Jay-Z’s latest album is his most personal piece of work in nearly a decade. On 4:44, Jay-Z addresses the rumored cheating scandal and the album serves as a mea culpa to Beyoncé.
He opens the album with “Kill Jay-Z” which is as guilt-ridden as Kendrick Lamar’s “u.” On the song, Jay-Z speaks on past regrets such as shooting his older brother, stabbing Lance Un Riveria, and his infamous elevator skirmish with Solange.
“You egged Solange on, knowin’ all along, all you had to say you was wrong, you almost went Eric Benét, let the baddest girl in the world get away, I don’t even know what else to say,” Jay-Z raps. He also alludes to Future’s relationship with his son now that his ex-fiancée, Ciara, has married Russell Wilson. “I don’t even know what you would have done, in the future, other n—s playin’ football with your son,” he raps.
Jay-Z’s direct answer to Beyoncé’s explosive Lemonade album comes with the title song, “4:44.” After years of operating like a young bachelor, Jay-Z understands what matters the most when it comes to relationships. “I apologize, often womanize, took for my child to be born, see through a woman’s eyes, took for these natural twins to believe in miracles, took me too long for this song,” Jay-Z raps. He continues to reveal how he is ill-prepared for love. “I promised I cried I couldn’t hold, I suck at love, I think I need a do-over. … And if my children knew, I don’t even know what I would do, if they ain’t look at me the same, I would probably die with all the shame, ‘You did what with who?’ What good is a ménage a trois when you have a soul mate? ‘You risked that for Blue?’”
On “Family Feud,” Jay-Z is joined by Beyoncé and shares why it’s important for him to keep his family together. “I’ll f—k up a good thing if you let me, let me alone Becky, a man that don’t take care of his family can’t be rich,” he raps.
But beyond his family tribulations, Jay-Z also takes aim at race relations in America, gentrification, and the importance of generational wealth in the Black community.
On “The Story of O.J.,” Jay-Z raps, “Please don’t die over the neighborhood that your mama renting, take your drug money and buy the neighborhood, that’s how you rinse it.” He speaks about gentrification in Brooklyn, New York, and how he wished he would have invested in his home location early in his career. “I bought every V12 engine, wish I could take it back to the beginning, I could’ve bought a place in Dumbo before it was Dumbo, for, like $2 million, that same building today is worth $25 million.”
Frank Ocean gives a fiery performance on “Caught Their Eyes” and Damian Marley provides island vibes on “Bam.”
Overall, 4:44 likely won’t be remembered as Jay-Z’s best album, but at this point, he’s his own competition. He’s also open to revealing his personal struggles and sounds as comfortable as he did on classic albums such as Blueprint and The Black Album. And most listeners will appreciate Jay-Z giving “$1 million worth of game for $9.99.”
