JAY-Z's '4:44' Album Listening Party

Last night I socialized with the Hip-Hop crowd for one of many album listening parties for JAY-Z’s thirteenth studio album, ‘4:44.’

Yesterday was a long day, I am on summer break from school so that means 40 plus hour work weeks. I was looking forward to the many Tidal x Sprint album listening parties hosted at various Sprint stores for almost a week but I was so tired. I almost did not make it but I always tell myself, “Chet, you never know who you might meet or what will happen to you.” Well, I am glad I listened to myself.

I caught the train to Fifth Ave to one of the two Sprint stores hosting a ‘4:44’ listening party. The events started at 11:00pm and I got there just before that time. If you know how lines go for these free events, associated with big names, then you know the earlier you arrive the better. However, for a free event associated with JAY-Z the line was not long at all. I was also traveling solo. Out of nowhere a girl walks up to me and asks what the line was for. So I proceeded to explain to her as if I was enlightening her but she was the one who was about to enlighten me.

She pulled out these hard plastic passes and told me about the invite only listening party happening right up the road at JAY-Z’s ‘40/40 Club.’ She had an extra pass, saw that I was alone and did not want it to go to waste. I was so lost at first because I had no idea the ‘40/40 Club’ party was the same night but I was like hell YES. So we headed on over to the real party.

I knew the short line was too good to be true. Of course when we arrived there was a horde of people trying to get in as this was the official album listening party for New York City. If I learned anything about these big sponsored events, if you are not V.I.P. your entry into the venue is not guaranteed, even when they give you confirmed credentials days ahead. My guess is that they confirm a much higher number than the venue’s capacity to ensure a packed and popping event.

In the middle of my little self being crushed by these overzealous people I was able to learn some more about the angel who blessed me with a pass to this event; her name was Mariah and she traveled all the way up from North Carolina for the night. Keeping that in mind, she did not travel eight hours to walk away as the club managers started to speak about the doors being closed for the night. Of course that was not the case, if you wait, you WILL get in.

Thirty minutes after 12am, Mariah and I finally entered the doors of the ‘40/40 Club.’ So this was the club I always heard about. The venue was packed and by the time we got in we missed about four or five songs but that is why I have Tidal. The bar was decorated with an endless amount of Armand De Brignac (Ace Of Spades) bottles while the monitors displayed the shade of millennial pink/peach ‘4:44’ artwork. So the music, the most important part, how was it?

I am not going to make this some lengthy review post but I will make a few comments. JAY-Z’s latest album delivers more on the lyrical front than it does on production. As I am a person who has a more sonic interest than a lyrical interest in music, I was not pulled in instantly; this album is basically “banga” free with the exceptions of “Bam” featuring Damian Marley and “Moonlight.” I eventually made a conscious effort to stop and listen to all the tracks and my favorite line comes from “Smile.” In “Smile,” a song that expresses his unconditional love for his mother, JAY-Z raps, “Ours was fuck you, pay me, now it's fuck payin' me, I pay you, put the rest away for Blue." This line just stood out to me so much because it shows growth and is a reflection of a responsible man.

Like I mentioned before, the ‘40/40 Club’ was the main listening party in NYC. However, JAY-Z was not at any of the listening parties but at almost 50 years old his name still stirs interest. There were other notable names in attendance such as the night’s host, Elliott Wilson (Rap Radar), rapper Maino, Peter Gunz, a handful of industry people and a plethora of athletes were all in house to hear JAY-Z’s latest musical effort.

New York City is no easy city to exist in but there are days that just make it all worth it and last night was one of those nights. Thank you again Mariah, I am sending an endless amount of blessings your way. Thank you to Tidal/Sprint and JAY-Z for making exciting events for your supporters. The ‘4:44’ album will not be one that I play to raise my energy level but I think it is a pretty solid album, nonetheless.