Mystery surrounds origins of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s relationship

The origin of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s age-gap romance is back in the spotlight as the rap mogul furiously denies a rape allegation.

Jay-Z and Beyonce’s relationship is back in the spotlight in the wake of serious sexual assault allegations levelled at the rapper in a civil lawsuit.

And the internet is struggling to pinpoint exactly when their union began.

That’s because Jay and Bey have offered differing accounts of the genesis of the romantic relationship versus their professional dealings.

Jay-Z responded to the question during interviews conducted in 2007, saying that they first met “ten years ago”.

In 1997, the ambitious pop princess was 16 and starting out with Destiny’s Child; Jay-Z was 28.

But Beyonce offered a different perspective to the kick-off of their relationship in an interview with Seventeen magazine, stating they met when she was 18 but didn’t start dating until 18 months later.

Jay-Z and Beyonce have been “together” for about 24 years. Picture: Getty.

Jay-Z appears to back up this origin story in a verse of his 2006 collaboration with Pharrell Williams called Young Girl.

“‘Hov’ got a young girl/ Still not quite 21/ So high strung, such a vibrant thing/ I introduce myself, Hi, Miss Thing / You’re 19?/ No, you’re lightning in a bottle I give you a ring.”

The timeline of their relationship suggests they may not have been dating yet in September 2000, when Jay-Z is accused of the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in company with Sean “Diddy” Combs at an MTV awards after-party. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, vehemently denies the allegations.

Dating and dancing at the BET awards in Los Angeles in 2003. Picture: Supplied.

The superstar duo appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair’s annual Music Issue in late 2001 with the rapper later saying “were just beginning to try to date each other” at that time.

Their first professional collaboration came in 2002 when Beyonce made her first recording outside of Destiny’s Child as the featured vocalist on Jay-Z’s single ‘03 Bonnie & Clyde.

She achieved her first No. 1 solo hit with is assist in 2003 on Crazy In Love, the smash hit from her Dangerously In Love album.

They made their red carpet debut as a couple at the MTV VMAs in 2004 and celebrated their Crazy In Love collab winning the Grammy for best R&B song and best rap/sung collaboration at the 2004 awards.

The powerhouse performers were back at the BET Awards in 2006. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

The powerful pop duo wed in secret at their New York home in 2008 with guests including Bey’s Destiny’s Child sisters Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, and then husband and wife Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

Jay-Z and Beyonce remain together despite several challenges to their marriage including his much-publicised affair with “Becky” referenced on the R&B queen’s wildly successful Lemonade album.

And the motivation for her sister Solange to lash out at Jay-Z in a lift after the 2014 Met Gala.

The couple share three children, with Blue Ivy now 12 and twins Sir and Rumi, aged seven.

Originally published as Mystery surrounds origins of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s relationship