Jay-Z’s ‘4:44’ Tidal exclusive has already gone platinum

The cartoon is a sample of an old animated movie titled “Little Black Sambo” based on a “controversial” children’s book with the same name; hence Jay Z’s name as “Jaybo” in the video.

“Look, I apologize, often womanize”, he raps.

“What good is a menage-a-trois when you have a soulmate? / ‘You risked that for Blue?”

The rapper opens “4:44” with “Kill Jay Z” – note the spelling – in which he lectures the younger version of himself who fooled around on Beyonce.

“‘4:44’ Goes Platinum – JAY-Z‘s 13 Platinum (or higher) solo studio Album Awards are more than any other hip hop artist”, the RIAA’s official account tweeted. Jay was born on December 4, Beyonce was born on September 4 and their wedding anniversary happens on April 4, the couple even have a matching tattoo of that number on their wedding fingers.

In the photo, pictured above, you can see the two men holding a platinum frame for his latest record but, according to Variety, the photo was taken before the album was even released.

Can you hear him now?

Meanwhile, IHeartMedia, SiriusXM and Pandora can play JAY-Z’s tunes thanks to the compulsory licenses that the federal government issues to terrestrial, satellite and internet radio companies. That’s more than any other rapper in history.

Elsewhere, he takes lyrical strolls down memory lane (“Marcy Me”) and tackles race and financial freedom (“The Story of O.J.”).

“We stuck in La La Land/ Even when we win, we gonna lose”, he quips about this year’s Oscars mix-up in announcing best picture. Apple Music’s Jimmy Iovine earlier this year seemed to infer the company would move away from such practices, stating ‘We’ll still do some stuff with the occasional artist.

On the title track, the star responds to Beyonce’s Lemonade album – which appeared to chart a breakdown in her marriage to Jay-Z – and apologises for cheating.