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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Jay Z has always been the most grown up of rap stars but on this he reaches new heights. 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.
91
4:44 represents a sort of third act for the rapper, a return to earth after a decade-plus of flawed flights of fancy.
90
‘4:44’ is a deceptively multi-layered listen, revealing more and more to the listener upon multiple listens.
90
For those who had counted off Jay-Z the rapper, thinking Beyonce's recent renaissance would constitute the artistic future of the Carter clan (this writer included), 4:44 presents a renewed Jay-Z.
90
This is Jay-Z walking onto the stage alone, standing contritely in front of the world, and speaking from the heart, revealing himself in order to heal.
88
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.
84
The ‘4:44’ we have at this moment in time is an unexpected highlight from an artist who’s seen and done it all before, a businessman (you can add even more emphasis on the “man” now) who fooled us into believing he had nothing left up his sleeve.
84
4:44 may lack the Cohiba panache of Jay’s greatest albums, but it’s by far his most thoughtful one.
83
This is a better comeback album than Kingdom Come, and though JAY-Z hadn’t officially retired before 4:44, he might as well have.
83
Even though it’s only 36 minutes long, 4:44 is the first JAY-Z album where you’re hanging on every single word from start to finish, because the words have about four times as many meanings as they did on any of his dozen solo albums prior.
80
Mr. Carter kills his ego and spills the beans on his most intimate album yet.
80
While this project falls short of his more seminal offerings, 4:44 is among JAY-Z’s more meaningful bodies of work to date and showcases another dimension of the greatest rapper alive.
80
Jay-Z made 4:44 with producer No I.D., whose beats luxuriate in burnished soul and jazz samples; combined with the relatively light feature roster and the short running time, this makes for the most focused Jay-Z album since The Blueprint.
80
It is a short, sharp album, produced entirely by Kanye West’s former mentor No ID – a rarity in hip-hop, and an interesting choice – with just three guests.
80
These heartfelt, confessional apologies are delivered via Jay’s most concise, straightforward album in years. 10 tracks and 36 minutes long, this is a filler-free return to form after 2013’s patchy and bloated ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’.
80
Examined in totality, the emotional vulnerability and naked transparency of 4:44 contrasts heavily with the infallible image JAY-Z has built over two decades. While 4:44 may not be his greatest album, it is a much valued deviation from the norm, a surprising feat considering his kaleidoscopic catalog.
80
Filled with references to profit and forms of pride granted by birth and earned by hustling, 4:44 nonetheless is an unglamorous set well suited for solitary and reflective late-night listening.
80
Jay-Z's unusual vulnerability elevates 4:44 to something more than just a tawdry reality show.
80
There aren't too many MCs from Jay-Z's era who had the opportunity to reach their full potential. In that sense, 4:44 is a refreshing, full-circle moment for hip-hop lovers — and a true pleasure to hear.
78
What makes 4:44 powerful is that Jay Z isn’t preaching from a gilded throne: He’s speaking from the position of someone who’s overcome numerous struggles and wants to give others the keys to do the same.
70
The infotainment of 4:44 finds him delivering messages of black empowerment through the lens of commerce, with seminar-quality lessons about credit, spending and generational wealth straight outta the hotel near the airport.
65
Even if all of this leaves 4:44 feeling a little musically thin, it’s still a relief not to hear him effectively drowned out by the kitchen sink mess of ideas that was Magna Carta, or the hyper-polish of The Blueprint 3.
60
What is on offer for the rap fans who simply don’t care about Jay-Z’s personal life? Truthfully, not much.
60
Against all those conditions, 4:44 is intimate, refined and mature – fascinating partly despite its flaws and partly because of them.
54
More or less, 4:44 sounds like a late career JAY-Z album (because it is,) replete with the total blankness of the man's performance.
500 REVIEWS!!!!!
Thank you everyone for your support over the last 6 months or so, I loved my time doing pretty much daily album reviews! For my 500th Review I've decided to do an album from my second favourite artist of all time Jigga Jay-Z! Pretty much every album I've ever heard I've submitted to this website for you guys to a read of my thoughts. However this album and a few others I've saved for other milestones I will hopefully reach whilst on this page. Once again Thank you for spending ... read more
4:44 is an album of extreme sincerity and honesty, Jay-Z embarks on an introspective journey through the knowledge of himself and address various topics such as family, infidelity, racism and LGBT. The production is constantly rich and impactful with great samples and interventions in addition to the rhythms brought by Jay-Z that are simply contagious and consistent.
Kill Jay Z (8.8/10)
The Story of O.J. (9.2/10)
Smile (9.5/10)
Caught Their Eyes (8/10)
4:44 (9.8/10)
Family Feud (9.2/10)
Bam ... read more
Jay-z, stop trying to make Tidal happen! It's not going to happen!
Favs: Kill Jay Z, The Story of O.J., Smile (featuring Gloria Carter), Family Feud, Bam (featuring Damian Marley) and Moonlight.
No skips one of the best records from the 2010s. Jay z has personal lyrics regarding lyrics like every thing like his relation ship with Beyoncé and more shit. Moonlight talks about fake gangsters and stuff. I can’t pick favorites for this record it’s extremely quality and worth a listen for any self respecting rap fan
Me & Jay-Z, We're gonna be the world's first ethical billionaires
I feel like I got a master degree in psychology listening to this album this is real emotional and intellectual music
Tidal nonsense aside, 4:44 is probably Jay Z's most intimate album to date; a multilayered project that succeeds in its mission of ripping back the rap lifestyle in favor of showing vulnerability and sensitivity.
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Track List
| 1 | Kill Jay-Z 2:58 | 88 |
| 2 | The Story of O.J. 3:51 | 95 |
| 3 | Smile 4:49 feat. Gloria Carter | 90 |
| 4 | Caught Their Eyes 3:26 feat. Frank Ocean | 88 |
| 5 | 4:44 4:44 | 96 |
| 6 | Family Feud 4:11 feat. Beyoncé | 87 |
| 7 | Bam 3:54 feat. Damian Marley | 83 |
| 8 | Moonlight 2:23 | 81 |
| 9 | Marcy Me 2:54 | 90 |
| 10 | Legacy 2:57 | 86 |
Total Length: 36 minutes
Year End Lists
| #1 | / | The Ringer |
| #2 | / | Complex |
| #2 | / | Mass Appeal |
| #2 | / | Rap-Up |
| #3 | / | BET |
| #3 | / | Esquire (US) |
| #3 | / | Fuse |
| #4 | / | Associated Press |
| #4 | / | Billboard |
| #4 | / | Philadelphia Inquirer |
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2mo
One detail that many miss is that this, in fact, is his 13th studio album.
1y
This has kinda grown off me and the more I return to Jay-Z's older material the more lazy this album feels
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Added on: June 19, 2017