S. Samuel
United States President Barack Obama recently revealed some fatherly tips he gave Jay-Z in light of raising his first-born daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
According to President Obama, he told Young Hov to help Beyoncé and mother-in-law Tina Knowles with the baby duties.
“I’ve gotten to know these guys over the first several years. They’re good people,” President Obama said in an interview. “Beyoncé, [she] could not be sweeter to Michelle and the girls. So they’re good friends. We talk about the same things I talk about with all my friends. … I made sure that Jay-Z was helping Beyoncé out [with the baby], and not leaving it all with Beyoncé; and the mother-in-law.” (Z107.9)
Last month, Bey talked about raising her first child with the help of Jigga.
“It just gives you purpose and all of the things my self-esteem was associated with, it’s all completely different. I’ve realized why I was born and more than anything, all of the things I want to pass on to my child and the best way of doing that is not by preaching or telling her, but showing her by example, which is one of the reasons I’m here. I sing nursery rhymes and I’m mommy. Today was the first time she saw me perform in rehearsal. She was very confused. [What nursery songs do I sing?] I make up a lot of crazy, corny songs. I’m not singing it, unless you do ‘Single Ladies.’ [laughs] [Changing diapers, my husband,] he’s very good. I love changing diapers. I love it. I love every moment of it. It’s so beautiful. I really do. I love changing diapers. I love it all.” (Anderson Live)
Recently, Jay addressed the perception of Blue Ivy only experiencing wealth and not coming up through the same environmental struggles he endured as a child.
At the last minute, I remembered to ask after his family, “Oh, my family’s amazing.” And the baby? “She’s four months.” Marcy raised me, and whether right or wrong/Streets gave me all I write in the song. But what will TriBeCa give Blue? “I actually thought about that more before she was born. Once she got here I’ve been in shock until maybe last week?” Her childhood won’t be like his, and this fact he takes in his stride. “We would fight each other. My brother would beat me up,” he says, but it was all in preparation for the outside. “I was going to have to fight, I was going to have to go through some things, and they were preparing me.” He smiles: “She doesn’t have to be tough. She has to love herself, she has to know who she is, she has to be respectful, and be a moral person.” It’s a new day. (New York Times)
A few weeks ago, President Obama attended a funraiser by Jay and Bey.
“Jay-Z now knows, you know, what my life is like. We both have daughters. And our wives are more popular than we are … So we’ve got a little bond there. It’s hard, but it’s okay. Beyoncé could not be a better role model for our daughters because she carries herself with such class and poise. And has so much talent … We’re on the brink of an election, but more importantly, we’re on the brink of moving America in a direction where we’re going to be more just, more fair. The economy’s going to grow in a way that includes everybody, an America that’s respected around the world because we’re putting forward our best values and out best ideals.” (New York Times)
