Jay-Z: I didn’t learn how to swim until daughter Blue Ivy was born

Jay-Z did not jump into fatherhood unprepared.

During a recent appearance on “The Shop: Uninterrupted,” the 51-year-old rapper explained how the birth of his first child, daughter Blue Ivy Carter, changed everything.

“I didn’t learn how to swim until Blue was born,” he responded when asked about being a father. “There goes everything you need to know. This is a metaphor for our relationship. If she ever fell in the water and I couldn’t get her, I couldn’t even fathom that thought. I gotta learn how to swim. That’s it. That was the beginning of our relationship.”Jay-Z also revealed how Blue Ivy reacted to her father being nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in February.

“I got the [Hall of Fame] announcement, I was taking Blue to school, I was like, ‘This ain’t no celebration,'” he shared, suggesting Blue Ivy was less than impressed with the exciting news he had to share that morning.

“She walked away, I was like, ‘Yo, give me a kiss I’m in the Hall of Fame!’ She’s like ‘Bye, dad.'”

Jay-Z has been opening up more about family life. In April, the father of three gave a rare interviewwith The Sunday Times, where he spoke about his children’s futures.

“Feeling loved is the most important thing a child needs, you know?” Jay-Z said, later adding, “What if my child doesn’t want to be in music or sports?

“I have no idea, right? But as long as your child feels supported, and feels loved, I think anything is possible.”