Rapper Jay-Z ‘apologises’ to wife Beyonce over long-rumoured cheating claims on new album 4:44

According to The Sun, the rapper’s new album 4:44 contains several lyrics which fans have taken to be an admission of his rumoured infidelity that was first highlighted by Beyonce on her 2016 album Lemonade.

In one part, Jay-Z says sorry to Beyonce for his past “womanising” and claims the birth of their first child, daughter Blue Ivy, five years ago made him see the error his ways.

He also reveals that the couple’s new twins, whose names or date of births have yet to be confirmed, were naturally conceived.

Jay-Z raps: “I apologise, often womanise/Took for my child to be born/See through a woman’s eyes/Took for these natural twins to believe in miracles/Took me too long for this song/I don’t deserve you.”

Another verse includes the lyrics: “And if my children knew, I don’t even know what I would do.

“If they ain’t look at me the same/I would probably die with all the shame/‘You did what with who?’/What good is a ménage à trois when you have a soulmate?/‘You risked that for Blue?’”

Jay Z has described 4:44 as the “most powerful” song he’s ever written.

“It’s the crux of the album, just right in the middle of the album,” he said. “I woke up, literally, at 4:44 in the morning, 4:44am, to write this song.

“So it became the title of the album and everything. It’s the title track because it’s such a powerful song, and I just believe one of the best songs I’ve ever written.”

Elsewhere, Jay-Z references Halle Berry’s ex husband Eric Benet, who was rumoured to have cheated on her, rapping: “You almost went Eric Benet/Let the baddest girl in the world get away.”

In another song, the 47-year-old gives a shout out to “Becky with the good hair”, the mysterious woman who was mentioned on Beyonce’s 2016 visual album Lemonade, prompting all the unconfirmed cheating speculation in the first place.

In Beyonce’s track Sorry, she sang: “He only want me when I’m not there/He better call Becky with the good hair.”

Jay-Z responds in his new track Family Feud, rapping: “I’ll f*** up a good thing if you let me/ Let me alone Becky!/A man who don’t take care of his family can’t be rich.”

It’s not the first time Jay-Z has referenced the cheating allegations.

Although neither he nor Beyonce has ever publicly spoken about the claims in interviews, a track released by Jay-Z in 2016 included the line: “You know you made it when the fact/Your marriage made it is worth millions/Lemonade is a popular drink and it still is survival of the littlest. ”

It comes as the rapper’s mum, Gloria Carter, came out as a lesbian in a new track on the album.

The song, Smile, features both Jay-Z and his mother discussing her sexuality. It is the first time that either of them has publicly addressed her sexual identity.

“Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian/Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian,” Jay-Z raps in the song.

“Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate/Society shame and the pain was too much to take,” he adds. “Cried tears of joy when you fell in love/Don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her.”

Carter herself shows up on track to deliver a spoken word outro where she talks about “living in the shadow.”

Beyonce and Jay-Z have been together for 15 years.

Jay-Z and Beyonce married in an intimate New York ceremony in April 2008 and went on to welcome daughter Blue Ivy in 2012 and their as-yet-named or pictured twins in the last few weeks.

They haven’t even confirmed the twins’ births themselves, instead it was Beyonce’s proud dad Matthew who broke news of their arrival to fans via social media.

The album, 4:44, was released on Jay Z’s streaming service Tidal overnight.

This story originally appeared in The Sun and is reprinted with permission.