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Albumism’s 50 Best Albums of 2017 | #25: JAY-Z’s ‘4:44’

December 4, 2017 Albumism Staff

#25
JAY-Z | 4:44
Roc Nation | Amazon | Tidal 

According to Sonya Alexander: “Produced by Chicago's No I.D., who boasts an impressive resume of previous studio work with legendary emcees including Common, Nas and JAY-Z, the 10-track nod to living right is a true testimony to Mr. Carter’s lyrical skills. With the mumbling going on in a lot of contemporary rap, it's easy to forget that rap is a wordsmith's game. JAY-Z shows us that he not only came to play, he came to win. And, while he does his fair share of flossing across 4:44, it's not just for the sake of doing so. It's to suggest, ‘I'm here, you can be here, too. Here's the blueprint.’…The more things change, the more they stay the same. Hov’s rhymes are evolving, in content and flow, but the songs remain the same with dexterous wordplay, genius sampling, sick beats, high-production value, and top caliber collaborations including Beyoncé on “Family Feud” and Frank Ocean on “Caught Their Eyes.” As he said in The Blueprint’s “Never Change,” “Never change, this is Jay every day.” And the music world can thank goodness for that. With 4:44, he certifies that he’s still the consummate lyrical hustler.”

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