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Jay-Z, Beyoncé baby sets NY abuzz

New York - New York was abuzz on Tuesday over the birth of baby girl Blue Ivy to one of the Big Apple's most glamorous couples, rapper Jay-Z and R&B singer Beyoncé.

Curious onlookers and TV satellite vans staked out Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan's posh Upper East Side, waiting for a glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, and her proud parents.

However, the rap mogul, the Grammy winning former Destiny's Child star, and their A-list tot slipped past waiting paparazzi with a motorcade of black SUVs at 01:30, the New York Daily News reported.

Jay-Z, originally Shawn Carter, released a newly recorded song Glory with a little accompaniment from his crying daughter, and New York tabloids celebrated with front-page spreads.

"RAPA BYE BABY," the New York Post splashed across a picture of the parents. "SONG OF JOY," chimed the rival News.

Elaborate manoeuvre

As befitting a celebrity, Blue Ivy was also at the center of her first controversy.

Local media reports said some staff at Lenox Hill and fellow patients were angry at the way the celebrity family had taken over swaths of the facility for private use.

A man from Brooklyn said he'd been unable to access his own baby in intensive care because of the invasion by Jay-Z's security team.

"People don't need to be treated like this when dealing with sick children," Neil Nash-Coulon told CBS television on Monday.

"You can't cordon off the (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). These are small newborns who need care, and you're just going to take over the hospital like you own it?"

The hospital hit back in a statement decrying "misinformation", and said: "We have made every effort to ensure minimal disruption to other families experiencing the birth of their own children over the past three days."

According to the Daily News, the dead-of-night departure was no less disruptive than the hospital stay, with SUVs blocking traffic as part of an elaborate manoeuvre to protect the celebrities, who travelled in a large van with blacked-out windows.

Working on her moves

Ignoring the grumbling, Jay-Z and Beyoncé issued a statement to US Weekly saying: "Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven."

Jay-Z's best statement, though, came accompanied by music.

On the track Glory, which is announced "featuring B.I.C", Jay-Z reveals that previously his wife suffered a miscarriage.

"Last time the miscarriage was so tragic/ We was afraid you disappeared but nah/ baby, you magic."

Jay-Z calls Blue Ivy "my greatest creation" and "everything that I prayed for".

In addition to Blue Ivy's vocal contribution in the song - some gentle baby crying - the lyrics reveal that the newcomer is already working on her moves.

"Your mama said that you danced for her/ Did you wiggle your hand for her?"

Jay-Z was head of Def Jam records and has sold more than 35 million albums as a rapper since 1996.

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