Before June 30, 2017, a universal poll would have convincingly shown rap fans had no desire for another JAY-Z album. The classics have been archived. His empire is incorruptible. The record will show that after three decades, he’s earned GOAT points in every statistical category — several times over — and even grew noticeably bored repaving his victory laps.
On its surface, album number 13 appears to be yet another money-first marketing ploy, given its Sprint and TIDAL exclusivity connotations. But starting immediately with the first emotion, the No I.D.-scored project reveals itself to be a package of apologies, damaged goods and self-humility. It’s a 10-track manifesto that barely breaches 30 minutes, its layers exposing a side of the notoriously private Shawn Carter that the world has never before seen.
Abruptly opening to a blaring alarm, “Kill Jay Z” finds the 47-year-old confessing that his facade of the cocksure super-rapper has allowed him to mask the times when he turned out to be the loser. Risking prison to stab Lance “Un” Rivera. Provoking sister-in-law Solange on that elevator. Almost irrevocably screwing things up with Beyoncé. There’s a lot to digest in one song, but it sets the tone of the skeleton clean-out of his massive walk-in closet that permeates the album.
The title track is named after the enlightenment timestamp at which Hov awoke from a remorseful slumber and realized that money, power and respect aren’t shortcuts to a perfect marriage. “I apologize/ Our love was one for the ages and I contained us” he professes before giving outsiders the dirt they always wanted with, “What good is a ménage à trois when you have a soulmate? ‘You risked that for Blue?’/ If I wasn’t a superhero in your face/ My heart breaks for the day I have to explain my mistakes.”
Safeguards are further yielded on “Smile,” where his mother lives out her truth and Hov dusts off that lyrical mastery that made him a great. He does it again with the roller coaster punchline on “Marcy Me” where he spits, “Think I just popped up in this bitch like a fetus? Nah, Pregnant pause, give you some second thoughts/ There’s room on the bandwagon, don’t abort/ Marcy me”).
“Retirement” and adulthood may have taken JAY-Z’s name out of the current trendsetters of the culture, but the unassuming “Moonlight” — which pokes at all the Lils, XXXUnpronounceables and Savages in the game with broad-stroke dismissals — proves that he’s still actively listening. To each their own, but when a rapper who amassed $800 million (without dialing back on n-word usage) offers some advice, it’s probably best not to ignore him.
No objective eardrum will deny that 4:44 is the ultimate enthralling listen, if not just for all the tea spilled over those Malibu countertops. But even at his fighting weight, JAY still trudges along with some imperfections. For starters, much like the maturity he displays with his lyrics, his flow is unable to conceal the gray hairs it’s sprouted. On “The Story of O.J.,” JAY speaks from experience and creates a priceless doctrine that outlines the differences between riches and wealth, and how race and upbringing play a huge factor in obtaining financial literacy (“I coulda bought a place in Dumbo before it was Dumbo/ For like $2 million/ That same building today is worth $25 million/Guess how I’m feelin’? Dumbo,” he admits). That same line exposes how much he allows dead air to carry his message these days, ultimately failing to capitalize on the silky Nina Simone sample that pads the record.
Also, 4:44-closer “Legacy” epitomizes a reflective Mr. Carter staring through a penthouse window, calmly realizing that planning for the future is the key to thriving in the present, bringing his flow to a near standstill — more like stream of conscious statements atop a rap beat. The message is strong but the musical consistency leaves room for improvement. No I.D.’s production never innovates as a whole (largely thanks to softball samples such as The Fugees’ “Fu-Gee-La” or Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” — now revealed to have been handpicked by Hov to merge his personal playlists into an easy recording process) but their simplicity allows Jay’s bars to be heard without worry of being misconstrued.
Ranking 4:44 within a historical context ultimately boils down to preference. There are several JAY-Z albums that are superior in terms of musical creativity, but never has the man behind the Roc chain been more prolific in thought. It’s catharsis on steroids, walking the tightrope between FYI and TMI.
Since 1996, JAY’s had no qualms about using his albums to bread-crumb the pain, culminating into him sprawled out on a chaise lounge, his soul at the mercy of the consumer. It may have taken him 47 years (and a ton of inventory) to reach this moment but JAY-Z is finally rhyming like Common Sense without fear of flopping.
Thank God for this moment of clarity.
Hiphop is too segmented. You can’t just compare Jay to Drake or compare Nas to Future. The storytelling, the style, the melodies and the subject matter all differ.
Jay doesn’t rap like Future, he raps like his generation. Who else in his generation is 47 and dropping the knowledge, melodies, flows, hooks etc like he is?
Also to the critics who say this album is garbage. Buy a mic and make a better one, only one stopping you, is you!
Did you not read the M.C Eiht review? Got a better rating then this
Very close to perfect
4.4 HAHA Real Funny -_-
4:44 is Jay’s Life is Good. 2 amazing hip hop adult albums.
dope album
Y’all fa66ots betta review MC EIHT album Which Way Iz West. Chit is fuccin classic blowin diz 444 cuhmersial trash da fucc up real spit doe. 10/10 for Eiht album doe.
What a cornyass rating HipHopDX smh I didn’t even feel like reading it after I saw the 4.4.
Eminem has been baring his soul in albums for years(and others before him), how are people gonna act like Jay the first hiphop act to do this. He’s an amazing artist, but he’s done nothing new here.
Budden
Corny attempt at soul baring. Even his weak ass attempt to apologize to his wife is ridiculous. On Family Feud he chalks up his mistakes to being like Michael Corleone. If you want actual emotion on wax, stick to Pac, Nas or DMX. This is weak.
Spitting gems on this !
36 mins, nowadays people like to call that adult
Boring trash as i expected, only reason this gets praise and a high score is because it’s Jay-Z!
ur opinions on rap suck. the 90s are over dude .
Your life sucks. And the music still exist so shut up.
poop shit crap
Straight flames! King HOV with another classic album. Nas Album Shelved, lolol. Ask Russell Simmons why Nas is scared to drop his album and King HOV keeps beastin’?
I scrolled through all the comments just to read this dude’s trademark hyperbole. Priceless. Don’t ever stop commenting.
LMFAO…NaS track Stay literally shyts on this latest attempt by Camel Toe to reveal false emotional lazy content…Hahaha Jay’s soul is still dying slow.
This is a great classic album. HOV did it again! He spits so many gems in this. Awesome, Jigga, keep it up.
Classic?
Early, but I hope time will agree with a classic status. Has a classic vibe to me!
I don’t usually make blanket statements like these, but ANYONE who does not like this album is not a real hip-hop fan. This is pure class. Jay’s effortless flow, the soulful beats and the deep lyrics coalesce into an album that will go down as a milestone in hip-hop history. Jay-Z has proved that age is no bar to producing brilliant music.
Classic Album
Classic. Easy.
Its good but i feel it wont age that well because its too reactionary
His best album since American Gangster. Dope project, 5/5
I completely disagree about his flow “sprouting gray hairs” especially if you’re using Story of OJ as an example. His flow is purposely filled with gaps. That shit is more spoken word than anything. Idk how you could hear Marcy Me and think for one second his flow is degrading.
Great album, some of the beats aren’t really for me (Kill Jay Z, Smile) but the content is amazing nonetheless.
The most overrated album in the last 5 years. Candence dated. Beats dated. I appreciate that he is finally trying to grow up at age 48 though. Album is mediocre. 2.5-3 range.
No, Kendrick Lamar is even more overrated. However, 4:44 is just OK, I’d give it 3-3.50.
Lol. I feel you. I gave Damn 3.
Damn was so disjointed.
For real for reals his best work since American Gangster.
Jay Z the GOAT
I’d say since BP. But whatever
so all of you are giving jay credit for doing what other rappers have already done, e.g. Common, NAS (Life is Good, TUPAC (Dear Mama, Shed so Many Tearz, ) the Me against the World Album
#sad
You stupid or slow ? Jay been doing been doing this… “momma loves me”, “week ago”… smh I swear y’all memory be so weak
The most overrated album in the last 10 years.
Nowhere near classic. I think its alright expected much more.
Disappointed
Expected much more from Jay Z. Jay let me down with this album.
Jay-Z Used 4:44 to apologize to Beyonce for his cheating ways. What happened to Jay? Terrible album!
real rap
it was ok nothing special i guess i expect more from a legend, disappointing as the corporate reviews talked it up so much
His best work since Black Album
It’s a solid album all around I just can’t believe at 48 he finally drops a introspective album.
best cd that came out in a long time. about damn time real rap is back hov
Motherfucker bone dropped heat n motherfuckers know it..real rap my ass..
It’s merely OK, not great, not bad. For Jay-z’ standards it’s actually among his best but I have never been a big fan of his work (well, except for the blueprint and a few other songs here and there in his big catalogue). 3-3.50 if I feel generous.
Hov is the best of all time, the third verse on Smile is classic!!!
P R E A C H
Not average rap album
If you really listen to this and enjoy it i can bet you don’t get pussy!!!! GARBO!
you use the word ” GARBO”….I think this is the bigger issue at hand here.
Instant classic…..refreshing bars!!!
Real rap…with content….no pills….no hoes…no whips…none of that garbage just pure rap….cant even listen to future no more lolll
It shouldn’t take a great 10 years to figure that out… again
True that…Jay gets no points from on this album just for the fact that his light bulb finally came.
Congratulations on a 49 year old man finally figuring what most people figure out in there early to mid 30s!
????not for these young stupid kids with tight clothes and no brains.
Too bad it took Jay Z almost 30 years more than most people take to figure that out.
Dx ur so full of shit..fr man u have this album rated at 4.4 and the community rating is at 3. Whatever
But on the new waves bone album u had at 3. Whatever n community had at 4.7 or something..this shows that ur reviews r full of shit..go ahead and erase this one like u did my bone thugs one..but me n u know that new waves is way hotfer than shit..get off the trending dick n open ur fucking ears
Bullshit rappers so mad right now ?? Welcome back GOAT ???
What knowledge did Jay Z drop that multiple rappers have done decades before? I we really giving Jay Z a pass because its his first entire album where he trying to uplift and educate?
Clearly, it’s not RD, Blueprint, Black Album or AG. But just like Kingdom Come, it’s an album to revisit down the road to really appreciate it. He’s almost 50 years old and still nice.
How can you even bump this? I don’t get the hype at all. And I love Jay, but I just can’t get through it. Still can’t take that Royce out tho.
My biggest problem is that it’s just over 30 minutes long. I like the content. It’s grown man rap. It’s better than MCHG, Kingdom Come.
weak
Solange – overrated
Beyonce – overrated
Jay-Z – overrated
‘Hip-hop royalty’ without any integrity, authenticity, heart.
If this is a ‘good’ album, hip hop is f’d.
People have such a low bar for art nowadays….internet sites fawning over mediocre soon to be bargain basement yawnfests.
Corporate tie ins with Sprint and Samsung just show how morally bankrupt hip hop is.
IDs production is so dull and tiring, just chopped up full tracks is lazy af.
The design of the album art is a massive tell at how vacuous and delusional Jay-Z is…hey I’m so cutting edge with this text only pantone aesthetic.
Empty to the core.
Thank you
Great album. It’s been a while since I could say that about Jay. Still need time to see how long it sticks, but it’d be #3 in his catalogue for me after 1. Blueprint 2. Life Vol 2 (underrated for some reason)
Just wish 4:44 had a couple more bangers like Bam.
Is DX trollin Jay with 4.4 rating?)
So many rappers with real bars and better sounding artistry that don’t get even get a 4. And you gonna give a 4.4 to this old ass who finally figured out rap is about expressing your pain and struggle just because he’s jay fucking z?
Damn straight..bone thugs album so much realer
Its a bone thug summer
Bone thugs album sounds like it was executive produced by Katy Perry, fuck outta here! I’m the biggest bone fan
Well it was done by scott storch so no..ur not
Great artist, but all he does is self-absolve about himself. For all his wealth and influence, why can’t he inspire others away from the very negative vices that he overcame? Instead, constant songs about why HE’S so damn great, and his children are so well-trusted within his wealth.
Great production. But same ole’, “this is why I’m so great” songs. 3/5. New songs; same worn story.
I would bet $1M this review was written without listening. There is very little “this is why I’m great” – what you are asking for is exactly what he he does on Story of OJ, Smile and Legacy. Take a lap bro.
4.4… how clever. Stop Pedophilia now, boycott Jay-Z
I heard influences from Nas (nas album done), J.Cole, Kendrick, JaRule (that I cry beat) Lauryn hill (lost one). A good album, the lyrical content was not too heavy for the hyperactive millennials to grasp. I would have given it a 4:44 rating but i don’t see that option here haha
Classic
Classic soul barring album.
Ain’t feeling it.
“his flow is unable to conceal the gray hairs it’s sprouted” and “exposes how much he allows dead air to carry his message these days, ultimately failing to capitalize on the silky Nina Simone sample that pads the record.” is the realest shit about this review. It’s the reason Jay (a legit GOAT) wont ever create another classic album.
This album is solid, 4 out of 5 but his mechanics are very rusty.
Jay-Z has delivered an masterpiece from beginning to end. This has got to be best album that i’ve heard in my entire life since The Black Album.
I dig it. Thought I heard an Earl Sweatshirt “I Don’t Like Shit I Don’t Go Outside” influence the way all the music had a singular sound and the songs rarely made past 3 and a half minutes.
Just for him having the BALLS to release something this deep in todays jittery mumble-ass, Drake filled, everybody wanna sound like Future ass music biz climate speaks volumes about the man. Just like ya’ll tell us about that ignant shit, if you ain’t feelin’ it, it ain’t for you so don’t hate. Go ‘head Jigga Man, thank you for the instant classic!! #takebackthegenre
It didn’t take balls at all.
There a shit ton of I retrospective hip hop out right now.
YALL CORNY AF FOR GIVING 4.44….4.4 ..
Genius, just like this Album is Genius.
I’ll say that this album is better than his previous few, but for Jay standards, it’s pretty average. And on some songs, it sounded like he was talking more than rapping. It seemed kinda lazy. I appreciate how he went the introspective route for a change, but it could’ve been executed way better. American Gangster is still Jay-Z’s last great album.
And LOL at DX for giving it a 4.4.
My man fifty gave the tightest review
Very deep album. Now you can hear where Kanye got his influence from on the production. Dope album.
B.s
I feel Hip Hop really needed this!
Solid album, gave it a 4. I enjoyed the contents, the beats not so much. Oj. Bam and marcy me stick out.
Worst jay z album i ever heard. No replay value aounds horrible. No chance any of these songs are enjoyable to the average person. Only hipster nerds that are stuck in the 90s like this trash. No drake feature no classic.
CUT THAT ISH. It bumps in the whip
Drake says its a classic tho lmao
GREAT album. His 3rd or 4th best LP to me.
All the shithead millennials who weren’t born when Reasonable Doubt dropped reviewing this album should just shut the fuck up and watch PewDiePie on YouTube. This isn’t for your shitty generation of whiney social justice fuckweeds bleeding about your fucking feelings, and it’s not about flash with no substance like these shitty rappers fucking a Kardashian sister. Plenty of that garbage autotune sing-rapping about how hard it is to be an adolescent out there, go listen to that. This is for us. The ones who were actually around when hip hop meant something.
I’ve been listening to hip hop since about 83/84 and we need to bridge the gap. If anything you should be encouraging this generation to listen to the album. Stop dissing them and drop some knowledge on them like my old heads did. You dropped the ball when it comes passing the torch in hip hop.. Seems like your the one whining.. Who do u think raised the millennials?? Again lets encourage them to listen to the album..
shut the fuck up you edgy try-hard old head
Tell the current generation that there Hip Hop sucks and then claim that this mediocre represents the old heads? Thanks but no thanks.
The evolution of Hov continues. 4:44 is what it should be. I’m not the comparison guy. I know what year it is and I enjoyed it. Standout tracks like Smile, The Story of OJ, Marcy Me and 4:44 are in my summer rotation playlist.
Didn’t get a summer time jam album vibe from it, I think its a bit late for Jay Z to flip the script at 50 and become conscience, like why now? A lot of the promotion for this album seems to be a money grab.
This “review” couldn’t be more excitable and sycophantic if it tried. If you love Jay-Z that much, maybe you should marry the bloke. It’s a rap album, not a “score” or a “manifesto.” Speaking as somebody not at all interested in celebrity culture, reality TV gossip or the cult of Jiggaman’s personality, it’s not a great nor even good album to me. If you’re into innuendo and “subliminals” about his showbiz contemporaries/rivals, you might think differently. But as a rap album, it’s all hype.
Dope album… No mainstream tracks underground in tone. We finally get the real Jay and he exposes himself, makes himself vulnerable. This is not Hova this is Carter. The wisdom he puts in these tracks should not be took lightly. Black capitalism entrepreneurs… Black excellence. He didnt diss future it’s a play on words.. It’s hard for me to keep Pac at one.
Classic
Classic garbage
This is a classic! “The Story Of OJ” is my favorite track.
this song is full of contradiction. He’s making you thinking that’s a great song full of world contemplation and full of awareness. but this is in total opposition with what he’s doing with Tidal or his label. Think of what you’re listening and remember that your money is our last power (by our purchasing power). So think before buying this album and before post something…
Overrated boring bullshit.
Production 5/5 Jay z 3.8….. Marcy Me is amazing but this isn’t the Black Album by any measure.
This is how you release an album at THIS level of your career. You kick all the commercial aspirations out the way, bare your soul, and talk about what your life is NOW! This is what the fans meant when they say they want the old Jay back. Isn’t for everybody though. If you don’t like or understand the meaning of flows, dope beats, metaphors, stories, smart samples and lyrics (re:Hip-Hop) then this isn’t for you. But if you DO fiend for that true meaning of why Hip-Hop is mentioned as a genre of music along with R&B, Rock, Country and Classical; then buy/stream and listen to this album.
The Wild, Damn, then 4:44 for AOTY in that order.
You forgot the O on that acronym, that list should be the most overrated albums of the year.
1. I Decided
2. Damn
3. 4:44
Gloria carter did her thing on Smile. I’d rather listen to her spoken word poetry than a tired Jay. This album isn’t excellence. This album is uninspired sonically (sorry No I.D.) and filled with contradictions that render its few “Moments of Clarity” ineffectual and played out.
1. joey badass – all amerikkan badass, 2. jay-z 444, 3. snoop dogg – neva left, 4. kendrick – damn 5. TBA
joey badass and jay have the 2 best albums this year by along way.
Naw I’d say Freddie Gibbs, Conway the Machine and Kendrick Lamar have the next best projects, I suspect Action Bronson new project will be up there too
The album has a few dope tracks but I have to agree with this
‘That same line exposes how much he allows dead air to carry his message these days’
Sometimes he sounds bored and boring.
I miss the energy that you can hear on albums like the Black album.
And I also think that some productions from No I.D on this album are to repetetive. I like these type of beats but some tracks even get annoying after 2 minutes.
Had the album on repeat for a couple of days but I’m already getting bored with it and start skipping tracks.
Nice album but def not a classic!!! Especially compared to other material in his catalog.
It’s not a bad album but definitely not a deserving of 4 or higher. Solid mid 3s.
Another mediocre Jay Z album.
its a classic
You guys way overrated this album.
So, another below average Jay Z album
WTF kind of review is this?
“much like the maturity he displays with his lyrics””
“It may have taken him 47 years (and a ton of inventory) to reach this moment but JAY-Z is finally rhyming like Common Sense without fear of flopping.”
Were you guys seriously too busy fellating Jay Z to have some critical thought? Examples:
Why did it take Jay Z almost 30 years of adulthood to make a mature album? Why is his most mature album only barely 30 minutes long?
“Ranking 4:44 within a historical context ultimately boils down to preference. There are several JAY-Z albums that are superior in terms of musical creativity, but never has the man behind the Roc chain been more prolific in thought.”
So, are we giving it a rating against Hip Hop itself or simply rating it against Jay Z’s own catalog? Do you guys like this album only because its a thoughtful Jay Z album or is it actually a thoughtful HIP HOP album?
It is glaring apparent, you really didn’t want to be critical of this album and are not being partial in this review, this is a big disservice to the Hip Hop community.
Preach!
I wish, I could rate this a 0.44
Yep, in solidarity here is a 1.
Brilliant grown man music. Funny you can tell one person wrote several comments and gave A LOW RATING because they dislike jay-z lol .The Story of OJ is beautiful from the beat to the way Jay depicts the story. I love the flow of Smile easily one of the best songs on this album. Kill Jay z, Family Feud, Bam, Marcy Me, Legacy, Adnis (yea bonus tracks) are the stand out tracks for me on this dope album.
This would have be revelatory ten years ago but this dude man is 50 year old, puts out under half hour of mostly subpar music and ya’ll rate over a 4? SMFH
The beats are repetitive and get annoying really fast, lyrics are okay but nothing groundbreaking that we haven’t heard before. The reviewer comes off like some groupie and reaches a lot to try to up rate this average at best album.
Sure I would have loved some Primo cuts and some Colabs, but for the “woke”, its a glimpse of what truth can do for our community if major artist promote Black Group Economics.
Im not the biggest jay fan but this album is fucking dope yall were dickriding Kendricks last album way too much this actually deserves the praise. Need more time to listen but im feeling this is up there as one his best after Blueprint, Reasonable Doubt and The Black album. American Gangster and 4:44 fighting it out for that 4th and 5th spot
Not a classic, but by far one of the best releases of 2017 along with DAMN. Should stand the test of time, just like several other Jay-Z projects from the past have. Whoever said beats are repetitive must not hear a lot of what today’s hip-hop sounds like…
This is definitely one of Jay’s top 5 albums. The lyrics and production are on another level. “A man that don’t take of his family can’t be rich…I watched The Godfather and missed the whole shit.” Lyrical gems are embedded all in the album. Dope album!
That was your example of great lyric? Take this L
I feel the album reaches for a lot but doesn’t really come through, it seems like an intro class to being an adult. I really didn’t expect this from Jay Z and was think it was unnecessary. Nothing in his lyrics are next level or something new we haven’t heard before. The production is above average but not memorable at all. A solid average album.
Jay Z has had at least half a dozen better albums than this, I can’t believe people are saying this is a classic. We have seen songs and albums like this from other rappers that are better. Just because Jay Z decided to make a mature album doesn’t mean its good or ground breaking.
Dudes are very thirsty this year. Damn and 4:44 both have major issues to be considered traditional Hip Hop classics.
This is probably Jay Z’s most honest album. I like the vulnerability, samples used and the fact that it doesn’t have radio hits maybe except for Bam.
album is so overrated…not really rhyming just talking on the majority of the songs with weak production…Ransom album , The Greatest Rapper Alive is so much better than this
One play and done for me. I appreciate Jay Z opening up, like many other rappers in the past have done, but why now? I think answering that question would have made for a more interesting album. He really didn’t say anything new or shocking on this album but I guess its important because its Jay Z but this album is a hard pass for me.
The best thing about this album is that a man in his late 40’s can still rap – which shows growth within this genre and how cool is it that he’s just being vulnerable? Almost the best Hov album.
Very disappointed in this album, way to short for the quality of raps and raps its bringing to the game in 2017. The only take away is that this is Jay Z’s first mature album and first album with him being vulnerable but that doesn’t make it a classic or even a 4/5.
I feel you, but you also have to understand that the attention span for most people is very short now. It’s a “consume quickly and on to the next mentality.” Less is more now, I’d rather hear a impactful album that is shorter in quantity, than a longer album with fillers. Lyrically not his best work, but it’s an album that sparks conversation…. and that’s what art is supposed to do.
I don’t think that this is Jay’s best work lyrically, but I think this album has a greater impact than a lot of his other works. I appreciate the fact that it’s a polar opposite of what we hear now on the radio which is a retread of the same beats, by rappers hiding behind their hooks. So, Jay makes a different album that’s almost void of traditional hooks but rich in thought provoking content. No trap beats, no retreaded 808 baselines and no “skirt” hooks. It’s different, and we need different in hip hop right now. Personally, The BLACK ALBUM is one his best to me, but this one is not far off. People been on Jay for years because of his flossing and womanizing lyrics, be here he has some insightful stuff to say and people want the flossing Jay back. Interesting.
I don’t listen to any Jay album past the Black Album. He said it best himself… “want my old shxt, buy my old albums.” Well Jay – I copped all of them. And I got this on free stream and listened to it once. And that was enough.
This album is one of his best – but you have to listen and pay attention. This isn’t for the cookie-cutter, dumb rap fan (ahem….like Lil Wayne). This is for growth, this is for hip hop. The stripped down beats, the focus on lyrical content (almost to the detriment of “rapping”) and the introspection. This is grown man B.I. And I loved it. May not be for everyone and that’s cool. But this is smart and dope.
You’re right it, to an extent, it is a spoken word album with iffy beat and lyrical content that is nothing new or even an interest take written by a 50 year old man. I don’t expect dudes past 35 to be writing club albums why should we give Jay Z a star for half an hour of boredom. There are so many examples of mature, introspective Hip Hio albums that are way better than this album.
I can think of 3 or 4. I don’t know about so many. Who does mature hip-hop?
Then you need to listen to more Hip Hop if that isn’t obvious to you.
4/5. I like the album as a shift in direction for Jay-Z. It’s nice that he has joined Nas and others in making hip-hop for older audiences.
4/5 one of his best LPs, but oddly the least “Jay-Z” sounding album of his catalog. The lyrics steal the show, it’s less about the presentation this time around. Even with the mixing/mastering, his vocals are amped up, and No I.D.’s minimal style propels the lyrics.
he goes off beat at times, which to me is him purposely demonstrating that this was impromptu and straight from the gut rather than some deeply rooted album sale scheme. He sacrifices the usual quality for honesty and rawness, and I love every track/minute of it. I can see why the kids won’t like this, but if you call yourself a hip hop head (who doesn’t happen to hate jay-z for some petty conspiracy theory related reason) you HAVE to respect this piece. Album of the year so far.
and notice the people downing this album or calling it overrated are saying “oh there are plenty of people who have rapped this before.” lol You know you can still be a Nas stan and appreciate this LP
Well, heads up, Nas last mature album Life is Good >>>>>>>>> 4:44 but as far as MC’s doing consistent mature music better than Jay Z off the top of my head…. KRS One, De La Soul, ATCQ, Slick Rick, Common, Slick Rick, Chuck D/PE, Master Ace, The Roots etc etc. If I had to google, I could probably pick another dozen. Only the most hardcore Jay Z stan will rate this album highly or consider this content new or noteworthy, I guess your that stan.
I give it to my man HOV, he has the uncanny ability of using his personal life(Beyonce, Business, family etc), for album sales and critical acclaim. I am not sure that if another rapper did 4:44 we would even be talking about it but its alright album.
I can’t empathize with Jay Z, he’s not believable in my mind when he tries to be vulnerable. That’s my problem with this album, Jay Z basically did 180 content wise but maybe if he puts out a couple more albums like 4:44, I will believe his sincerity. However, even if I put that aside its just an above average album and a very short one at that. Also, its weird how many views and streams he has for songs off this album but it feels that no one is listening to this album anymore.
Jay’s once endless flows and witty/clever lyricism are mostly (and painfully) absent on this otherwise very focused and cohesive project largely in part to No ID’s production and Jay’s subject matter direction. Hov’s talking too much on “Story of OJ”, his flow is very disorganized on the title track, “4:44”, making it the worse song on the album.
The album finds some good moments as evidenced on “Smile”, “Adnis”, “Moonlight” and the album standout “Marcy Me” (which the album could’ve stylistically benefited from).
The rest of the album is substance over style that’s missing. Jay’s pulled off maturity in the past with exceptional style (Moment of Clarity, Regrets, You Must Love Me, Beach Chair etc), but on an album where he finally went all in on one mature direction, he left off the key attributes that made him a legend and that’s what prevents this album from being placed amongst the other top shelf releases from his catalog. It’s a weak 4 out of 5.