Here's the Demo Version of What Would Become Beyoncé and JAY-Z’s “Part II (On the Run)”

James Fauntleroy, who shared the demo, is credited as a co-writer on "Part II (On the Run)."

November 12, 2019

bey hov — Image via Getty/Mike Coppola
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James Fauntleroy has shared the song “Take Me,” the demo for Beyoncé and JAY-Z’s 2013 collaboration “Part II (On the Run).”

The couple came together to record the song as the second chapter to their 2003 cut “‘03 Bonnie & Clyde,” where Fauntleroy is credited as a co-writer. Both versions of the track are produced by Timbaland and J-Roc, and Fauntleroy’s first iteration includes many of the lyrics that Bey sings on “Part II.”

What sets the two adaptations apart are Jay’s verses. Fauntleroy, Hov, J-Roc, Timbaland, and Timbaland’s brother Garland “Sebastian” Mosley are all credited as co-writers.

The track arrived on Jay’s 2013 album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, and also inspired the name for the couple’s joint On the Run Tour in 2014. “Part II” landed at the No. 81 spot on the Hot 100 chart. Later, Jay and Bey would link up for their joint album, 2018’s Everything is Love.

JAY-Z recently dropped his 2004 “farewell” concert documentary Fade To Black on Tidal, which had been difficult to find for a while now. The doc focuses on a sold-out 2003 concert at Madison Square Garden, when he announced that he was going to retire from the industry. While the rapper has since performed a number of shows, it feels like he gave his all to the MSG crowd, perhaps because even he thought he wasn't going to get another chance to perform.