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4:44

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4:44
Studio album by
Jay-Z
ReleasedJune 30, 2017
GenreHip hop[1]
Length36:11
LabelRoc Nation
Producer
Jay-Z chronology
Magna Carta Holy Grail
(2013) 		4:44
(2017)

4:44 is the fourteenth studio album and thirteenth solo album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on June 30, 2017 through Roc Nation.[2] The album is solely produced by No I.D. with additional production from Jay-Z.[3] The album features guest appearances from Frank Ocean, Damian Marley, Beyoncé and Jay-Z's mother, Gloria Carter.[3] 4:44 was released as an exclusive to Sprint and Tidal customers,[4][5] and is the first in a planned series of music exclusives from the Sprint-Tidal partnership.[4] A physical release has been confirmed and will include the track "Adnis" and two other bonus tracks.[6][7]

Background

4:44 was teased after posters were displayed in New York City and Los Angeles, as well as banner ads started appearing on the Internet. A one-minute teaser ad was aired during the NBA Finals on June 7 featuring actors Mahershala Ali, Lupita Nyong'o and Danny Glover, ending with "4:44 – 6.30.17, Exclusively on Tidal".[8] On June 18 (Father's Day), a clip titled "Adnis" was posted on Sprint's YouTube page.[9] Adnis was Jay-Z's father's name.[2] A second teaser trailer was released on June 27 titled, "Kill Jay Z", featuring a young man with a "Stay Black" T-shirt.[10] A third one followed on June 28 titled, "MaNyfaCedGod", featuring Lupita Nyong'o crying hysterically on the floor.[10]

Production and recording

No I.D. says Jay-Z approached him about working together, and initially declined.[6] He cited feeling "uninspired" and "didn't think [he] had anything at the time" but talks about researching Quincy Jones as inspiration to begin work with Jay-Z. It is the first time Jay-Z has worked with one producer for an album. No I.D. states he "began to play the samples like I would play an instrument." To get inspiration for 4:44, No I.D. pointed to albums such as, What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, Confessions by Usher, The Blueprint by Jay-Z, Illmatic by Nas, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West, saying he "analyzed the mistakes and tried not to make those mistakes."[6]

"4:44" was written when Jay-Z woke up one morning at 4:44 AM,[11] and recorded at Jay-Z's house using Beyoncé's mic.[6] Stereogum writer Tom Breihan calls the track, "one long, tearful, soul-ripped-open apology.[11]

Composition

In April 2016, Beyoncé, Jay-Z's wife, released her sixth studio album, Lemonade. Lyrically, it alleged that Jay-Z was unfaithful.[12] Many critics have noted that 4:44 is a response to Lemonade, with Jay-Z referencing lines from Lemonade, such as the "You better call Becky with the good hair" line on Beyoncé's "Sorry", with Jay-Z retorting, "Leave me alone, Becky" in "Family Feud".[13][12][14]

Rolling Stone writes, "Jay-Z takes a pro-black stance, addresses intergenerational conflicts in hip-hop and talks about marital troubles after many had interpreted lines for his wife Beyoncé's 2016 album Lemonade as alluding to infidelity".[15]

Music and lyrics

The album contains samples such as, Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love Today", Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free", and Nina Simone's "Four Women" and "Baltimore".[3] Elia Leight of Rolling Stone notes 4:44 is "sample-heavy at a time when so much of rap has moved away from that sound".[6] Lyrically, Jay-Z touches on an array of topics such as his friendship with Kanye West,[16] his infidelity,[17], his mother being a lesbian,[11] and the people in charge of Prince's estate, among others.[11]

Release

4:44 was released as an exclusive to Tidal and Sprint subscribers on June 30, 2017. Jay-Z held listening parties for the album at participating Sprint stores on June 29.[18] Through an iHeartRadio and Roc Nation partnership, 4:44 will be played on a loop on various rap stations until July 1.[19] Jay-Z provided song commentary via iHeartRadio upon the album's release.[20]

An animated music video for "The Story of O.J." was posted on Tidal soon after the album's release.[21] The video was directed by Jay-Z and Mark Romanek and shows a character named Jaybo, based off The Story of Little Black Sambo.[22]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[23]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[24]
NME[25]
The Telegraph[26]

4:44 received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on 4 reviews, indicating "Universal Acclaim."[23] Neil McCormik of The Telegraph gave the album a perfect score, stating "It's a highly personal work bravely opening up the artist's very human flaws as an example to others, locating in his own suffering a path towards forgiveness, redemption and, ultimately, a better world. There is little braver than admitting your mistakes and trying to change your ways. By embracing vulnerability, Jay Z has taken a step towards genuine wisdom."[26]

"Smile" was named "Best New Track" by Pitchfork, with editor Marc Hogan commenting, "JAY-Z is near peak form as a rapper. There are sneaky internal rhymes ("Everybody wave bye to the guy you thought you could lie to") as he rips into people who'll rip the album from Tidal, casting his own business success within the black American struggle. In a classy move that's also a tearjerker, the final word goes to his mom."[27]

Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone calls the album, "a stunning, raw and mature apology that's as much an ode to partnership and family as it is an example of how vulnerability can make for truly excellent art." Spanos states "4:44" is "the most specific and touching" song on the album.[28]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal.[3]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Kill Jay Z"
2:58
2."The Story of O.J."
3:52
3."Smile" (featuring Gloria Carter)
4:50
4."Caught Their Eyes" (featuring Frank Ocean)
3:26
5."4:44"
  • Carter
  • Wilson
  • Kanan Keeney
4:44
6."Family Feud" (featuring Beyoncé)
4:11
7."Bam" (featuring Damian Marley)
3:55
8."Moonlight"
2:24
9."Marcy Me"
2:54
10."Legacy"
2:57
Total length:36:11
Physical release bonus tracks[29]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Adnis"
  • Carter
  • Wilson
 


Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Adapted from Tidal.[3]

  • Beyoncé – additional vocals (track 6)
  • Kim Burrell – additional vocals (track 5)
  • Blue Ivy Carter – additional vocals (track 10)
  • Gloria Carter – featured artist (track 3)
  • Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter – executive production, co-production (tracks: 2-4, 8, 10), A&R
  • Karen Console – A&R administration
  • Jimmy Douglass – mixing (all tracks)
  • The-Dream – additional vocals (track 9)
  • James Fauntleroy – additional vocals (track 10), Kim Burrell vocal production (track 5)
  • Frank Ocean – featured artist (track 4)
  • Ron Gilmore Jr. – vocoder (track 9)
  • Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton – recording (all tracks)
  • Dave Kutch – mastering (all tracks)
  • Jonah Levine – trombone (track 7)
  • Deborah Mannis-Gardner – sample clearances
  • Damian Marley – featured artist (track 7)
  • Nathan Mercereau – French horn (track 7), guitar, piano, Moog synthesizer (track 9)
  • Mike Miller – The-Dream vocal recording (track 9)
  • Todd Mumford – legal
  • No I.D. – production (all tracks), co-executive production
  • Willo Perron – creative direction
  • Brian Roettinger – art direction
  • Roc Nation – marketing
  • Krystian Santini – A&R administration
  • Christina Suarez – legal
  • Crystal Rovél Torres – trumpet, flugelhorn (track 7)
  • Michael Law Thomas – additional recording engineer (track 7)
  • Kenneth Whalum – tenor sax (track 7)
  • Stuart White – Beyoncé vocal recording (track 6)
  • Steve Wyreman – guitar (tracks: 2, 7, 9), electric piano, bass (tracks: 2, 7), celeste, CS-80 (track 2), Hammond organ (track 9), synths (tracks: 7, 9)

References

  1. ^ "Jay Z Previews New Verse From Upcoming 13th Studio Album". HipHopDX. June 19, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Blistein, Jon. "Jay Z Details New Album '4:44'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e "4:44". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Brandle, Lars. "Jay Z Announces New Album '4:44' For June 30". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  5. ^ ".@S_C_'s '4:44' available exclusively to TIDAL and @Sprint customers on 6/30. http://sprint.tidal.com  #TIDALXSprintpic.twitter.com/5WAGtXR3PC". @TIDALHiFi. June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 102 (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e Leight, Elias. "'4:44' Producer No I.D. Talks Pushing Jay-Z, Creating '500 Ideas'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  7. ^ Kim, Michelle. "New JAY-Z Album 4:44 Getting Physical Release". pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  8. ^ Barry, Peter A. "Tidal Teases '4:44' Visual Starring Mahershala Ali – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  9. ^ "JAY-Z "Adnis"". YouTube. June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Lamarre, Carl. "What's Going on With All These JAY-Z '4:44' Commercials?". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d Breihan, Tom (June 30, 2017). "Jay-Z '4:44' Review". Stereogum. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  12. ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin (June 30, 2017). "JAY-Z has finally addressed rumours he cheated on Beyonce". The Independent. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  13. ^ Vain, Madison (June 30, 2017). "JAY-Z Swears Off Alleged Mistress 'Becky' for Good: 'Let Me Alone'". EW.com. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  14. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (June 30, 2017). "Jay-Z addresses Beyoncé infidelity rumours on new album 4:44". The Guardian. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  15. ^ Leight, Elias; Reeves, Mosi; Shipley, Al. "Jay-Z's '4:44': A Track-by-Track Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  16. ^ Thompson, Desire (June 30, 2017). "JAY-Z's '4:44' Addresses Falling Out With Kanye West". Vibe. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  17. ^ Lynch, John. "Here are all the moments Jay-Z apologized to Beyoncé for his infidelity on his new album". Business Insider. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  18. ^ Wicks, Amanda. "JAY-Z Announces 4:44 Listening Parties". pitchfork.com. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  19. ^ Lockett, Dee. "The Complete Guide to Jay-Z's New Album 4:44". Vulture. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  20. ^ Mastrogiannis, Nicole. "JAY-Z Explains '4:44' Song Meanings iHeartRadio Album World Premiere". iHeartRadio. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  21. ^ "The Story of O.J." Tidal. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  22. ^ "Jay-Z Releases Animated 'The Story of O.J.' Video From '4:44'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Reviews for 4:44 by JAY-Z". Metacritic. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  24. ^ Emery, Andrew (June 30, 2017). "Jay-Z: 4:44 review – a bracingly honest but conservative confessional". The Guardian. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  25. ^ Milton, James (June 30, 2017). "Jay Z – '4:44' Review". NME. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  26. ^ a b McCormik, Neil (June 30, 2017). "Jay Z has delivered one of the most mature albums in hip hop history – 4:44, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  27. ^ ""Smile"". Pitchfork. June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  28. ^ Spanos, Brittany. "How Jay-Z's '4:44' and Beyonce's 'Lemonade' Redefine Black Love, Fame". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  29. ^ Cite error: The named reference phys was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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