Just one week after dropping 4:44, JAY-Z unleashes the short film for the platinum album’s title track, an ode to his wife Beyoncé.
The video opens with a young man singing Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” which was coincidentally sampled on Watch the Throne’s “New Day.” From there, the mini-movie features an array of images, interviews, and phone-filmed clips that depict love, joy, anger, fun, and violence.
In between news bits, fight scenes, and footage of Eartha Kitt, Lauryn Hill, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, a couple is captured in a powerful, slow motion dance. The man, wearing a New York Yankees fitted and the woman, dressed in a flowy pink outfit, appear to represent JAY-Z and Beyoncé, while Hov raps about their ups and downs.
But the real Carters also appear in the video (via concert footage). The two superstars are shown performing “Drunk in Love,” while Al Green’s “Judy” plays in the background. A smiling Blue Ivy pops up at the end for the heartwarming finale.
“4:44” is the second video off Hov’s 13th studio album, following the animated black-and-white clip for “The Story of O.J.” Videos for “Adnis,” “Kill Jay Z,” and “MaNyfaCedGod” have also been teased.
Watch the full “4:44” visual via TIDAL.