Jay-Z dropped his new album “4:44” at midnight on Friday and sent the Internet into a frenzy.
The rapper is calling his title track, “4:44” off the album one of the “best songs” he’s ever written.
“‘4:44’ is a song that I wrote, and it’s the crux of the album, just right in the middle of the album. And I woke up, literally, at 4:44 in the morning, 4:44 AM, to write this song,” he told iHeartRadio’s The Beat in an exclusive interview.
“So it became the title of the album and everything. It’s the title track because it’s such a powerful song, and I just believe one of the best songs I’ve ever written.”
Fans are questioning whether “4:44” is a response to his wife’s 2016 visual album “Lemonade” in which she seemingly called him out on nearly every track, sparking rumors of infidelity.
What’s the main takeaway from the album?
The title track of “4:44” is being interpreted as an apology to Beyoncé, as he appears to own up to the infidelity Beyoncé seemed to condemn in her album “Lemonade” and lament his absence during critical moments of their relationship.
In an interview with iHeartRadio, Jay-Z described the song as “the crux” of the album, and says it was written at 4:44 a.m.
“4:44” explores other aspects of the rapper’s personal life as well. His mother, Gloria Carter, comes out as a lesbian on the track “Smile,” in which he says she “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,” he raps. “Cried tears of joy when you fell in love/Don’t matter to me if it’s a him or her.”
How can I listen to “4:44”?
That’s a right reserved for Tidal subscribers or Sprint customers only. Tidal offers a six-month free trial, though. Or, you could switch to Sprint. (iHeartRadio will also stream the album on its website and a few radio stations nationwide at various times on Friday.)