Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
There are a couple of cringeworthy ideas rolling around on Black TikTok right now, but to me, the cringiest springs from this question: Would Jay-Z still be relevant if he wasn’t married to Beyoncé? It’s a leading question to be sure, but of course, several millennials responded yes. I saw that and said to the pop culture gods, forgive them for they have sinned. Of all the hot takes on Beyoncé’s internet nowadays, this one may be the hottest.
Let’s step back for a second. I count myself as Beyhive-adjacent. I love Bey, and I’m a big fan. I was at the Renaissance tour, and Renaissance was my favorite album last year. It was the album I listened to most. I interviewed her. But I’m only Beyhive-adjacent because I don’t know the lyrics to all the songs, I don’t know the timing of the fan-unfolding on “Heated,” and I don’t believe that the world revolves around Beyoncé. I know that’s news to my friends in the Beyhive, but that’s real. You would have to think the world revolves around Beyoncé to think that Beyoncé makes Jay relevant.
Now, there is some there there (just not enough). But, yes, Bey enhances Jay’s image. She humanizes him and elevates him — you look at him and say, hey, if an amazing, brilliant, lovely woman like her loves him, then he must be a good guy. He definitely benefits from being with her — their whole Black power couple of music royalty thing is beautiful. But you know what? That’s part of what most wives bestow on their husbands. A great wife makes people look differently at her man. If she’s smart and beautiful…
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