Jay Z’s latest studio album, 4:44 is turning out to be groundbreaking in so many ways.The 47 year old rapper, dropped his fourteenth studio album on the 30th of June, which has been made available under the rap-mogul-owned entertainment company, ‘Roc Nation’ and has been made available for online streaming on Tidal. The online-streaming version of the album features a total of 10 tracks while the physical release will feature 3 additional bonus tracks.
The first video to hit the airwaves from the legendary MC’s much talked-about project, is his infectious and power-packed lead track, ‘The Story of O.J.” – which references the infamous OJ Simpson trial and several other racial undertones from numerous historic instances.
The hard-hitting black and white animated music video takes a jibe at the racist portrayal of Black people in vintage Disney and Warner Bros cartoons. There are powerful imageries of public lynching, KKK and chained-up slaves – that leaves your eyes wide-open, as a ghostly female voice sings “My skin is black” in the background, sampling the great Nina Simone’s classic, ‘Four Women.’
Explaining the video with a short documentary entitled ‘Footnotes for the Story of OJ’, the rapper uploaded a video on the streaming services in which he was quoted telling the following:
“O.J. would get to a space where he’s like, ‘I’m not black, I’m O.J.’ Like Tiger Woods would get to a space and think, ‘I’m above the culture. And that same person when he’s playing golf and playing great, you’re protected. When you’re not, they’re gonna put pictures of you drunk driving and, like, embarrass you. That world will eat you up and spit you out.”
Watch Jay Z’s compelling visual below:
This is perhaps one of the greatest music videos of our time. It is substantial, hard-hitting, eye-opening, soulful and it takes you deep on an unsettling ride.
What are your thoughts?