As Jay-Z told David Letterman, the tear-jerking moment sent him back in the studio the next day, at which point he recorded the song “Smile” for his Grammy-nominated album 4:44.
Which was a big deal, since Jay-Z apparently does not believe in crying when he’s happy.
Of course, the rapper said he always knew it inside, but the fact that his mother finally felt comfortable enough to talk about it in front of him was an incredibly emotional moment that got him crying tears of joy.
The audience gasped at the revelation that Carter’s mom had only openly discussed her sexual orientation with him for the first time so recently.
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JAY-Z Discusses His Mother's Coming Out Story | My Next Guest Needs No Introduction | Netflix