Jay-Z played Beyoncé’s love interest in the 2003 music video for “Crazy in Love.” He also performs the song’s featured rap verse and appears in the recording’s introduction.
The video was directed by Jake Nava and presents Beyoncé in several stylized settings, including a dance sequence and a dramatic fire hydrant scene. Its energetic choreography and fashion helped establish the visual identity of her first solo era.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z were already musical collaborators when “Crazy in Love” was recorded. They later married in 2008 and became one of popular music’s most prominent couples. Their collaborations continued on songs such as “Déjà Vu,” “Upgrade U,” and “Drunk in Love.”
Jay-Z is sometimes confused with other rappers who collaborated with Beyoncé, including Sean Paul, who appears on “Baby Boy,” and André 3000, who appears on “Party.” Only Jay-Z is the featured performer and male co-star associated with “Crazy in Love.”