Jay-Z’s 4:44 comments on feud with Kanye

On the track Kill JAY-Z

Jay-Z’s new album 4:44 has dropped on Tidal today (30 June) and one of the main takeaways from the release are his comments on Kanye. On the track Kill JAY-Z, he raps: “You dropped outta school, you lost your principles” – alluding to Kanye, who was a college dropout.

Jay-Z continues, “But you ain’t the same, this ain’t KumbaYe/ But you got hurt because you think KumbaYe/ You gave him 20 million without thinkin’/ He gave you 20 minutes on stage, fuck was he thinkin’?/ ‘Fuck wrong with everybody?’ is what you sayin’/ But if everybody’s crazy, you’re the one that’s insane.”

The two artists have a long history together. Six years ago, Jay Z and Kanye collaborated on the album Watch The Throne. However, last year, Kanye delivered a rant – the “20 minutes on stage” that Jay-Z could be referring to – relating to a fallout between the two artists. He claimed that the Roc Nation artist had been putting business matters before their friendship and that he hadn’t visited Kim Kardashian in person following her Paris robbery. Kanye pleaded with Jay-Z to refrain from sending out a hitman. He said on stage, “Jay-Z, I know you got killers. Please don’t send them at my head.”

There have also been rumours that Jay-Z had lent Kanye money – the “20 million without thinkin'” – to help with his fashion venture.

Furthermore, Jay-Z samples Sister Nancy’s Bam Bam, which also appears on Kanye’s Famous. During the track, Jay-Z raps about someone “skippin’ leg day just to run they mouth”. On Kanye’s Life of Pablo track 30 Hours, he raps about how he hits the gym: “all chest no legs”.

Listen to the album here.