it really?
‘Crazy In Love’ isn’t about anyone in particular
When Beyoncé decided to pursue a solo career following her success with Destiny’s Child, she quickly got to work crafting music that would go on to make history.
The first track she released was her now-hit single “Crazy In Love.”
For Crazy in Love, Beyoncé joined forces with Jay-Z and producer/composer Rich Harrison to create a track mixing hip-hop, soul, and jazzy melodies together, all of which she had mastered before she was even 20. At first, Beyoncé was on the fence about taking on the song as she felt it sounded a little retro for her upcoming album.
However, after listening to the sample some more, the singer eventually warmed up to its sound. Beyoncé then gave Harrison two hours to write lyrics to the song while she went out. Though that seemed like an impossible task at first, given the producer was allegedly hungover at the time, he ended up writing the verses and the hook.
The bridge was written by the Queen Bey, who became inspired after looking at herself in the mirror without having her hair done or matching clothes on and thinking, “I’m lookin’ crazy right now.”
After the song’s released, Beyoncé explained what the song is actually about on MTV’s Making Of The Video.
“It talks about a girl who is at the point of a relationship. She realizes that she’s in love, she’s doing stuff she wouldn’t normally do but she doesn’t care,” she said, per Song Facts. “It doesn’t matter she’s just crazy in love. Rich Harrison actually wrote the song with me and after I finished the song I asked Jay-Z to be part of the song and he did. The song turned out great it ended up being my first single.”
‘Crazy In Love’ was one of the first songs Beyoncé and Jay-Z collaborated on
A few days after Beyoncé and Harrison completed the track in its entirety, Jay-Z laid down the rap verse in only 10 minutes.
The single marked the second song Beyoncé and Jay-Z had worked on together as they released the track “’03 Bonnie & Clyde” the year prior.
“Crazy in Love” became the lead single off of Beyoncé’s Dangerously in Love album and soon became a number-one hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Though the track put Beyoncé on the map as a solo artist, it also shined a light on her relationship with Jay-Z.
When they first started dating in 2002, the couple kept their romance under wraps. Though many suspected that Bey and Jay were a couple, no one had solid proof of a relationship between the two. However, that all changed with “Crazy In Love,” as the fire and passion between the pair were palpable in the music video.
Since its release, “Crazy in Love” has won several accolades, including three Grammy Awards and 3 MTV Video Music Awards.
The single has also become one of Beyoncé’s most-performed songs to date as it’s been a staple in her live performances and concert tours.
