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DJ Khaled Reunites Beyoncé & Jay Z for Powerful Single “Shining”

While it may have come as an untimely celebration following Bey’s disappointing Album Of The Year loss at this year’s Grammys (awarded to Adele’s 25), DJ Khaled’s latest tune featuring hip-hop’s power couple Beyoncé and Jay Z is still an extremely welcome release.

Only half a year since the release of his ninth, and most successful studio album Major Key, Shining is already serving as a glimpse into his Khaled’s forthcoming album, Grateful. According to Jay’s engineer Young Guru, the track was actually recorded the night before The Grammy awards, presumably at the Carter household’s home studio.

Performing over a fast-paced, sub-bass and orchestral-driven instrumental, Shining is the first time we’ve heard the couple on the same track since back in 2013 and they don’t disappoint. Queen Bey flows similarly to the likes of her LEMONADE single Formation, half-rapping half-singing, she chants about winning in the industry for the last 20 years with nothing short of the highest level of bravado and grace. Khaled’s idiosyncratic ad-libs are obviously frustrating and monotonous throughout the entire track, but luckily they don’t diminish the talents of the couple on the track, including an entertaining verse from Jay Z.

Rapping about their recently announced twins in his signature ‘made it’ style that he pulls off so well, he even goes on to reignite the beef he and Drake have shared in the previous years. Subtly referencing him in numerous lines, it’s not exactly the meanest diss in hip-hop history, but it could certainly spark another feud between two of the genre’s most prominent figures. “I know you ain’t out here talkin’ numbers, right?/I know you ain’t out here talkin’ summers, right?/I know you ain’t walkin’ ’round talkin’ down/Sayin’ boss shit when you a runner, right?”.

It feels like a star-studded track of this nature should have made more of an impact, and while I’m not disappointed, I’m certainly not blown away either. What Shining has managed to achieve though is reigniting the rumours of that mysterious Jay/Bey collaboration album, and that is certainly something I’m not complaining about.

Image: Digital Spy