Sounds

REVIEW: Jay-Z’s “4:44”

by Darcy MacDonald

A great listen with staying power.

jay-z-4-44Jay-Z, 4:44 (Roc Nation)

Despite hitting platinum status less than a week after dropping as a Tidal exclusive, Hov’s 13th story has probably still gotten more social media mentions than spins. Everybody’s a critic, but for well-rounded fans disappointed by Jay’s efforts on wax the last few times out, 4:44 hits the spot nicely. Hip hop is experiencing its first wave of true grown-ups: rappers who have survived the game into their 40s. But Jay-Z is only dad rap if your name is Ivy Blue. Jigga is a power broker and a self-made one at that, so if you’re expecting anything other than a reflection on being wealthy, black and famous in the Trump era, you probably never felt him that much to begin with. The “his best since” argument is moot as Jay-Z has never crafted a perfect hip hop album. This may be his closest effort, and Chicago production legend No I.D is in part to thank. 4:44 is a great listen with a staying power his future output will be compared to for decades to come.

8/10

Trial Track: “Kill Jay Z”

Posted in Sounds

by Darcy MacDonald

Contributor
Darcy MacDonald has been with Cult MTL since day one, a decade ago. Which means today, he’s a middle-aged white guy (albeit one more interested in other people’s ideas than in his own). He was previously a columnist and reporter for Montreal Mirror, and has also created content (FKA “written”) for RBMA, Noisey, Montreal Gazette, The National Post and probably some other great places he’s forgotten about. Music, culture, community and miscellaneous questions in search of answers all come across his desk, sooner or later.