Beyonce’s Lemonade vs Jay-Z’s 4:44
How Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ Exposes Inner Lives of Black Women
Beyond “strong” and “magic,” Lemonade asserts that black women are alchemists and metaphysicians who are at once of the past, present, and future, changing and healing the physical, chemical, and spiritual world around them. Beyonce touches on some controversial issues in lemonade “the black woman is the most disrespected woman in America” Malcolm X’s quotes. Beyonce portrays a lot of “black excellence” in her album lemonade. “There are some underlying tensions between verisimilitude and reality in Lemonade, Beyoncé invites us to the work as a memoir, a meditation, and a celebration.” What this quote means to me is that even though some of what Beyonce said in lemonade was difficult to hear, it helped us realize that she’s only human and she has feelings as well.
The Recipe To Decolonized Love Is In Beyoncé’s Lemonade
Beyoncé eerily offers to do to her husband’s mistress, “Becky with the good hair.”
When I first heard the line, Becky, with the good hair, I immediately thought of a white woman because, in America, the perception of being beautiful is to be a white woman. The perception of white being beautiful is proven in our Disney movies. Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, etc .“The album, which must be watched as well as heard, is Beyoncé’s awakening”. I agree with this quote because I feel as if Beyonce has bottled up her emotions for so long and is now finally expressing them which is therapeutic. In denial, she says something about fasting for 60 days, abstaining from sex, (spiritual) which is supposed to make you be your true self/identity. In anger, she says “Wear her skin over mine, her hair over mine” which makes me think that she feels she’s not good enough. “Why can’t you see me, everyone else can” is an indication that Jay Z does not value her worth. “We can pose for a photo all three of us” “you and your perfect girl” was a powerful quote referencing Jay Z and the woman he cheated on her with.
Beyoncé’s Lemonade Is Black Woman Magic
“The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” Lemonade is art, not an autobiography, and continues the protest tradition of women blues artists. Another thing I would touch on is that Beyonce is really doing her best to touch on controversial issues while making a good melody with it. I think one of the narratives they’re trying to push in black girl magic is that black women are stereotyped for being angry and loud all the time and Beyonce is portraying that they should be looked at and valued so much more
Also, about lemonade the album in general, I’m surprised about the openness and honesty throughout the whole album. Not only was she writing her feelings about how she felt about being cheated on, but she also talked about social justice issues and had great quotes to compliment them.
Jay-Z’s connection to Lemonade
One year after Beyonce’s Lemonade album came out, Jay Z responded with an album of his own “4:44.” The number 444 in astrology means “a sign of love and support from your guardian angels” or “the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another.” Without digging into the lyrics at all, based on the title itself, I interpreted this as Jay Z admitting that he is wrong and that he is ready to change his ways because he doesn’t want to lose her. I never wanted another woman to know. Something about me that you didn’t know. “I promised, I cried, I couldn’t hold. I suck at love, I think I need a do-over. I will be emotionally available if I invited you over. I stew over; “What if — “ .”You over my shit?”. I’m never gonna treat you. I’m never gonna treat you like I should. Oh. And if my children knew. I don’t even know what I would do. If they ain’t look at me the same. I would prob’ly die with all the shame. “You did what with who?”. What good is a ménage à trois when you have a soulmate?. “You risked that for Blue?”. If I wasn’t a superhero in your face. My heart breaks for the day I have to explain my mistakes. And the mask goes away. And Santa Claus is fake. And you go online and see. For Blue’s tooth, the tooth fairy didn’t pay. I’m never gonna treat you like I should.” This quote came from Jay-Z’s song 4:44. He is reflecting on what he did, how wrong it was, and what he could have potentially lost.” You risked that for Blue” is a subtle but powerful message. He realizes that cheating on Beyonce wasn’t only affecting his relationship with her, but Beyonce could’ve never forgiven him and taken custody of their child (Blue). Jay Z reflects on how his daughter (blue), would look at him after she found out what she did to her mother. In the song “Family Feud” Jay Z says “I told my wife the spiritual shit really works. Alhamdulillah, I run through ’em all”. Alhamdulillah means, “praise to be God”. This quote references similar language that was used in “Conversations About Home.” Lastly, Jay-Z’s reference in “family feud” when he says “Yeah, I’ll fuck up a good thing if you let me. Let me alone, Becky. A man that don’t take care his family can’t be rich.” If you remember Beyonce made a reference to Becky with the good hair, and Jay Z’s response is that he is done with Becky. “A man that don’t take care his family can’t be rich” means to me that regardless of how much money you make, it doesn’t matter if you hurt those you love. Don’t let the money make you forget where you came from and those who will be in your corner if money weren’t a factor.
