Jay Z’s 13th studio album, 4:44, officially dropped Friday at midnight. The album has inspired a number of different reactions—including widespread joy because we have some excellent new music from Hov.
Jay Z Just Reminded All Of Us How To Rap.... Rhythm And Poetry
— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) June 30, 2017
Rap fans are breaking down and debating the lyrics and meaning of every song. This is what you do when an all-time great drops a new album.
Naturally, following Beyoncé’s masterful Lemonade and its revelation of Jay Z’s (perhaps real, perhaps fictional) infidelity, the Beyhive was particularly ready to analyze Hov’s new album in depth. Would there be any allusion to Becky with the good hair? What about that elevator fight with Solange?
Jay Z addressed the relational issues head-on in the track “4:44.” He used the word “apologize” seven times in the song.
![Jay Z at 2017 Sundance Film Festival](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 203 115"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
"You did what with who?" Jay rapped. “What good is a ménage à trois when you have a soulmate? You risked that for Blue?"
This was just one of the numerous moments in which he shared his side of the story. He got vulnerable, rapping, “I suck at love/I think I need a do-over.”
“‘4:44’ is a song that I wrote, and it’s the crux of the album, just right in the middle of the album,” Hov told iHeartRadio. “And I woke up, literally, at 4:44 in the morning, 4:44 a.m., to write this song. 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.”
This wasn’t the only track that turned heads. For example, in “Family Feud,” he raps: “Yeah, I’ll fuck up a good thing if you let me/Leave me alone, Becky/A man that don’t take care his family can’t be rich.” Even CNN is talking about all of Jay Z’s confessions on the album.
Though all is well with the couple—Beyoncé was a co-writer on “Family Feud,” which prominently features her vocals—many Beyoncé fans are nonetheless upset with Jay Z.
Below is a sampling of the Beyhive’s reactions to 4:44.
So what I'm getting is Jay Z cheated MORE THAN ONCE... on THE Beyoncé Knowles of Houston, Texas... and they STILL together... y'all pic.twitter.com/pR5hIDQXMc
— obvisoudly jack jack (@kriegdei) June 30, 2017
Solange: beats Jay Z in an elevator for cheating
— struggles & sass (@20SomethingSass) June 30, 2017
Y'all: nah
Beyoncé: says Jay cheated on Lemonade
Y'all: nah
Jay: "I cheated"
Y'all pic.twitter.com/m5hPbK5YC8
Hope Beyoncé and the kids sleep well tonight except for Jay Z pic.twitter.com/Nyi26HdsxX
— j (@JUSTlNW) June 30, 2017
Beyonce in the studio making sure jay z tells the truth pic.twitter.com/6ENuyOv2Cv
— PUSSY (@khadshome) June 30, 2017
Me tryna vibe to Jay Z album but him cheating on Beyoncé keeps popping in my head pic.twitter.com/k5RrH5EMtt
— 〽️ (@xxMERE) June 30, 2017
Whatever B feels for J that had her staying through all the shit he did to her I never want to feel for anyone. Lord keep me from it. 🤷🏽♀️
— king crissle (@crissles) June 30, 2017
No man deserves Beyoncé
— Leon Thotsky (@socialistpapi) July 1, 2017
In fact, humanity as a whole does not deserve her, none of us are worthy
I heard 4:44 @Beyonce do you want me to give Jay these hands? https://t.co/q4MdLuqm4C
— Stanisha (@KhadiDon) June 30, 2017
Jay Z how in the hell you cheat on Beyonce ..... pic.twitter.com/AowIu1DJnP
— Maria👑 (@MariaCansinaz) June 30, 2017
Jay Z, who is one of the luckiest men on earth, is married to the one and only Beyoncé and STILL cheated on her. Men are trash
— osi 🌟 (@fentyputa) June 30, 2017
Jay-Z wants folks to be loyal to tidal but he can't even be loyal to a whole Beyoncé. pic.twitter.com/2OLMCwfrmz
— Iceberg Slim (@BornSinner23_) June 30, 2017
If Beyoncé can get cheated on then IDK
— yung king ✊💦🌴 (@undisturbedsoul) June 30, 2017
Cheating on Beyoncé should be against the law. Death penalty
— mikala (@mikalawalker) June 30, 2017
The album is currently available on Tidal.