Jay-Z recently discussed his and Beyoncé‘s parenting style and how they don’t want to pressure their children to follow the same career paths that they are famous for.
In an interview with The Times, the rapper spoke about how his focus hasn’t been on making travel plans or performing live again but rather taking time during the pandemic to “really connect” with his wife Beyoncé and their children.
“In the beginning, it was time for everyone to sit down and really connect, and really focus on family and being together, and take this time to learn more about each other,” he said. “And then, as it wore on, it’s like, ‘OK, all right, what is the new normal?'”
Jay-Z also opened up about paying attention to the kind of environment he’s cultivating for their three children: Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir Carter. He emphasized how important it is to nurture his children by allowing them to pursue whatever interests they might have; recreationally or professionally.
“Feeling loved is the most important thing a child needs, you know?” Jay-Z said. “Not ‘Here’s this business that I’m going to hand over to you, that I’m creating for you.'”
Jay-Z continued: “What if my child doesn’t want to be in music or sports? I have no idea, right? But as long as your child feels supported, and feels loved, I think anything is possible.”
For his eldest daughter, 9-year-old Blue Ivy, anything does seem to be possible; she has already shown potential in the music industry, becoming the second-youngest person ever to win a Grammy.
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Last month, she won the Grammy Award for best music video alongside her mom, Saint Jhn, and Wizkid for Brown Skin Girl; a 2019 single on which she’s credited as a songwriter and featured artist. The video, which she also appeared in, was released separately last summer and was featured in Beyoncé’s 2020 film Black Is King.
And despite never having released any solo music, she’s already surpassed 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
However, while the billionaire‘s children may not live the most normal lives; he said he and Beyoncé want to “make sure we are very attentive to who they want to be”. The superstar couple does not want to push them into living out any kind of particular legacy or being anyone other than their true selves.
“It’s easy for us, as human beings, to want our children to do certain things, but we have no idea. We’re just guides,” he said.