Jay-Z changed a lyric at Beyoncé's Paris concert, replacing "meet Ye" with "meet Bey," signaling shifting dynamics in their relationships.
At Beyoncé’s Paris concert, Jay-Z altered a customarily Kanye West-related lyric in a major hit during a live performance, sparking speculation about the state of their friendship. The Beyoncé Paris concert Jay-Z lyric change occurred as he took the stage for several collaborations with his wife and subtly adjusted a reference to West in one of their most notable songs.
Jay-Z’s Notable Lyric Switch During Paris Performance
Jay-Z made a public return to live performances during Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour stop in Paris, sharing the spotlight with his Grammy-winning wife on tracks such as Crazy in Love and Drunk in Love. The moment that drew the most attention came during their rendition of N****s in Paris, Jay-Z’s hit song originally performed with Kanye West. As he rapped a well-known line, he traded the usual shoutout to West for one directly referencing his wife.
The original lyric states,
“Just might let you meet Ye.”
—Jay-Z, Rapper. However, Jay-Z replaced it for the concert, singing,
“Just might let you meet Bey.”
—Jay-Z, Rapper. This modification was widely interpreted as a nod to Beyoncé, recognizing her role in influencing his return to the stage.
Possible Motivations and Fan Theories
While some observers view the change as a gesture towards Beyoncé, others believe it might reflect broader tensions between Jay-Z and Kanye West. The two have a long, complicated professional history, but recent social media activity has suggested a rift. Speculation intensified after fans recalled Kanye West’s deleted message on X (formerly Twitter), referencing disagreements over a lyric in another joint song. West posted,
Image of: Beyoncé
“Why did Jay Z have to say ‘no red hat’ on Jail.”
—Kanye West, Artist (via US Weekly).
The deleted post continued,
“That s*** tore me to my soul. We fought about it and he told me either leave that line on there or take my verse off. Me wearing the red hat was the most stand out example of me going against ‘the program.’ Do you guys think he was instructed to say that?”
—Kanye West, Artist. West’s reference concerns his public support for Donald Trump, symbolized by the red MAGA hat, which Jay-Z appears to allude to in the lyrics of Jail:
“Hol’ up, Donda, I’m with your baby when I touch back road / Told him, Stop all of that red cap, we goin’ home”
—Jay-Z, Rapper.
West also previously expressed regret about the state of his relationship with Jay-Z, alluding to feelings that both the “Renegade” rapper and Beyoncé could have supported him during challenging personal times.
Uncertain Future for Jay-Z and Kanye West
As of now, Kanye West has not officially responded to Jay-Z’s lyric change at the Paris show. The relationship between the duo remains a subject of public debate, with references to each other in their music and online posts offering clues but few definitive answers. Beyoncé’s concert, the Cowboy Carter Tour, provided the latest stage for this unfolding narrative, placing both artists in the spotlight regarding their ongoing dynamic.
This recent lyric swap suggests a shift in priorities for Jay-Z, spotlighting Beyoncé and perhaps signaling a greater distance between him and West. Fans and industry observers are likely to watch upcoming performances and public announcements for more insight into the evolving relationship between the two influential artists.
