JAY-Z and the Carter family gifted his grandmother, Hattie White, with an engraved bench in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York on Christmas Eve.
The rapper, his mother, Gloria, his wife, Beyoncé, and their three children Blue, Rumi and Sir were photographed viewing the bench with White.
The inscription reads, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. With love and admiration to our root, Hattie White.”
The 93-year-old was captured holding her hand over her heart as she viewed the tribute bench.
“To this day, Grandma ‘fraid what I might say / They gon’ have to kill me, Grandmama, I’m not they slave.” – JAY-Z
The rapper has talked about his strong bond with his grandmother numerous times during his career including most recently on “What’s Free” on Meek Mill’s Championship album.
White is also featured speaking at the end of Beyonce’s song, “FREEDOM,” which appears on the pop star’s LEMONADE album.
“I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade,” the matriarch said.
The soundbite comes from the speech she gave at her 90th birthday celebration in 2015. It is what influenced the title of Bey’s polarizing visual album.
Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of the family and the personalizing park bench.
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