Jay-Z Once Flatteringly Namechecked Gwyneth Paltrow in His Music — Are the Two Still Friends?
Rapper Jay-Z is one of the most influential musicians in the world — and a savvy businessman as well. When Jay-Z speaks, the whole world listens. This includes his musical references, which frequently includes mentions of other stars. Most memorably, in 2006, Jay-Z referenced the actress Gwyneth Paltrow in one of his songs. Since then, fans have wondered what exactly the relationship is between Jay-Z and Paltrow, and whether the two were ever really friends.
Jay-Z is a super-popular rapper
Ever since the mid-nineties, Jay-Z has been one of the biggest stars in the world. His intense beats, combined with introspective and thoughtful lyrics, have made him one of the bestselling rap artists of all time. After he married Beyoncé in the early 2000s, his fame increased, and the two are now the world’s biggest power couple.
These days, Jay-Z still works on his music, although he has made even more money due to his business ventures. From sporting teams to clothing collaborations, Jay-Z has been involved in many successful ventures.
As a husband and father, Jay-Z generally is able to steer clear of controversy — but he has definitely made headlines a few times over the years, mainly due to mysterious lyrics in his songs. On one memorable occasion, he name-checked Paltrow.
What did Jay-Z say about Gwyneth Paltrow in one of his songs?
Paltrow, on the surface, couldn’t be more different from Jay-Z. The successful actress rose to fame in the early nineties, appearing in romantic dramas and thrillers alike.
While she received acclaim for her versatility, Paltrow had other ambitions besides acting. In the early 2000s, she launched Goop, a lifestyle business. The reaction to Goop has been mixed over the years, with many critics labeling the site as promoting false science. Still, Paltrow has remained popular and has been attached to some truly big-name acting projects.
In 2006, Jay-Z released a song called “Hollywood.” The lyrics were provocative, and included a mention of Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as her then-husband, Chris Martin: “When your friends is Chris and Gwyneth, then it’s / Time to get all your windows tinted / Keep your eyes squinted, it’s gon’ flash any minute.”
While most fans might not have given the lyrics too much thought initially, an interview with Amber Rose, Kanye West’s former girlfriend, in 2018 made many question the nature of Jay-Z’s relationship with Paltrow.
Is Gwyneth Paltrow friends with Jay-Z and Beyoncé?
In 2018, Rose spoke out, claiming Paltrow is “Becky with the good hair” — or, the woman name-checked by Beyoncé in Lemonade as reportedly having had an affair with Jay-Z. Paltrow spoke out after Rose’s very controversial interview, calling the idea “absurd.”
In fact, it seems as though Paltrow is actually very good friends with both Jay-Z and his superstar wife, and has been spotted with them multiple times over the past decade.
In 2015, Paltrow called them “the greatest people,” and claimed that they are “funny and sweet and self-aware and really intelligent.” She also made a point to congratulate the couple on social media when their daughter, Blue Ivy, was born.
In recent years, Paltrow has not been seen publicly with Jay-Z or Beyoncé, but it doesn’t actually seem as though there was any drama that went down between the friends. More likely, the superstars have all been exceptionally busy, with Paltrow recently marrying Brad Falchuk and Jay-Z and Beyoncé welcoming twins. It seems as though, in this case, there is no real drama to be found.
