Jay-Z Admitted That Listening to ‘Lemonade’ Made Him ‘Very, Very Uncomfortable’
In 2016, Beyoncé released Lemonade, an album that confirmed rumors about Jay-Z’s infidelity. Speculation had flown since the release of footage of Solange attacking Jay-Z in an elevator. Lemonade was an immensely successful album, and Jay-Z said he supported his wife’s work. Still, he admitted that it was not easy for him to listen to.
Jay-Z said he had a hard time listening to ‘Lemonade’
Jay-Z said he was proud of Beyoncé for releasing Lemonade. Still, he admitted that listening to it made him “very, very uncomfortable.”
“[T]he best place is right in the middle of the pain,” he told The New York Times Style Magazine, adding, “And that’s where we were sitting. And it was uncomfortable. And we had a lot of conversations. You know. [I was] really proud of the music she made, and she was really proud of the art I released. And, you know, at the end of the day we really have a healthy respect for one another’s craft. I think she’s amazing.”
He said he was glad they were able to work through their problems rather than divorcing.
“You know, most people walk away, and like divorce rate is like 50 percent or something ’cause most people can’t see themselves,” he said. “The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone’s face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself.”
Jay-Z said making ‘Lemonade’ was therapeutic for Beyoncé
In 2018, the couple released the joint album Everything Is Love. He said that working together on this album and Lemonade felt therapeutic for them.
“It happened — we were using our art almost like a therapy session,” he said. “And we started making music together.”
He added that he still had some involvement in Lemonade’s creation.
“And then the music she was making at that time was further along,” he said. “So her album came out as opposed to the joint album that we were working on. Um, we still have a lot of that music. And this is what it became. There was never a point where it was like, ‘I’m making this album.’ I was right there the entire time.”
He reportedly approved the songs
While Beyoncé accuses Jay-Z of lying and infidelity on Lemonade, a source said he fully supported her work on the album.
“He is fully supportive. He understands the reasoning,” a source told E! News. “This is part of the process of being transparent. And they have healed. He has been very humble about the experience. Beyoncé is the love of his life and he will do what it takes.”
He also reportedly approved songs before they appeared on the album.
“Jay was involved in the creation of Lemonade and knew every song Bey was going to release. He knew the lyrics; he knew the implications,” they added. “He had to approve the songs before release. Jay is a very smart businessman … Bottom line is that they are both really smart and they both saw dollar signs.”
