Jay-Z has released three new videos from his album 4:44 on Tidal on Friday, including Smile, which tells the moving story of his mom Gloria Carter as a closeted lesbian.
The rapper revealed in the lyrics of Smile that his mother is a lesbian when he released 4:44 over the summer.
The eight minute film shows a young Shawn Carter being raised by his single mom in the Brooklyn projects.
Visual album: Jay-Z released three new videos from 4:44on Friday, including the moving story of his mom as a closeted lesbian in Smile
As well has having to deal with poverty and being a sole parent, his mother is seen silently dealing with having feelings for another woman, which she neither can never fully act upon.
The rapper only revealed with the release of the track in June that his mom was gay.
‘Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian/Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian/Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate/Society shame and the pain was too much to take,’ he rapped on the track.
In the video the young Gloria, played by The Deuce’s Dominique Fishback, shares some forbidden intimate moments with her neighbor, a consoling hug turning into a little more, or secretly holding hands in a packed elevator.
Storyteller: Taboo subjects seldom scare rappers like Jay-Z off — one’s mom’s sex life is pretty uncharted territory
Family: The eight minute film shows a young Shawn Carter being raised by his single mom in the Brooklyn projects
Hidden: As well has having to deal with poverty and being a sole parent, his mother is seen silently dealing with having feelings for another woman, which she neither can never fully act upon
Throwback: Young Jay Z is played by played by Taylor Thomas
No thanks: Gloria attracts the attentions of men, but she’s just not that into it
But she keeps her feelings bottled up, with her son — played by Taylor Thomas — heartbreakingly catching her crying alone in her bedroom when she lets the mask slip for a moment.
The video ends with the real modern-day Gloria Carter reciting the poem she wrote about the subject, which served as the inspiration for the song.
The second video released, Legacy, is a star-studded affair, featuring the likes of Susan Sarandon, Ron Pearlman, Emile Hirsch and Grey’s Anatomy’s Jesse Williams.
Secret: In the video the young Gloria, played by The Deuce’s Dominique Fishback, shares some forbidden intimate moments with her neighbor, a consoling hug turning into a little more, or secretly holding hands in a packed elevator
Coming out: The rapper only revealed with the release of the track in June that his mom was gay
Lyrics: ‘Mama had four kids but she’s a lesbian / Had to pretend so long, that she’s a thespian / Don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her / I just want to see you smile through all the hate,’ he rapped on the track
Holding it in: But she keeps her feelings bottled up, with her son heartbreakingly catching her crying alone in her bedroom when she lets the mask slip for a moment
Real deal: The video ends with the real modern-day Gloria Carter reciting the poem she wrote about the subject, which served as the inspiration for the song
The intriguing 11-minute short film sees Sarandon playing a prison warden, questioning inmate William’s on the plans of a powerful prisoner by the name of Mr Carter, played by Pearlman himself.
A gang of prisoners are seen discussing why they have all been summoned by the mysterious inmate number 001444.
The Hellboy star, who commands the respect of all the inmates and prison guards alike, then lectures the group on Legacy, before explaining they are going to escape.
Big names: The second video released, Legacy, is a star-studded affair, featuring the likes of Susan Sarandon playing a prison warden
The boss: Emile Hirsch and Grey’s Anatomy’s Jesse Williams are among the inmates, who fear a powerful prisoner by the name of Mr Carter
Respect: The intriguing 11-minute short film sees the prisoners discuss escape, with Ron Pearlman playing the feared inmate no. 001444
Before the song itself ultimately kicks in, a frustrated Sarandon can be seen listening to a news report on the inmates escaping on September 4 — Beyonce’s birthday no less.
The video is written and directed by Jeymes Samuel AKA The Bullitts AKA Seal’s little brother.
The final video for Marcy Me sees a New York police helicopter searching for a suspect described on the radio as ‘black and young’, two of the qualities that got Jay-Z pulled over in 99 Problems.
Chase: The final video for Marcy Me sees a New York police helicopter searching for a suspect described on the radio as ‘black and young’, two of the qualities that got Jay-Z pulled over in 99 Problems
Searching: The chopper scans the neighborhood with its searchlight, picking up two young black men running at high speed, who turn out to be merely racing each other
The chopper scans the neighborhood with its searchlight, picking up two young black men running at high speed, who turn out to be merely racing each other.
It then spots a couple in an embrace in an alleyway; the spotlight breaks them up and receives two fingers from the young man a flash of a full moon from the interrupted young woman.
The light then finds a young Jay-Z running to the corner store to grab supplies — including cigarettes and alcohol — for his relatives roof party.
The police hover above the scene for a long time, killing the jovial flow below, while everybody wears jaded expressions knowing this isn’t the first or last time they will be profiled.
And another: The light then finds a young Jay-Z running to the corner store to grab supplies — including cigarettes and alcohol — for his relatives roof party
Interruption: The police hover above the scene for a long time, killing the jovial flow below
The usual: Everybody wears jaded expressions knowing this isn’t the first or last time they will be profiled