Jay-Z’s highly anticipated album 4:44 dropped Thursday night, and as rumored, it is his response to Beyoncé’s Lemonade.
The ten-track album essentially reveals all his business concerning his marriage, transgressions, relationships with family and friends. It should be noted that the first song on the album is titled “Kill Jay Z” referencing the death of name spelling without the dash, a nod to his previous moniker.
Below are the most interesting nuggets we pulled from 4:44 that have everyone talking.
He Calls Out Kanye
In the first song Jay-Z addresses his “friendship” with Kanye West, which has diminished over the years. The Brooklyn-bred rapper makes it plain: Ye’ has changed. “You dropped outta school, you lost your principles,” he says. “I know people backstab you, I feel bad too. But this fuck everybody attitude ain’t natural. But you ain’t the same, this ain’t KumbaYe.”
Solange Was In the Right
The famous elevator fight of 2014 between Jay-Z and Solange was speculated to be about him cheating, and apparently the rumor was true. “You egged Solange on. Knowin’ all along, all you had to say you was wrong,” he says in “Kill Jay Z”
He Cheated… A Lot
Throughout the album he addresses the cheating and how it affected his wife and child, Blue Ivy. Atoning from his sins, his candidness about his marriage reveals a remorseful man who pleaded to keep his marriage alive. “I don’t deserve you, I harass you out in Paris,” he says in “4:44”. “Please come back to Rome, you make it home. We talked for hours when you were on tour. Please pick up the phone, pick up the phone.”
He Probably Finished This Album Yesterday
On “Family Feud” the rapper talks about Al Sharpton’s selfie from last week! So clearly, this album was recently completed.
He’s Happy For His Mother
On the song “Smile” he reveals that despite having four kids, his mother is a lesbian and was never able to come out of the closet. She’s now in a relationship and he’s happy she’s living her truth. “Mama had four kids, but she’s a lesbian,” he said. “Had to pretend so long that she’s a thespian. Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate. Society shame and the pain was too much to take. Cried tears of joy when you fell in love.”
He’s The Shade King
As the king of double entendres, in his song “Kill Jay Z” the rapper ends by saying he could have lost his family from his cheating ways. “In the future, other niggas playin’ football with your son,” he says referencing rapper’s Future child with Ciara, who’s stepfather is NFL star Russell Wilson.
