4:44
by Jay-Z
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 405 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 316 out of 405
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 405
  3. Negative: 63 out of 405
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  1. jw1358
    Jun 30, 2017
    4
    Honestly, this album feels pretttttty lazy. Jay sounds bored and sleepwalking on the majority of the tracks, even as he directly addresses Beyonce's (correct) allegations from 'Lemonade'. He also addresses his interest in progressive social issues, as well, especially the issue of race and being black. Another track is about his mother coming out as gay and emphasizing that fact thatHonestly, this album feels pretttttty lazy. Jay sounds bored and sleepwalking on the majority of the tracks, even as he directly addresses Beyonce's (correct) allegations from 'Lemonade'. He also addresses his interest in progressive social issues, as well, especially the issue of race and being black. Another track is about his mother coming out as gay and emphasizing that fact that sexuality is irrelevant to one's ability to love or be loved themselves. To me, all of these things are interesting and valuable to hear, and good to know that Jay is on the right side of history.

    HOWEVER, even these good intentions are severely undercut by the fact that this album sounds very boring. Jay never sounds like he is going very hard, even when he clearly believes what he is saying and wants to move into an advice-doling elder statesman phase while maintaining his hip-hop relevance. In many of the tracks, it actually sounds like some of these raps are being read off of a page in front of him in the booth. When even Frank Ocean sounds like he's barely interested in the track he appears on, it really is not a good sign.

    Some inventive beats and styles that arise towards the end of the record liven it up a little bit, but by the end, the overall impression one is left with is that a lot of people told Jay that he had to make a record that addressed the turmoil of the past 3 years of his life, but he does so in a "checking the boxes" kind of way. While the reflection and insight are admirable, it often feels like Jay could go much deeper if he wanted to, but doesn't truly want to do that.

    Mostly, though, this record feels like content released from a huge corporation (which is exactly what this record actually is). I actually tried to look up the first track ('Kill Jay Z") on Youtube this morning, and the only clip with actual music is a commercial for the album (which is fine, btw. I get it, you have to sell records, not make content available for free.) Anyway, the commercial itself is the beat from the song set to a black and white clip of a young, panicked black man running towards the camera wearing a shirt that says 'Stay Black', with the implication being that he is running from danger, or the cops, or both. This is also fine, and this commercial is in keeping with the themes of the album. What angers me, and feels disingenuous is the fact that this clip ends with heavy branding from Sprint all over the place, WHICH HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE JUST SAW HAPPEN IN THIS VERY SERIOUS-SEEMING CLIP. It's like, "BLACK LIVES MATTER! Also, if you enjoy Jay-Z and the Black Lives Matter movement, please consider using Sprint for all of your cellular telephone needs."

    The best thing I can say about this record is that it at least makes some small attempt at the personal in a way that I haven't heard from Jay before. The worst thing I can say, though, is that it more often feels like a year-end statement to the investors. :(    … Expand
  2. williamsonrc
    Jun 30, 2017
    6
    Production Quality: 7. Always excellent mixing and sound quality. Weird samples and noises, but producer probably overridden by JZ's ideas. Don't really like the "spoken word" mix on voice.
    Content: 4. Boring tropes about money power, etc. Not much that is outrageous or exciting.
    Musical Interest: 5. Bland arrangements, same weirdo samples from old records or kids voices. Skill: 8.    Production Quality: 7. Always excellent mixing and sound quality. Weird samples and noises, but producer probably overridden by JZ's ideas. Don't really like the "spoken word" mix on voice.
    Content: 4. Boring tropes about money power, etc. Not much that is outrageous or exciting.
    Musical Interest: 5. Bland arrangements, same weirdo samples from old records or kids voices.
    Skill: 8. Good flow of course. Nothing new in the rap cadence but always very good.
    Hotness: 6. He's Jay-Z, so there is interest, but there's also celeb burnout with Beyonce and the kids in the news all the time. Yawn.
    Hip Factor: 3. The album is out of date already. It is hard to record an album and remain relevant, but talking about OJ still? Much more interesting rappers and musicians out there.
    Overall: 6. Worth listening to, but not appointment listening. Nothing new here, move along. More for background on the subway.    … Expand
  3. TI490M
    Jun 30, 2017
    4
    I was very hyped about this, after Beyoncé last 2 albums i was hoping for an album with the same production or similiar, but the album is pretty boring, all the songs sound the same. Never been so happy for an album to over,
  4. desmondmadden
    Jul 2, 2017
    6
    A brutally boring yet honest album.

    The production is fantastic (No I.D did a very good job) Although he mostly samples Nina Simone songs, very reminiscent of The life of Pablo and Yeezus. It needs more originality; they say imitation is the highest form and flattery and he’s definitely copying Kanyes production. The lyrics are fantastic and well written and the flow is brilliant every    A brutally boring yet honest album.

    The production is fantastic (No I.D did a very good job) Although he mostly samples Nina Simone songs, very reminiscent of The life of Pablo and Yeezus. It needs more originality; they say imitation is the highest form and flattery and he’s definitely copying Kanyes production.
    The lyrics are fantastic and well written and the flow is brilliant every syllable flows and works my only issue is with the content:
    I genuinely don’t care about Hovs relationship with Beyonce and I pity those that do. If you’re into grim celebrity gossip it’s probably a 10/10 album but personally I feel like they’re taking advantage of their fans and making them subscribe to Tidal. I also doubt the legitimacy of their claims.(The more Beyonce and Jay-z talk about their life the more subscribers they get and I sense a hit of exaggeration in the lyrics and this has been done to gauge the weak minded and those interested in the celebrity nonsense)
    I just wish Jay-Z made a meaningful album and not a meaningless one based on false claims. I admire his business accumen as this album has been marketed incredibly well.    … Expand
  5. vinethewalker
    Jul 4, 2017
    6
    Once again Jay Z cannot expand your vocal capacity talent either make a full non-sampled album. I talk about originality when I say that you can't express your truly emotions through people fable and catchy noises already known or effect phrases about adultery.

Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Most Discussed Album of 2017
24
#24 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. The Wire
    Oct 11, 2017
    60
    A few tracks stand apart: "Story Of OJ" and "Mercy Me" both impress for verve and venom if not his every chain of thought. Otherwise it's all so dry that after a couple of listens it feels more like spoken word. [Sep 2017, p.62]
  2. Record Collector
    Aug 17, 2017
    80
    A mere 36 minutes in length, it’s an all-killer no-filler triumph.
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  3. PopMatters
    Aug 14, 2017
    90
    Already one of the greatest rappers in history, this is the kind of late career artistic push that will cement Jay-Z’s place on rap’s Mount Rushmore. 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.
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