—blogged by @lovelikejhoney
It all started in an elevator. Since the 2014 incident where Beyoncé’s sister, #Solange, was caught on camera punching and kicking #JAYZ, fans had lingering questions that weren’t addressed until two years later. In 2016, Beyoncé released her sixth album “Lemonade” which spilled the tea on her marital struggles dealing with infidelity. JAY-Z then responded in summer 2017 with “4:44,” an album confessing his immaturity and desire to keep his family together. Now 2018, the dynamic duo have released a nine-track collaborative album, #EverythingIsLove, celebrating their journey and victory for love. On the second track of the album, Bey proclaims “I can’t believe we made it,” referring to the couple’s ability to pull through their relationship problems. The collaborative album shares key characteristics for a successful relationship: good sex (“Summer”); Cooperation, winning together (“Boss”); and a healthy social circle (“Friends”.)
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SUMMER
Arguably the only song on the album where #Bey delivers her lullaby vocals over a soft simmering bass and live band. The sensual tone aligns with the sexual lyrics for making sweet love in the summer.
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APESHIT
The club-banger track has upbeat production by #Pharrell and ad-libs by #Migos members, #Quavo and #Offset. B is fired up, spitting bars in double time while Jay mimics the cadence from Chief Keef’s “Faneto.” The power couple flexes about their wealth comparing their lives to a zoo, while also throwing shade at the NFL:
(Jay) “I said no to the Super Bowl. You need me, I don’t need you. Every night we in the end zone. Tell the NFL we in stadiums too.”
The last line refers to the multiple stadiums the Brooklyn rapper and Houston superstar have sold out individually and collectively.
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BOSS
Transitioning into a slow tempo mood, Bey and Jay give us a lesson on economics and what it means to be a boss. Hov stresses cooperation as the key to success when he raps how people would rather work for “the man” than to work for him, just so they can stunt to look better than him.
“Over here we measure success by how many people successful next to you. Here we say you broke if everybody is broke except for you.”
Bey then chimes in adding her verse that “My great-great-grandchildren already rich. That’s a lot of brown children on your Forbes list.”
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NICE
Another Pharrell produced song with a bouncing beat, similar to Jay’s 2001 hit “Big Pimpin’,” this song was tailor-made for Hov, yet, Bey jumped on the track taking over with:
“Patiently waiting for my demise ’cause my success can’t be quantified. If I gave two f*cks, two f*cks about streaming numbers, would have put Lemonade up on Spotify.”
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713
The area code for Houston, southern city that raised the Queen, this track takes their love back to the streets.
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FRIENDS
A shoutout track to the couple’s close friends and ode to keeping their circle small. When JAY-Z lists his friends he leaves out Kanye West and later raps:
“We know everything you say from n*ggas close to you. You emotional.” He also adds,” I ain’t going to nobody nothing if me and my wife beefin.’”
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HEARD ABOUT US
A pop groove perfect for summer vibes as Bey and Jay let you know exactly who they are.
“Billie Jean in his prime. For the thousandth time, the kids ain’t mine.”
Jay raps as he glorifies his wifey:
“B*tch you know B, she don’t even need a whole name.”
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BLACK EFFECT
This track is unapologetically black, paying homage to Kalief Browder, Trayvon Martin, Sarah Baartman, MLK and Malcolm X. The love duo addresses the current condition of black people, cultural appropriation, and police brutality.
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LOVEHAPPY
The finale to the love-spelled album recaps what the duo have been through with Bey singing “You did some things to me” it escalates to “Yeah, you fucked up the first stone we had to get remarried…We keeping it real with these people right? Lucky I ain’t kill you when I met that b—.”
After Hov agrees to no more late nights in clubs to only attend private affairs and business meetings, the Queen closes with:
“We came. We conquered. And now we’re happy in love.”
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