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Among the biggest surprises at last night's (August 28) 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, none was more jaw-dropping than Beyoncé, wife of rap icon Jay-Z, sporting a brand-new baby bump. During her VMA performance of "Love on Top," Bey revealed the bump in its entire splendor by opening her sequined tuxedo top and rubbing her protruding belly while an excited Kanye West cheered on his friend and proud papa-to-be Jay-Z. The big reveal of the baby-to-be culminates Jay-Z’s long-running desire to be a father, something the rapper has spoken upon many times over the course of his career.

Back in 2008, the Brooklyn rap vet told reporters at U.N.A. Global Leadership Awards Gala in New York that he’d be delighted to join the ranks of fatherhood. “Most people dream of having a family someday," Jay-Z said vaguely to reporters. "So I'm just a regular American boy.”

In a detailed interview with Oprah Winfrey back in 2009, Jay-Z spoke of his estranged relationship with his own father and also discussed how marriage has changed him for the better. While he didn't directly speak about parenthood with Oprah, Jay-Z did say that "taking care of my family" was important to him. That same year, Jay-Z gave an interview to Gotham magazine in which he revealed plans to start a family although Beyoncé at the time had other plans and wanted to focus on her career.

In 2010, Jay-Z opened up further about parenthood in an interview with Sweden’s Kingsize magazine. “I’d like to be a dad some day and I love children. You start your life with expectations and dreams, then life unfolds and it doesn’t always turn out the way you imagined. Life is what it is. And at this point it’s up to somebody else,” shared Jay-Z.

On his joint album with Kanye West, the RZA-produced track “New Day” was one of the more personal and heartfelt songs on the album as the rap superstars offer tender words to their unborn sons – and while the sex of the Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s child is yet unknown, it appears that Jay-Z already has laid down the blueprint – pun not intended – in being a great dad for he and his wife’s new baby.

Jay's verse from the track shows glaring humility. "Sorry junior, I already ruined ya/Cause you ain’t even alive, paparazzi pursuin’ ya/Sins of a father make your life 10 times harder/I just wanna take ya to a barber/Bondin’ on charters, all the shit that I never did/Teach ya good values so you cherish it/Took me 26 years to find my path/My only job is cut the time in half," Jay raps in the verse that finds him seemingly ready to take on the responsibility of being a dad.

Congratulations to Jay-Z and Beyoncé!

What did you think of Beyonce and Jay-Z’s big announcement? Are you excited for the couple? Tweet to us at @MTVRapFix or leave us a comment below.