Beyoncé Smoothly Dodged a Bold Question About Being Jay-Z’s ‘Gangster Girl’
Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s relationship has evolved into a cultural phenomenon. What began as a low-key friendship blossomed into a romantic partnership that would shape not only their personal lives but also redefine the music industry. Over the years, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z (real name Shawn Corey Carter) have weathered rumors, personal revelations, and public scrutiny. Now, we’re looking back at a time when Beyoncé was asked about her romance with Jay-Z when it all started. Here’s how she responded to a question about becoming his “gangster girl.”
Beyoncé once refused to answer a question regarding becoming one of Jay-Z’s ‘gangster girls’
Throughout her career, Beyoncé has been famously guarded about her personal life, especially when it comes to her relationship with Jay-Z. Despite their global fame and constant media attention, she has masterfully drawn a line between her public persona and private reality. From their early days of quiet courtship to their high-profile marriage and family life, Beyoncé has chosen to reveal only what she wants the world to see. This intentional privacy has allowed her to maintain control over her narrative while protecting the intimacy of her relationship.
The pop star’s dedication to privacy began early. In 2003, just two years into their relationship, an interviewer asked Beyoncé a revealing question.
“Jay-Z told us years ago he needed ‘gangster girls’ for his ‘gangster family.’ What makes Beyoncé a ‘gangster girl?'” the interviewer asked.
Beyoncé looked surprised by the question. “What makes me what he needs?” she said. “How do you know that? See, you trying to trick me.” She shook her head and laughed off the unnecessary question, clearly not keen on answering.
“No comment?” the interviewer asked.
“Uh-uh!” she refused.
Tina Knowles corrected a flight attendant for calling Jay-Z a ‘gangster rapper’
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, discussed a conversation she once had with a flight attendant in the Discovery+ docuseries, Profiled: The Black Man. Tina was approached by the older white woman who called Jay-Z a “gangster rapper.”
“I can remember getting on a plane and an older white woman saying, ‘Oh, your son[-in-law] is a gangster rapper, right? How did you let him marry your daughter?'” Tina recalls. Tina took the moment to defend Jay-Z and educate the flight attendant on her words.
“I was very happy to educate her,” the famous mother told People about the incident. “She apologized at the end, and she said, ‘I’m sorry. I just hear that.’ And I said, ‘Yes, you assume, but you really should go and do some research on it because, no, he’s a CEO of a record label.’ And I was like, ‘He’s a very good person. He gives; he helps people.'”
Tina hoped her story could shine a light on racism. “We know that our men are not dangerous,” she said. “We know that they’re good fathers and all of that. But we want the other races to see that, and get some kind of comfort in it, hopefully.”
Beyoncé said ‘no amount of money is worth’ her personal ‘peace’
Beyoncé has always stayed true to herself and her family’s privacy. In 2025, she allowed her daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter, to join her on tour. However, when it comes to the ins and outs of her home and relationship with Jay-Z, she keeps the details out of the press.
“It’s very easy for celebrities to turn our lives into performance art,” she told GQ in 2024. “I have made an extreme effort to stay true to my boundaries and protect myself and my family. No amount of money is worth my peace.”
Beyoncé stays true to who she is by focusing on her art and keeping the tabloids far from her mind. “I prefer to focus quietly, uninterrupted by things that are a distraction to the authenticity,” she continued in the interview. “I believe everything can always be better. My job is to give until it is the best it can possibly be.”
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