This week, JAY-Z dropped his latest studio album 4:44 [1], and there's so much to discuss. While the rapper brings up plenty of different people [2] in the new tracks, it's the more personal moments that really shine. One song is dedicated to his infidelity [3]. He talks about Beyoncé's miscarriage and apologizes for cheating on her. He even mentions his kids! Another song turns into something you'd never expect: a coming out for his mom, Gloria Carter.
Called "Smile," the song is a powerful duet between mother and son. JAY-Z raps "Mama had four kids, but she's a lesbian / Had to pretend so long that she's a thespian / Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate / Society shame and the pain was too much to take."
Even more moving, though, is the poem Gloria Carter reads at the end: "Living in the shadow / Can you imagine what kind of life it is to live? In the shadows people see you as happy and free / Because that's what you want them to see / The world is changing and they say it's time to be free / But you live with the fear of just being me . . . Living in the shadow feels like the safe place to be / No harm for them, no harm for me / But life is short, and it's time to be free / Love who you love, because life isn't guaranteed."
The fact that JAY-Z is supporting his mother so vocally and visibly is a beautiful decision in itself. It amplifies the message she sends in her own poem: it's time to be free. It's also important to note that, even in 2017, rap remains a pretty homophobic art form [5]. For JAY-Z to include this song makes two grand statements. It directly contradicts a pretty glaring part of rap music culture and it mirrors the pride Gloria Carter is attempting to stir up in herself. That's power.