7 Times Jay & Bey Made Us Believe In Love

It all began 13 years ago. Right before Beyoncé walked away from the game-changing girl group Destiny's Child to start her solo career, she collaborated with Jay Z on the song "'03 Bonnie & Clyde." In addition to being a hit, that song was a clear indication of what would come in the next decade: an incomparable, enviable, unbreakable bond of love and talent. Or, in the words of Jay Z "Cause mami's a rider and I'm a roller, put us together, how they gon' stop both us?” At that point, the world knew that the hip-hop mogul and R&B maven were an item. Everyone approved.

Beyonce's debut solo album, Dangerously In Love (2002), had three songs that featured Jay Z, including "Crazy In Love." He also added a couple verses to songs "Deja Vu," and "Upgrade U" on her second album B'Day (2006). Two years later they tied the knot.

The couple never fails to produce good music or put on an epic show together. As artists they relish in the spotlight. But, as husband and wife they avoid it. And, it's easy to believe that Jay and Bey are madly in love with each other, even though they consistently avoid discussing their relationship. How do we know, aside from the handful of gushing award-acceptance speeches? It's all in the lyrics. 

Music is a unique form of storytelling — often songwriters pull from pieces of their own or others' life experiences. Sometimes we know who or what the song is about, like how Jay Z's "Glory" and Beyonce's "Blue" are about their beautiful 3-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy. Others, we don't. It's pretty cool, however, when we know exactly what's happening in a any particular tune. 

Sure, they're incredibly powerful and successful — they've been ranked the most powerful couple (TIME) and Hollywood's top-earning couple (Forbes) more than once — but love is clearly the foundation and fuel for their joint success. They don't let anything, not even their unfathomably busy schedules, get in the way of their relationship. So, in honor of their seventh anniversary, here are seven times Jay and Bey made us believe in love — real love — in their music.