First of all, I do not stay up late anymore. I’m seasoned and go to bed early. But on June 29th, I made a pledge to stay up and download JAY-Z’s new album 4:44 and I didn’t regret it. Nor did I regret getting about four hours of sleep because I was consumed with what I’m going to go out on a limb and say is one of his best works.
Being both forceful and vulnerable, JAY-Z pulled back the curtain on a well-curated and deeply private life to show us his humanity and his bravado.
From start to finish this album is both a teachable moment and a cleansing moment, with appearances by Frank Ocean, Damian Marley, Gloria Carter, Kim Burrell, and backing vocals from Beyoncé; the No ID produced work pulls you in and lulls you to a euphoric musical state with smooth wordplay, lyrical showmanship, and creative mastery.
Much has been made about what JAY-Z has chosen to discuss about his personal life on this album and it is refreshing to see him address varying topics including his marriage to Beyoncé and friendship with Kanye West. The opening track “Kill JAY-Z” sets aside ego and sets a tone for an album of eye-opening revelations. It talks about that incident in the elevator, Kanye, and even how men make mistakes and let a really good thing get away a la Eric Benet.
“The Story of O.J.” speaks on financial freedom, which is highly touted and coveted in the African American community. Here JAY Z speaks to owning property, good credit, and buying art as an investment. While these topics are frequently discussed, it never hurts to continue to drive the message home. The sample of Nina Simone’s “Four Women” puts forth a haunting backdrop, along with the accompanying animated video directed by Mark Romanek and JAY Z that tackles racist cartoons of the past.
In addition to the Nina Simone sample on “The Story of O.J.” there are elements from “Don’t Let It Show” by The Alan Parsons Project, “Kool is Back” by Funk Inc., “Loves in Need of Love Today” by Stevie Wonder, “Baltimore: by Nina Simone”, “Ha Ya” by The Clark Sisters, “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy, “Tenement Yard” by Jacob Miller, “Fu-Gee-La” by The Fugees, “Todo O Mundo E Ninguem” by Querteto 1111, and “Someday We’ll All be Free” by Donny Hathaway. I have to say that for me the samples are refreshing. They were a staple in the rap music I loved growing up and helped introduce me to a lot of classic songs. It’s always interesting to see how songs of the past can be interpreted and used to speak on current events and specifics in someone’s life today. I know many people frown upon it, but it takes skill to take something old and make it something totally different, yet still maintain the initial quality that drew you to it in the first place.
On the deeply personal “4:44”, No ID uses a sample of “Late Nights and Heartbreak” from Hannah Williams & The Affirmations. First of all if you’ve not heard of her before, what are you doing with your life, and if you’ve never heard the song, stop reading this and go download it! It’s on Tidal . . . I think anyone can relate to this song, from either side, because let’s be real relationships are an interesting creature; and in admitting, “ I don’t deserve you”, JAY Z says what a lot of men are afraid to say.
Another stand out on this album is “Smile” which features JAY Z’s mother at the end reading a poem. It’s interesting at this stage in rap that many songs speak to simply being happy. For many years the posturing of hyper masculinity led the way, so this transition has been a long time coming. The song also reveals that JAY Z’s mother is a lesbian and her poem talks of being happy and life being too short to not live it in a way that make you happy and whole.
My favorites after multiple listens are “Kill Jay Z”, “The Story of O.J.”, “Caught Their Eyes” which touches on Prince and his relationship with Tidal along with L. Londell McMillan and decisions he made in regards to Prince’s estate after his death. I am also keeping “Family Feud” and “Bam” on heavy rotation, both of which go hard in the car while cruising down the expressway.
4:44 makes the case for growing up, holding your family down, living the life you WANT, getting your finances in order, falling back on bothering the young generation of rap, and reminding people exactly who you are and what you’re capable of.
According to both No ID and Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton, there is still more music to come with “Adnis” which was heard on one of the previously released commercials, being one of the additions on the physical copy of the album.
This entire album makes a case for what many are calling grown-up or 30+ rap, the need for music that speaks to those who have lived and are moving into the next phase where you see many things differently. And, as JAY-Z often says, “It’s just different”, and so is this album. But, different is what we need and JAY-Z is always right on time.
