One of the many interesting pieces of the sit down was when Hov spoke about his album track "Smile." This is the song where JAY revealed that his mother, Gloria Carter, was a lesbian. It quickly became a fan favorite based on its powerful message.
JAY raps on the song: "Mama had four kids, but sheโs a lesbian / Had to pretend so long that sheโs a thespian. Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate / Society shame and the pain was too much to take / Cried tears of joy when you fell in love / Donโt matter to me if itโs a him or her." His mom later adds: "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 thatโs what you want them to see... But life is short, and itโs time to be free. Love who you love, because life isnโt guaranteed."
JAY-Z Explains '4:44' Song Meanings
When talking about how "Smile" came to be, JAY said: "I always looked up to her. Sheโs so f**king dope. My mom has been dope her whole life... Listen to her, she sounds like Maya Angelou. Her pacing and her voice is just so regal. Our relationship developed into another level as I started getting into myself, wanting to know everything, and go somewhere else, to take it to a new level."
He continued: "We had a beautiful conversation that led to me making that song and I didnโt have permission to make that song. When she first heard the song, she was like, โAbsolutely not.โ I was like, โThis is so important. So many people in the world are hiding. This will help them.โ Thatโs all Iโll say about that. Thatโs how we spoke about that song. I was just so happy of the person sheโs becoming. Live your life, be who you are. One of my proudest songs. I love that song."
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