I'm glad you picked this one. The article was a really introspective discussion. It seems like he holds this album in really high regard. I really didn't give it much time beyond a first listen when it came out. Time for a more mindful listen.
Such an interesting listen after running through Beck's Mellow Gold yesterday. Obviously as far apart in music as it can get, but I feel the same about 4:44 as I did that. I respect this album. Both are so clearly intentioned in their purpose and artistry. (I'll leave Beck to @william 's club, but check it out if you haven't.) Everything about 4:44 feels like wisdom from one of the greatest to ever do it. The whole thing is brilliantly edited. The beats feel purposefully reserved. The lyrics cut like a knife. It's clay molded by a master. As one of the most braggadocios in music I loved him opening with Kill Jay Z. Taking on the third person felt a bit presumptive, but the process of working through the past with a more objective lens quickly set us down a different path from his typical album. From there, the honesty in his experiences with his mother, his wife, his children, his own upbringing, the places he's been, the challenges he's had, and the worldview that only comes with age and experience...it all coalesced into a artistic piece with so many more dimensions. Smile, 4:44 and Marcy Me really stood out to me for their honesty. The whole thing was pretty captivating, though. I say I "respect" the album because of everything I just mentioned. I wouldn't say I enjoyed the album, though. Like Mellow Gold this was an awesome "piece", but it fell short for me on the experience of the music itself. I really do feel was justified, with the sounds fully being in service to the words, so I appreciate it for what it is. May not be my favorite Jay Z album, but it's pretty damn close. Really feels like I understand him as a person a little bit more after listening.
