Last updated on November 9th, 2020 at 11:58 pm
Though I’ve listened toĀ plenty of rap since buying my first boombox in ’97, I’veĀ rarely heard anything representingĀ me. Sure, it’s largely Black music, but from a different narrative than my lifeĀ altogether. Middle-class. Raised in a two-parent home. Private school education, married with kidsānothing you’d want to hear about in the club. And though I foundĀ some kinship in Childish Gambino’s “Not Going Back” andĀ Drake’s “You & The 6”, the struggle of growing up Black while lacking enough Blackness for your peers only reflectsĀ part of my identity. There’s so muchĀ more to my life!
But life isĀ full of surprises. You never knowĀ who’s going to create the work that speaks to your soul, and a former hustler from New York’s Marcy Projects would be theĀ last person I’d expect to understand me, but with his thirteenth albumĀ 4:44, I can tell you for aĀ fact that JAY ZĀ gets it. With topics like legacy, family and the constant pursuit of excellence, it’s an album speaking to everything I’m trying to build with my efforts here at the blog!
Let’s dive a little deeper.
4:44āJAY Z’s FirstĀ True Foray into Grown People Music
“A man that don’t take of his family can’t be rich.”
— JAY Z, “Family Feud”,Ā 4:44 (2017)
Before parenthood, I did a lot more for my sake. It feels like a distant memoryĀ now, but there was a time where my priorities were making money, hitting parties, and being the most popular kid in the room.
God’s been looking out, though, making sure I can build a life reflecting many of the principles outlined inĀ 4:44āBlack excellence. Black-owned business. Financial freedom and eschewing what’sĀ popular for whatĀ lasts. I haven’t had as much time as the Jigga Man to mull over what I’m putting into theĀ world, but I can understand thatĀ drive to leave a better world behind for one’sĀ kids. Moreso than anything I do as a Black man, blogger or the many roles I fill outside my family, myĀ singular focus is to build something for them thatĀ outlasts me.
Someday, We’re Gon’… Be Free.
You see, JAY Z’sĀ 4:44 is what I call “grown people music”āsongs for adults who’ve embraced their responsibilities, looking toĀ be the best, so they’llĀ do the best for those who matterĀ most.
And Shawn Carter’s not perfectāwe see clear references to his infidelities, excesses and other mistakes onĀ 4:44ābut who of us is? It’s the knowledge that we still need to provide as parentsāflaws and allāif we want to give our children better tomorrows than the lives we live today. I won’t always make the right choices and my kids won’t always like me, but as long as I’m committed to this goal no matter what… I think we’ll figure it out.
Pay it Forward.
“Legacy, legacy, legacy, legacy.
Black excellence, babyāyou gon’ let ’em see
Legacy, legacy, legacy, legacy.
Black excellency, baby let ’em see.”— JAY Z, “Legacy”Ā 4:44 (2017)
Greatness doesn’t develop overnight. Much of the inequity Black America faces today comes from their opportunityĀ for intergenerational growth being snatched away by severalĀ factors.
Me, IĀ barely knew either of my biological grandfathers, and they dan sure didn’t leave my parents anything, but Mom and Dad scraped and scratched ’til they had something of note, and now it’s my turn to do the same. My parents gave me a leg up to shape my life by making sure I was Canadian-born, educated and marketable. They worked hard at jobs that let them pay the bills by sacrificing their dreams. I work hard to giveĀ my boys a leg up with the funding and support to be the best atĀ whatever they want to be. And whatĀ they want to do forĀ their kids? That’s entirely up to them.
But hopefully, like me, they’ll start with the tools to do somethingĀ excellent.
Thanks for reading and until the next,
–case p.
One reply on “JAY Z 4:44 | Grown People Music”
I love this piece. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself. I’m truly enjoying getting to know you and your family through NaBloPoMo!