Elevator Shafted
The story of a man who cheated on his wife.
Solange, Beyonce, and Jay-Z stride from their Penthouse suite across the Standard Hotel’s beautiful marble floors in elegant gowns staring at their feet with their heads down and voices low. They enter the elevator surrounded by burly security guards ready to protect them from people outside of the elevator, but oh how little they know. Floor after floor the elevator descends to what should be a joyous after party for the Met Gala, but this descension seems to foreshadow a slow journey to hell. Jay-Z constantly shifts his weight from one foot to the other, arms in his pocket, looking cautiously from Solange to Beyonce back and forth. Beyonce stands far away from her oh so loving husband and sister with a cold yet composed look upon her face. She picks at her nails, she breathes deeply, and she stays quiet. Solange is shaking, jerking her body in short movements showing clear frustration. She never takes her eyes off of Jay-Z, and he only briefly holds eye contact. This is enough for her.
“Of course sometimes shit go down when there is a billion dollars on an elevator.” From Beyonce’s song “Flawless”.
Solange flies across the elevator, reaching, kicking, spitting, and unleashing all anger she had held towards him all at once. The two bulky security guards in the elevator could not even successfully restrain Solange in her vicious attack. She hurled her body in efforts to reach across the four arms that are grasping and trying to control her, so she lets her feet thrash wildly searching for a cheater’s body to injure. Thrashing wildly she slowly regains her stance and makes one final blow. A slap right across his face. The quick strike leaves Jay-Z in complete shock.Right before the doors of the elevator open, they must compose themselves. Solange has a cold and angry look while Jay-Z rubs his cheek and looks utterly shocked. Solange enters the limousine first, and while Jay-Z is next to follow he stops and enters another car. Beyonce stands by her sister and gets in the car with Solange. Their family seemed totally divided.
“‘You did what with who?’ / What good is a ménage à trois when you have a soulmate? / ‘You risked that for Blue?’” From Jay-Z’s new song “4:44" that addresses the alleged affair.
The epic elevator brawl video tapes were leaked to the press from a hotel employee, and the world went crazy. Jay-Z’s rumored affair now filled all headlines and was the only topic of discussion for months on end. The couple’s relationship was said to be in jeopardy because of Jay-Z’s alleged affair. This video of Solange Knowles, Beyonce’s sister, attacking Jay-Z in the hotel elevator stirred these rumors even further and perpetuated the idea that the affair really did happen.Solange was so mad at Jay-Z for cheating on her older sister that she attacked him.
Jay-Z cheated on his wife, but he is now committed to being a better family man. He experienced a rebirth when his twins, named Rumi and Sir, were born. He wants to be a better father, but did not have the best example. His father left his family when Jay-Z was eleven years old. Jay-Z’s father leaving his family left him in search of a new male mentor. His mentor would be the successful rapper and record producer Jaz-O, also known as Jonathan Burks.
Jay-Z’s success may be measured best by the amount of lives he has impacted, relationships he has built, and the family he has created.. These are great ways to gauge his true achievements. He is a father to Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir Carter. He is a loving husband to Beyonce. He has millions of fans who love and adore him, but he would not be the same man without his family and his past.
“Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but to try to understand it, and use it as a foundation to grow.” Jay-Z from his book Decoded.
Jay-Z’s story is one of redemption and promise. A man can be true to his word and no person is perfect. Yes, we all make mistakes and this oftentimes frightens us. Jay-Z has never stopped pursuing his dreams in his family and his career, and was met with difficult challenges. He stumbled, but he accepted responsibility and vowed to be a better man and husband in the future. He advocates for progress and wants to help the world. His life is proof that anyone who wholeheartedly believes in themselves can change the world.
