Jay-Z, Beyonce imagine daughter as US leader
President Blue NEW YORK: Ivy Carter?
Music power couple Jay-Z and Beyonce have imagined their daughter as a transformative US leader in a new video.
Blue Ivy, who turns six on Jan 7, is depicted as leading an all-female constitutional convention in 2050 in a video released on Friday for her father’s song “Family Feud.”
The video — shot by “Selma” director Ava DuVernay, one of the most prominent AfricanAmerican women in Hollywood — tells a story with echoes of “Game of Thrones” and Shakespearean tragedy as it depicts a futuristic conflict.
The plot cuts back to 2050 as “America’s founding mothers” — a cheeky take on the “founding fathers” who established the US political system — passionately debate whether to preserve the constitution’s Second Amendment, which protects the right to bear arms.
The women needed to revise the constitution at a time “when some thought that making America great meant making us afraid of each other,” a descendant is heard saying — in an unmistakable critique of President Donald Trump and his campaign slogan.
The convention ends with a forceful appeal from the meeting’s leader: “America is a family, and the whole family should be free.”
The descendant mentions wisdom she learned from her father — and her identity becomes clear as the story shifts to the year 2018 and the real-life Blue Ivy is seen with Jay-Z in church.
Jay-Z then opens his song, appearing as if he is giving confessionasBeyonce—sporting robes and a cap resembling the miter worn by Catholic cardinals — dances about.
“We all lose when the family feuds,” Jay-Z sings. “A man that don’t take care of his family can’t be rich.”
“Family Feud” does not explicitly depict Blue Ivy as president, but the video quickly sparked chatter online.
“President Blue Ivy 2050. #FamilyFeud. I’ll be 79 when I cast this vote,” hip-hop drummer and producer Questlove wrote on Twitter.
The song appeared on JayZ’s Grammy-nominated album “4:44,” in which the rapper acknowledged infidelity to Beyonce, although “Family Feud” lyrically looks largely at his place in hip-hop.
Jay-Z and Beyonce, who together are worth an estimated US$1 billion, have been increasingly outspoken about their left-leaning political views and are friendly with former president Barack Obama.
The “Family Feud” video, which appears only on JayZ’s Tidal streaming platform, features cameos by multiple film and television stars including Jessica Chastain, America Ferrera, Rashida Jones, Mindy Kaling and Brie Larson. — AFP