Jay-Z and Beyonce: music's dynamic duo silent about romance but roars as performers

Jet, May 31, 2004 by Margena A. Christian

On the surface, they might be considered an unlikely pair.

In one corner is Jay-Z, one of Brooklyn's finest. The hustler-turned-rapper who will forever be etched in music history as one of the greatest rappers of all time. In the other corner is Beyonce, the sweet Southern belle from Texas. She is the undisputed reigning princess of pop and R&B music.

Sometimes silence can be so loud. The twosome have never publicly said one word about their relationship. Still the they emanate when they are together is deafening.

For two years they have been a romantic item. He's had her back and she's had his. They've been seen courtside at basketball games in New York, yachting in St. Tropez, partying at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in Manhattan and performing together for Prince Charles in London.

During this time, they have stood their ground by keeping their personal life private.

Music has been their language of choice when conveying their relationship. Their first collaborative effort was for Jay-Z's '03 Bonnie & Clyde, with his dropping lyrics and with her cooing silky vocals:

"Mami's a rida and I'm a rolla/ Put us together/How they gon' stop both us? What ever she lacks, I'm right over her shoulder/When I'm off track mami is keepin' me focused," raps Jay-Z.

That collaboration was followed with Beyonce's Crazy in Love, where they set airwaves and concert stages ablaze for a second time. They also perform together on her song That's How You Like It, featured on her Dangerously In Love CD.

London is still talking about their recent performance at Earl's Court in west London during the Prince's Trust Urban Music Festival, a charity event organized by British royal Prince Charles.

Beyonce was the headliner, but the highlight of the evening was when Jay-Z walked onstage to do his part for Crazy In Love. The audience of more than 30,000 strong screamed itself into an excited frenzy.

Later that night the couple celebrated by throwing a lavish party, reportedly costing more than $1 million, at London's The Collection.

Shawn Corey Carter and Beyonce Giselle Knowles are a power couple when standing together and supreme when standing alone.

Jay-Z is synonymous with rap music. He is one of the best artists in the history of hip hop.

His career dates back to the mid-'80s. His mellow rap flow earned him the name Jazzy. So as not to be confused with DJ Jazzy Jeff, the name was shortened to Jay-Z. Decades later, he has answered to the names Jay, Hova, Hov, Jigga and Jiggaman.

He always hits his fans with hot songs. He has recorded 10 albums and has sold more than 17 million. his biggest songs include Change Clothes, Encore, Dirt Off Your Shoulder, 99 Problems, Excuse Me Miss, Izzo (H.O.V.A), Girls, Girls, Girls, Big Pimpin'. Jigga What, Jigga Who, Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem), Ain't No, I Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me), Change The Game and Can I Get ...

What some might not know is that his intensity for reading and his early days of hustling laid the groundwork for his rap genius. Reading helped him to absorb everything that he examined and hustling forced him to memorize things without the use of a pen and paper.

In the course of his illustrious career, Jay-Z is noted for heading to the studio without having anything written down. He memorizes his verses, holding up to nine in his head. It is nothing for Hov to hit the studio with three completed rap songs-empty-handed.

He plans to mark his retirement with his current CD. The Black Album. He also has penned his memoirs, The Black Book.

Leaving out on top is his only option. In 2001, Jay-Z boycotted the Grammy Awards ceremony because of the lack of respect that urban music was getting during the show's telecast, but he still won two music's highest honors. His 1999 Hard Knock Life tour earned $18 million and was the most successful hip-hop tour to date, selling out in 52 cities with no incidents of violence. For his farewell performances, he co-headlined Last summer's hottest tour, Rock The Mic, with 50 Cent.

If you aren't listening to his music, you are undoubtedly moving to the beats of an artist on his Roc-A-Fella Records label like Kanye West, Young Gunz, Memphis Bleek, or State Property, to name a few. Twista recently was added to the Roc.

Music hasn't been the only thing to solidify the Jiggaman as a serious businessman. His Rocawear clothing line, established in 1999, is among the most established celebrity-owned fashion companies in the world. Last year he made history as the first non-athlete to have a signature shoe by Reebok, the S. Carter Collection. It was the fastest-selling, highest-grossing tennis shoe through the company. Another shoe is already in the works.

His business ventures have expanded into other areas as well. Roc-A-Fella Films released the projects Streets Is Watching, Backstage and State Property. Last year he opened an upscale sports bar in downtown Manhattan called the 40/40 Club. He Also has a premium two-grain, triple-distilled Scottish vodka, Armadale.

Possibly one of his biggest ventures to date is when he joined the investment team that laid out $300 million to bring the NBA's New Jersey Nets to his beloved Brooklyn. The borough has not had a major professional sports team since the Dodgers left for the West Coast in 1957.