Jay Z admits cheating on Beyoncé on new album 4:44
Follow to wife’s allusions in last year’s Lemonade
If you don’t happen to have a subscription to Tidal ( like the majority of the world), then you should probably know that after nearly five years of musical silence post- Magna Carta Holy Grail and a slightly awkward baseball stadium tour with Justin Timberlake, JAY- Z ( formerly known as Jay- Z, Jay Z and, once upon a time, Jaÿ- Z) released his 13th studio album, 4: 44, last week exclusively to his streaming service.
And it’s fair to say the album could not exist without Beyoncé’s Lemonade, l ast year’s biggest album on which t he singer revealed — indirectly, numerous times — that husband Jay- Z had cheated on her throughout their 15- year relationship.
Needless to say, the album made headlines, revealing more about the notoriously private couple than we’re used to.
Riding her coattails, JAY-Z devotes several lyrics in 4:44, particularly during the title song, in response to Lemonade’s call-outs.
Borrowing yet another page from his wife’s successful playbook, he also dropped his album with no notice.
JAY- Z’s producer NO I. D. told The New York Times t his week t hat Beyoncé heard the entire album and signed off on it prior to its release: “I always call Bey our de facto A& R,” he disclosed.
“Pillow talk is the strongest conversation on t he planet. Every song has to get past her ears, i n my eyes. She came by a lot and played a good part in helping us get over hurdles on certain records. Of course, she’s genius-level with that.”
On t he al bum, JAY- Z manages to reference everyt hing f rom his elevator argument with Solange to Ciara’s custody battle with ex Future and current relationship with husband Russell Wilson (“You egged Solange on, knowing all along all you had to say you was wrong / You almost went Eric Benet, let the baddest girl in the world get away ... I don’t even know what you woulda done, in the future, other niggas playing football with your son”).
This, all while taking digs at Kanye West and, allegedly, Drake. Let’s just say, Jay Z is trying very hard to stay relevant.
So here’s a list of each and every time the rapper owned up to his shady history (even shouting out to the now infamous “Becky” Beyoncé calls out in Sorry):
Kill Jay-Z
“You almost went Eric Benét / Let the baddest girl in the world get away” ... “You egged Solange on / Knowin’ all along, all you had to say you was wrong”
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.” ... “Said: ‘ Don’t embarrass me,’ instead of ‘ Be mine’ / That was my proposal for us to go steady / That was your 21st birthday, you mature faster than me / I wasn’t ready, so I apologize / I’ve seen the innocence leave your eyes / I still mourn this death, I apologize for all the stillborns / ‘ Cause I wasn’t present, your body wouldn’t accept it / I apologize to all the woman whom I / Toyed with you emotions because I was emotionless.” ... “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 prob’ly 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?’ ”
Family Feud
“Yeah, I’ ll f—k up a good thing if you let me / Let me alone Becky! / A man who don’t take care of his family can’t be rich.”
WHAT GOOD IS A MÉNAGE À TROIS WHEN YOU HAVE A SOULMATE?