Jay-Z and Rihanna’s relationship dates back to the early days of her career, which began when the Barbadian star was just 16 years old.
Standing in front of industry heavyweights like Jay-Z and Antonio “L.A.” Reid at such a young age would intimidate anyone.
In the light of recent allegations against both Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs, a joke Jay-Z once made to Rihanna has taken on a much darker tone.
The video, taken from an interview on “The Tyra Banks Show”, shows a young Rihanna nervously recounting her audition for the label.
She recalled performing her breakout hit “Pon de Replay”, which immediately grabbed the interest of the music executives. But what stood out was a comment Jay-Z made during the meeting.
“There are two ways to leave here: Either through the door with the deal signed or through this window, and we’re on the 29th floor,” Rihanna recounted with a nervous laugh.
At the time, the remark was brushed off as a joke with Rihanna stating that she eagerly signed the deal.
Tyra Banks asked: “So you were like, ‘Where’s the pen? Where’s the paper? I’m signing!’”
However, in light of recent allegations against Jay-Z and other powerful figures in the music industry, that seemingly harmless comment has taken on a more unsettling tone.
In a 2007 interview with “The Guardian”, Rihanna added that Def Jam executives locked her in their offices until 3am to secure her signature on the contract.
Jay-Z later confirmed this during an interview with “Sway”, saying, “We didn’t let her leave the office. Three in the morning is when that contract got signed.”
What was once framed as an intense moment of determination from music executives now raises questions about the power dynamics at play, especially given Rihanna’s young age at the time.
Earlier this month, an amended lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs included accusations that Jay-Z raped a 13-year-old girl.
The plaintiff, listed as “Jane Doe,” claims the alleged assault occurred in the 1990s, adding another layer of scrutiny to Jay-Z’s past behaviour.
The resurfaced clip alongside recent lawsuits has sparked renewed conversations about power imbalances in the entertainment industry and how young talent is treated.