The Carters: The New Classic

When it comes to breaking the internet, no one does it quite as well as the Carters. That's why it is no surprise that Jay-Z and Beyonce chose to release their joint album, Everything is Love, without warning on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

Mr. and Mrs. Carter had previously released separate albums that addressed and eventually confirmed rumors of Jay-Z's infidelity. Beyonce's Lemonade was raw and upset, yet empowering, while her husband's 4:44 was regretful and apologetic. Everything is Love proves that the couple is past their marital strife, and solidifies their belief in themselves as the new embodiment of classic art. Their music video for "APESHIT" quickly garnered millions of views as fans watched and re-watched the stunning depiction of one of the most powerful couples in the music industry taking over the Louvre. Beyonce and Jay-Z stand still in front of priceless, renowned art pieces, thereby aligning themselves with the works of art.

The use of a lowly, slang term such as "apeshit" juxtaposed with the elegant pieces in the illustrious Louvre Museum suggests the Carters power as an African-American couple to not only overcome adversity as a minority, but also to gain international acclaim. The term also calls to mind the years of oppression and racism faced by people of African descent. However, the Carters embrace and claim this colloquialism in order to celebrate themselves and their ethnicity. Beyonce sings to this effect, "I can't believe we made it."

They emulate art while maintaining their own unique styles rather than attempting to blend in with the portraits. Both Jay-Z and Beyonce pose in several outfits, dripping in luxury, and glowing. They stand wholly apart from the works, yet still manage to seem as though they belong. They are both exhibits and spectators, yet by staring directly into the camera, they express their awareness of the world watching.

It's worth noting that the unexpected album drop came a day after the release of Kanye West's project, the Nas album Nasir. The entire month of June has been marked by a sensational Kanye West release every Friday, and so it is certainly not a coincidence that the Carters chose to release Everything is Love in the midst of Kanye's sensational summer. Kanye, once a frequent collaborator, dear friend, and protegee of Jay-Z had a public fallout with the rapper he had previously referred to as his "big brother" on his sophomore album, Graduation. Not only does the Carter's first album distract from Kanye's releases, it also spotlights Paris, which holds significance for the famous former friends. Jay-Z and Kanye's 2011 collaboration, Watch the Throne, featured the hit single "N***** in Paris." Paris was also the site of Kanye's wife, Kim Kardashian, 2017 robbery.

The Carters seek to defy any doubts that might exist about their status as a couple and what better way to do this than placing themselves inside the Louvre. Not only did they make it past Jay-Z's infidelity, they also made it past cultural barriers in order to epitomize wealth, beauty, luxury, and enormous talent. After all, you can't take over the Louvre without belonging there in the first place.