Was JAY-Z's '4:44' Title Inspired By Solange Elevator Incident?
There is a new theory behind why JAY-Z might have named his 13th album 4:44.
In the past, Hov explained that he woke up at 4:44 a.m. and penned the title track for the album. However, a fan recently sparked a new theory on Twitter, by pointing out that it may be connected to The Standard hotel, where Solange Knowles infamously attacked him in an elevator at a Met Gala after-party in 2014.
“I’m at The Standard where Solange beat Jay-Z’s ass in the elevator,” tweeted a fan. “THE ADDRESS IS 444. I AM SHOOK.”
https://twitter.com/StephenOssola/status/890063102515007488
The tweet went viral, but it’s not 100 percent accurate. The Standard, High Line’s address isn’t actually 444; it’s 848 Washington St. But its rooftop bar Le Bain’s address is, in fact, 444 West 13th Street.
Hov also references the infamous elevator incident on 4:44‘s intro, “Kill Jay Z.” “You egged Solange on,” he raps on the track. “Knowing all along, all you had to say [is that] you was wrong.”
Prior to that, JAY mentioned the incident on “All the Way Up (Remix)” in a clever reference to Prince’s discography and TIDAL. “Prince left his masters where they safe and sound / We never gonna let the elevator take us down.”
Beyoncé also touched on the highly-publicized scandal on “Flawless (Remix).” “Of course,” she raps on the track. “Sometimes shit go down when it’s a billion dollars on an elevator.”
JAY-Z explained 4:44’s title earlier this year, when he broke down its title track. “It’s the crux of the album, just right in the middle of the album,” he explained. “I woke up, literally, at 4:44 in the morning, 4:44 a.m., to write this song. So it became the title of the album and everything. It’s the title track because it’s such a powerful song, and I just believe one of the best songs I’ve ever written.”
4:44 was unveiled last month as a TIDAL exclusive. Once it was released on other streaming platforms and in physical form, it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, where it continues to hold the top spot.