(AllHipHop News) It’s Hovito season, thanks to the new 4:44 album.
JAY-Z’s 13th studio LP is full of the Hip Hop legend’s thoughts on various subjects (see his song breakdowns here), but he also addressed some individual people.
There has been speculation for over a year that JAY would use his next body of work as a response to his wife Beyoncé’s critically acclaimed album Lemonade.
4:44 does feature lyrics about the billion-dollar couple’s relationship as well as the infamous elevator fight with Bey’s sister Solange.
Jay even offers what is essentially a 4-minute, 44-second apology to Beyoncé on the title track.
On “Kill Jay Z”:
You egged Solange on
Knowin’ all along, all you had to say you was wrong
You almost went Eric Benét
Let the baddest girl in the world get away
I don’t even know what else to say
N-gga, never go Eric Benét
On “4:44”:
Look, I apologize, often womanize
Took for my child to be born
See through a woman’s eyes
Took for these natural twins to believe in miracles
Took me too long for this song…Like the men before me, I cut off my nose to spite my face
I never wanted another woman to know
Something about me that you didn’t know
I promised I cried I couldn’t hold
I suck at love, I think I need a do-over
I will be emotionally available if I invited you over
I stew over what if you over my sh-t?…And if my children knew, I don’t even know what I would do
If they ain’t look at me the same
I would prolly die with all the shame
“You did what with who?”
What good is a ménage à trois when you have a soulmate?
“You risked that for Blue?”
On “Family Feud”:
Yeah, I’ll f-ck up a good thing if you let me
Let me alone, Becky
A man that don’t take care his family can’t be rich
I watched Godfather, I miss that whole sh-t
Hov also had bars for his “little brother” Kanye West.
Last year, Ye went on a rant about Jay and Bey during a stop on his “Saint Pablo Tour.”
The Watch The Throne co-creator reflects on West’s action on the opening song of 4:44.
On “Kill Jay Z”:
You walkin’ around like you invincible
You dropped outta school, you lost your principles
I know people backstab you, I feel bad too
But this “f-ck everybody” attitude ain’t natural
But you ain’t the same, this ain’t KumbaYe
But you got hurt because you did cool by Ye
You gave him 20 million without blinkin’
He gave you 20 minutes on stage, f-ck was he thinkin’?
“F-ck wrong with everybody?” is what you sayin’
But if everybody’s crazy, you’re the one that’s insane
Crazy how life works, you got a knot in your chest
Imagine how a knife hurts
In addition, the Brooklyn-bred emcee rapped about his issue with the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson.
The music icon was a big supporter of the JAY-led Tidal platform.
“Once we have our own resources, we can provide what we need for ourselves,” said Prince in 2015. “JAY-Z spent $100 million of his own money to build his own service. We have to show support for artists who are trying to own things for themselves.”
The “Purple Rain” singer pulled all of his music from other streaming services.
After his death, the Prince Estate sued Roc Nation for copyright infringement over Tidal’s exclusive streaming rights.
Prince’s records were eventually added to Spotify, Apple Music, and other streamers.
4:44 includes Jay firing directly at L. Londell McMillan, the estate’s “special music industry adviser.”
McMillan is also the owner of the Hip Hop magazine The Source.
On “Caught Their Eyes”:
I sat down with Prince, eye to eye
He told me his wishes before he died
Now, Londell McMillan, he must be color blind
They only see green from them purple eyes
They eyes hide, they eyes high
My eyes wide shut to all the lies
These industry n-ggas, they always been fishy
But ain’t no Biggie, no lazy eye, huh
This guy had “Slave” on his face
You think he wanted the masters with his masters?
You greedy bastards sold tickets to walk through his house
I’m surprised you ain’t auction off the casket
JAY-Z’s 4:44 album is available exclusively via Tidal and Sprint.