4:44 (album)

4:44
A peach background with "4:44" in a large black typeface at the bottom and "THIS IS HIS 13TH STUDIO ALBUM" at the top much smaller
Studio album by Jay-Z
Released June 30, 2017 (2017-06-30)
Genre Hip hop[1]
Length 36:11
Label Roc Nation
Producer
Jay-Z chronology
Magna Carta Holy Grail
(2013)		 4:44
(2017)
Singles from 4:44
  1. "4:44"
    Released: July 11, 2017[2]
Bonus EP cover

A black background with "4:44" in a large oeach typeface at the bottom and the three bonus tracks at the top much smaller

"4:44 Bonus" album cover

4:44 is the thirteenth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on June 30, 2017 through Roc Nation.[3] The album is produced by No I.D. with additional production from Jay-Z, as well as James Blake and Dominic Maker on the album's physical bonus tracks.[4] The album features guest appearances from Frank Ocean, Damian Marley, Beyoncé and Jay-Z's mother, Gloria Carter.[4] 4:44 was released as an exclusive to Sprint and Tidal customers,[5][6] and is the first in a planned series of music exclusives from the Sprint-Tidal partnership.[5] A physical edition was released on July 7, 2017, including an additional three tracks.[7][8] On the same day, the album was made available to other streaming platforms, such as Apple Music, Google Play Music and Amazon Music.[9]

Background

4:44 was teased after posters were displayed in New York City, Los Angeles and Miami as well as banner ads started appearing on the Internet.[10][11][12] 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".[13] On June 18 (Father's Day), a clip titled "Adnis" was posted on Sprint's YouTube page.[14] Adnis was Jay-Z's father's name.[3] A second teaser trailer was released on June 27 titled, "Kill Jay Z", featuring a young man with a "Stay Black" T-shirt.[15] A third one followed on June 28, titled "MaNyfaCedGod", featuring Lupita Nyong'o crying hysterically on the floor.[15]

Production and recording

No I.D. says Jay-Z approached him about working together, and initially declined.[7] 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."[7]

"4:44" was written when Jay-Z woke up one morning at 4:44 am,[16] and recorded at his house using Beyoncé's mic.[7] Stereogum writer Tom Breihan calls the track, "one long, tearful, soul-ripped-open apology.[16]

Composition

In April 2016, Jay-Z's wife Beyoncé released her sixth studio album, Lemonade. Lyrically, it alleged that Jay-Z was unfaithful.[17] 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".[18][17][19]

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".[20]

The album contains samples such as Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love Today", The Clark Sisters's "Ha Ya (Eternal Life)",[21] Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free", and Nina Simone's "Four Women" and "Baltimore".[4] 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".[7] Lyrically, Jay-Z touches on an array of topics such as his friendship with Kanye West,[22] his infidelity,[23] his mother being a lesbian,[16] and the people in charge of Prince's estate, among others.[16]

Promotion

Singles

The album's title track, "4:44", was released as the lead single to Rhythmic contemporary radio on July 11, 2017.[2]

Tour

On July 10, Jay-Z announced a 31-date North American tour beginning on October 27 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The tour will conclude on December 21 at The Forum in Los Angeles.[24]

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.[25] Through an iHeartRadio and Roc Nation partnership, 4:44 was played on a loop on various rap stations until July 1.[26] Jay-Z provided song commentary via iHeartRadio upon the album's release.[27] An animated music video for "The Story of O.J." was posted on Tidal soon after the album's release.[28] The video was directed by Jay-Z and Mark Romanek and shows a character named Jaybo, based off The Story of Little Black Sambo.[29]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.7/10[30]
Metacritic84/100[31]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[32]
The A.V. ClubA–[33]
The Daily Telegraph[34]
The Guardian[35]
HipHopDX4.4/5[36]
NME[37]
Pitchfork8.4/10[38]
Rolling Stone[39]
Slant Magazine[40]
ViceA–[41]

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 24 reviews.[31] Neil McCormik of The Daily 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."[34]

"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."[42]

Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone called 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.[43]

4:44 was named "Best New Music", with Pitchfork reviewer Sheldon Pearce writing, "The most crafty and evasive MC lays bare his complicated life. This late-career gem is personal and diamond-sharp, confronting the failings and legacy of Shawn Carter and America."[38] Pearce also calls the album a "historical artifact".[38]

Commercial performance

4:44 debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 262,000 album-equivalent units, of which 174,000 were pure album sales.[44] It is Jay-Z's 14th number one album to debut and peak atop the chart.[44] However, it was also reported that mobile company Sprint, a major share-holder in Jay-Z's company Tidal ,[45] had bought a significant number of copies of 4:44 and provided subscribers free downloads of the album afterwards as well.[45]

Track listing

Credits adapted from digital booklet.[4]

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

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Adapted from digital booklet.[4]

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[47] 3
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[48] 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[49] 14
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[50] 63
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[51] 1
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[52] 38
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[53] 18
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[54] 11
French Albums (SNEP)[55] 43
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[56] 15
Irish Albums (IRMA)[57] 8
Italian Albums (FIMI)[58] 69
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[59] 88
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[60] 10
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[61] 11
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[62] 27
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[63] 33
Scottish Albums (OCC)[64] 6
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[65] 61
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[66] 16
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[67] 5
UK Albums (OCC)[68] 3
US Billboard 200[69] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[70] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[71] Platinum 1,000,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+streaming figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jay Z Previews New Verse From Upcoming 13th Studio Album". HipHopDX. June 19, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Blistein, Jon. "Jay Z Details New Album '4:44'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "4:44". rocnation.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Brandle, Lars. "Jay Z Announces New Album '4:44' For June 30". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  6. ↑ ".@S_C_'s '4:44' available exclusively to TIDAL and @Sprint customers on 6/30.". Twitter. June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Leight, Elias. "'4:44' Producer No I.D. Talks Pushing Jay-Z, Creating '500 Ideas'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  8. ↑ Kim, Michelle. "New JAY-Z Album 4:44 Getting Physical Release". pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  9. ↑ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Jay-Z's '4:44' Is Now on Apple And Amazon, Revealing A Lucrative Tidal-Sprint Bluff". Forbes. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  10. ↑ Trakin, Roy (June 6, 2017). "Is Jay Z's New Album Being Teased With '4:44' Ads?". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Does This Mysterious 4:44 Ad Mean a New Jay Z Album Is Coming?". Complex. June 6, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Fans Speculate Jay Z Is Behind '4:44' Ads in New York". NBC New York. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  13. ↑ Barry, Peter A. "Tidal Teases '4:44' Visual Starring Mahershala Ali – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  14. ↑ "JAY-Z "Adnis"". YouTube. June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  15. 1 2 Lamarre, Carl. "What's Going on With All These JAY-Z '4:44' Commercials?". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Breihan, Tom (June 30, 2017). "Jay-Z '4:44' Review". Stereogum. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  17. 1 2 O'Connor, Roisin (June 30, 2017). "JAY-Z has finally addressed rumours he cheated on Beyonce". The Independent. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  18. ↑ Vain, Madison (June 30, 2017). "JAY-Z Swears Off Alleged Mistress 'Becky' for Good: 'Let Me Alone'". EW.com. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  19. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (June 30, 2017). "Jay-Z addresses Beyoncé infidelity rumours on new album 4:44". The Guardian. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  20. ↑ Leight, Elias; Reeves, Mosi; Shipley, Al. "Jay-Z's '4:44': A Track-by-Track Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  21. ↑ Cummings, Moriba. "Watch: The Clark Sisters React to Jay-Z and Beyoncé Sampling Their Music on '4:44'". BET.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  22. ↑ Thompson, Desire (June 30, 2017). "JAY-Z's '4:44' Addresses Falling Out With Kanye West". Vibe. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ Kreps, Daniel. "Jay-Z Announces Massive North American '4:44' Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  25. ↑ Wicks, Amanda. "JAY-Z Announces 4:44 Listening Parties". pitchfork.com. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  26. ↑ Lockett, Dee. "The Complete Guide to Jay-Z's New Album 4:44". Vulture. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  27. ↑ Mastrogiannis, Nicole. "JAY-Z Explains '4:44' Song Meanings iHeartRadio Album World Premiere". iHeartRadio. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  28. ↑ "The Story of O.J.". Tidal. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Jay-Z Releases Animated 'The Story of O.J.' Video From '4:44'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  30. ↑ "4:44 by Jay-Z reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  31. 1 2 "Reviews for 4:44 by JAY-Z". Metacritic. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  32. ↑ Kellman, Andy (July 5, 2017). "Jay-Z - 4:44". AllMusic. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  33. ↑ Purdom, Clayton (July 6, 2017). "JAY-Z finds his third act on 4:44". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  34. 1 2 McCormik, Neil (June 30, 2017). "Jay Z has delivered one of the most mature albums in hip hop history – 4:44, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  35. ↑ Emery, Andrew (June 30, 2017). "Jay-Z: 4:44 review – a bracingly honest but conservative confessional". The Guardian. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  36. ↑ Clark, Trent (July 6, 2017). "Review: With "4:44," Shawn Carter Sacrifices JAY-Z's Invincibility For Soul-Baring Excellence". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  37. ↑ Milton, James (June 30, 2017). "Jay Z – '4:44' Review". NME. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  38. 1 2 3 Pearce, Sheldon. "JAY-Z: 4:44 Album Review". pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  39. ↑ Reeves, Mosi (July 5, 2017). "Review: Jay-Z Is Vulnerable, Apologetic and Still Dazzling on '4:44'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  40. ↑ "Slant review".
  41. ↑ Christgau, Robert (July 14, 2017). "Robert Christgau on JAY-Z's '4:44,' Vince Staples 'Big Fish Theory,' and More". Vice. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  42. ↑ ""Smile"". Pitchfork. June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  43. ↑ Spanos, Brittany. "How Jay-Z's '4:44' and Beyonce's 'Lemonade' Redefine Black Love, Fame". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  44. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (July 16, 2017). "JAY-Z Scores 14th No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With '4:44'". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  45. 1 2 http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40517529
  46. ↑ "Jay-Z – 4:44 | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  47. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Jay-Z – 4:44". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  48. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Jay-Z – 4:44" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  49. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Jay-Z – 4:44" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  50. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Jay-Z – 4:44" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  51. ↑ "On The Charts: July 17, 2017". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  52. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 201728 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  53. ↑ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 28, 2017". Hitlisten. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  54. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jay-Z – 4:44" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  55. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 28, 2017)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  56. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Jay-Z – 4:44" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  57. ↑ "Irish Albums Chart: 14 July 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  58. ↑ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 28 (dal 2017-07-07 al 2017-07-13)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  59. ↑ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」　－CD・ブルーレイ・DVD・書籍・コミック－. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 31, 2017. (Subscription required (help)).
  60. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Jay-Z – 4:44". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  61. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Jay-Z – 4:44". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  62. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  63. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Jay-Z – 4:44". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  64. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  65. ↑ "Top 100 Albumes — Semana 28: del 07.07.2017 al 13.07.2017" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  66. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Jay-Z – 4:44". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  67. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Jay-Z – 4:44". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  68. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  69. ↑ "Jay-Z – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Jay-Z. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  70. ↑ "Jay-Z – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Jay-Z. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  71. ↑ "American album certifications – Jay-Z – 4:44". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 5, 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  72. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (July 4, 2017). "JAY-Z's '4:44' Certified Platinum Following Sprint Promotion". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
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