The music industry is dying slowly and the world knows it. Music has always been valuable when it comes to cultural identity and as a timepiece to remember the good times when reflecting on one’s life journey. Music has also become an industry where people have given their lives to entertain others by using their creative genius to write, produce sounds and express words to the delight of others in hopes of getting a career out of their love of music. With today’s world becoming so technological, people have more of a chance now to share their hopes and dreams to contribute to the musical landscape/industry. But is that now making the value of music decline and creating the era of the starving artist more apparent than any time before?

Technology and music has been at war for a long time. If you are old enough to remember MP3.com, Limewire, Napster, and the upload revolution during the late 90’s and early 2000’s then you were the first to see people being able to share and upload their music. Of course the music industry and business interest saw this and the music upload and sharing community took its’ pirating methods to the boardroom and streaming platforms eventually came to exist with the scope of having any music you want to listen to accessible with a portable device that eventually became the commonly used cell phone. Music is now available at the click of a screen from many artists of any decade and to the consumer this is a dream. To the artist though this reality has become more and more of a problem and we see the decline of appreciation of music in real time as society moves into its next technological turn. But what has streaming done to hurt artists? Let’s look at what has happened to the money and industry of music with the boom of streaming.

The music industry has made people wealthy for generations. People that run the industry are rich beyond words and the artists we believe and have been proven wrong have made money as well. A lot of people have gone into the artist lifestyle wanting to live the wealthy life and while today’s social media habits and influences have lied to the public of how accessible this is we have seen the music industry take a lot of losses when it comes to money and payouts. The first issue is the value of the song and album.

As of 2025 the figures of payouts to artists today are criminal. The stream is valued at fractions of a penny and the calculations are projected (allegedly) by a royalty calculation payout scale. Here’s a general overview of estimated per-stream payouts for artists on major platforms, as of early 2025:

The crime in this is how much does an artist have to stream to earn a livable wage when it comes to putting music out on streaming services. What influences the payouts and are there block in the streaming money when it is paid out? This is what influences the payouts to artists and dictates if they can be paid a livable wage:

With these guidelines in place we have seen music consumed to the point where the owners of the streaming platforms are making collectively over $20 Billion and the artists mainstream and independent are just taking home pennies for their work. Known artists from the mainstream music label era have had to renegotiate contracts to include streaming as a part of royalties to get money. Artists like Ryan Leslie have taken their music totally off of streaming platforms due to lack of pay. Others like Snoop Dogg and Redman have threatened to take their music off of these platforms because they are not seeing any money from this new music norm. In New Jersey as of 2025 the livable wage to live as a single adult annually is $54,503. As an independent artist one would have to 13,625,750 streams per year, or 37,331 streams per day for a livable wage. If earning money is hard for Nas, Jay-Z, and well known artists, then what is the struggle like for the up and coming artist like?

With music so easy to be consumed by the touch of a button and the access to these streaming services with music able to be uploaded by anyone with the right opportunity the music industry has been over-saturated with music. Music is released of good and bad quality and as such music releases are not cherished anymore as music can be released at any time and at any day. The era of listening to an entire body of work/album has disappeared for the catchy new song that people feel in the moment of their days. People once clamored for the new album to sit, listen and appreciate while now more so music is consumed on the go and as people are constantly moving the attention span has shortened. People and society as a whole does not value music as an art any more. Today in our microwave society music is easy to consume and put out so it is not valued as an art anymore just as a modern life commodity easily to be exploited and experienced at any time.

Will the industry come back? That is dependent on the artists and their plans to succeed. A lot of people call themselves artists but many are mostly hobbyists that make music because they can. Some are people that want to be special where they are from and have no desire to become huge stars. Today people chase the bag (dumb) and do not have the work ethic to move their music and sound to the next level. Without value put into their creation or art form, then the industry will continue to decline and the starving artist will be the norm and standard. An industry outsider once said,

“New artists are not valuable unless they die and death helps them recoup on their budget. Older music has more value because of nostalgia.”

If this is true you, new artists that make music, have no value in this new music industry and as the world moves toward an AI future may no longer exist. Wu-Tang Clan sold an album for $1 million and Mach Hommy sold a vinyl for his album The G.A.T for $5 thousand a copy. What can be done to make your music valuable and are you willing to do what it takes to be the next artist to change the world and make a living creating the art you love in a dying industry?

The post Did Streaming Kill The Music Industry ? #HeritageHipHop appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.

As of today, the independently run podcast company WVMR Network has officially launched their website! And with their website launch, the New York based company officially begins its streaming venture across multiple platforms.

Accessible via web and mobile, WVMRNetwork.com will be the place to listen to all podcasts, music in rotation and more!

But that isn’t the only thing WVMR has done. With the launch of the company officially, one of its owners, artist and producer Sueheidy, becomes the first ever woman of Latin descent to own an independently run podcast network company.

Women are more and more becoming leaders, owners, and taking charge! I’m here to continue the trend not only as an artist but as a owner as well”,

says Sueheidy, who at launch will have 5 of her singles from her EP “The Cauling” in rotation including the WVMR Network promotional song “Are You Ready”, which is scheduled to be released soon.

The network currently has 8 shows at launch, including kicking off on November 6th with three shows starting at 2pm EST. WVMR is seeking more shows and music rotation. If you are interested, email WVMRbookings@gmail.com for more information.

Congrats to Sueheidy and her team!

Follow WVMR Network on all social media platforms: @TheWVMRNetwork

Follow Sueheidy on all social media platforms: @TheRealSueheidy

https://youtube.com/shorts/EamKgUfXQyc?feature=share

https://youtu.be/auD3jYned78

Follow WVMR on Social Media @:

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Recently the GoodFellaz came thru to the Heritage Hip-Hop studios for an exclusive interview, where we got a chance to chop it up about Music, Business, and the origins of GoodFellaz TV.  Curated by Heritage Hip-Hop’s own Karev, #GFTV alumni Big A, Tommy Gunz & Dav the Photographer sat down for an entertaining and informative discussion.

Check out the interview below, courtesy of the good folks at HeritageHipHop.com, enjoy!

For more from the GoodFellaz & Heritage Hip-Hop, check them out online @:

GoodFellazTV: @GoodfellazTV
Dav: @Dav_AEP
Dj Tommy Gunz: @DJTommyGunz
Big A: @Ahdayar
Heritage Hip-Hop: @HeritageHipHop

www.HeritageHipHop.com
Heritage Hip-Hop Store

The post WATCH: GoodFellaz TV Interview with Heritage Hip Hop: #GFTV #Interviews #GoodFellazLife appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.

Pop Smoke was in California over the weekend posting images of himself taking a haircut in his home and hanging out poolside enjoying the skyline view of the Hills. It was Wednesday morning that police reportedly responded to a home invasion call at 2000 Hercules Drive in the Mount Olympus section of Hollywood. Pop Smoke was allegedly renting the property from Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”. Who shared her sadden feelings on InstaGram. According to reports two masked men wearing hoodies broke into the home during an alleged robbery shooting and ultimately killing Pop Smoke. Police questioned several people at the scene. There was one suspect in custody who was later let go as police are still investigating.

Born in Brooklyn Canarsie, Bashar Barakah Jackson aka Pop Smoke got his name from his grandmother who called him papa and his friends who called him “Smoke Oh Guap”. He shot to fame with “Welcome to the Party” from his first album “Meet the Woo”, released in 2019 featuring guest appearances from Nicki Minaj and Skepta. Recently he released his last project “Meet the Woo 2” featuring the hit single “Dior”, with additional features from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Chris Brown.

Celebrities and Artists including Russ, Chance The Rapper, Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, Quavo, Travis Scott, A.S.A.P Mob, Young M.A, many others, as well as fans alike have already poured out their love and condolences on social media. Nicki Minaj  and 50 Cent, among many others, posted messages on social media showing support.

The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Unbelievable. Rest In Peace, Pop,”

Nicki Minaj wrote alongside a photo of the rapper on Instagram.

No such thing as success without jealousy, treachery comes from those who are close. R.i.P.”

was posted by 50 Cent along with a picture of him and Pop Smoke hugging at an event.

Rest in Peace to Pop Smoke, a young artist gone to soon. Stay tuned to GoodFellaz TV for all the latest news on this story as it becomes available.

The post Rapper Pop Smoke Killed in L.A. at Age 20 During Home Invasion: #RestinPeace #GFTVNews appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.

Recently the GoodFellaz attended a Rick Ross event for the release of his first book entitled “Hurricanes: A Memoir”, held at the Barnes & Nobles bookstore at Union Square in NYC. In addition to signing copies of the book for those in attendance, Rozay also sat down with Power 105 FM radio personality Charlemagne da God, and the two discussed a variety of topics including Ross’ early years, his career, his ‘beefs’, and his book-writing process.

Watch the interview below, and check out photos from the event as well, courtesy of the good folks at GoodFellaz TV! We definitely recommend you guys check out Rick Ross’ book “Hurricanes: A Memoir”, it is worth the read! You can purchase it online HERE. Bossssssssssss !!!!

The post WATCH: Rick Ross Talks Life, Career, Beefs & More During His “Hurricanes: A Memoir” Book Signing Event in NYC appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.

Each month the good folks at GoodFellaz TV showcase the hottest DJ’s from across the globe. This months “DJ of the Month” is DJ Lady Star, representing New Jersey.

The beautiful DJ Lady Star has been killin’ the club scene in the Tri-State area for the last couple of years, developing an impressive following at her numerous weekly events. Ya boy Tommy Gunz recently sat down with her, where we talked about everything: Growing up in Jersey, duckin’ thirsty dudes,  the Lesbian party scene, NY vs. NJ club scene and much more. Check out our exclusive interview below.

Q: What’s good DJ Lady Star!! So I see you’ve been doing your thing in clubs all across the Tri-State area. Where are you from?

A: What’s up Tommy Gunz!!!  I’m from Jersey, I move around a lot these days doing gigs, but I was raised in Newark, NJ.

Q: Aiiiight, “Brick City”!! How long have you been a DJ for?

A: Hmmm, I’ve been DJ’ing for about 8 years now. Wow, time flies (laughs).

Q: How did you get in the game?

A: Before the DJ’ing, I started doing bottle service in the clubs, and I used watch how the crowd would react to the music that the DJ would play, and I kinda fell in love with that energy. My boy who used to DJ at this club I used to work at would let me play around with the turntables, and eventually I started practicing. Eventually I decided DJ’ing was something I wanted to do, and I got some equipment and started making mixes.

Q: That’s what’s up!! So how did you come up with your DJ Name, DJ Lady Star?

A: That’s a long story (laughs). Well originally I was gonna go by “DJ Mars”, because “Mars” was my nickname at the time. One day my boy gave me some advice, he said I should have a “Lady” somewhere in my name. So eventually I came up with “DJ Lady Star” because I like stars, (laughs). Nah but for real I really do, I even got a star tattoo, so you know it’s real (laughs).

Q: Well I think all the fellaz would agree that you’re pretty hot, you definitely have an exotic look. What’s your nationality??

A: Why thank you, actually I’m Portuguese.

Tommy Gunz: Really? That’s interesting, I swore you we’re Puerto Rican, definitely something Hispanic (laughs).

DJ Lady Star: Yeah, I get that a lot (laughs).

Q: Nowadays the art of DJ’ing has gone digital. Do you ever spin vinyl tho?

A:  Yes, here and there. I do practice with vinyl, although it’s not as convenient when doing club gigs. I like to practice with all my equipment whenever I get a chance. Turntables and controllers are my main thing.

Q: Speaking of going digital, gone are the days where Record Labels use to service DJ’s with all the new music. How do you get your music these days?

A: Well these days I usually get my music from different record pools, BPM Supreme and Mp3Pool are pretty good sites. Plus you guys (GoodFellazTV.com) always hook we up as well (laughs). Hey, sometimes if I really need a record and I can’t find it anywhere, I even hit YouTube occasionally. Whatever works (laughs).

Q: How do you know if a record is a winner?

A: Hmmm, I guess if it moves me. Sometimes the beat just catches me, there’s a certain vibe I get when I hear a hot song. When I hear something new that I think will be big, I’ll try it out at a small venue first and see the crowd reaction. If the crowd is feeling it, I know it’s a winner!

Q: What’s the Best Part of your Job?

A: My favorite part is making people happy, seeing their faces, seeing them having fun! As a DJ, there’s no better feeling then to see the crowd vibin’ to the music. I love when the people are having a good time. I’m not really a ‘people person’ in-person, but still, (laughs).

Q: Worst part of the job?

A: Ummm, I hate the hangovers, (laughs). I can spin a little tipsy, actually if anything I feel like my overall performance is a little better after having a drink. Fun fact, I’m actually a little shy on the mic at first until I have a drink in me. But after that, watch out! (laughs).

Q: What’s your favorite type of music that you like to play at your events?

A: I love Dembow music. I do a lot of Spanish and lesbian parties, so the joints I play tend to be up tempo, a lot of energy. I like a lot of club music; new stuff and the older club joints as well.

Q: Do you have a favorite type of crowd in particular?

A: The lesbian party vibe is dope, especial in New York. A lot of fun, a lot of energy and good vibes!

Q: Do you think it is a little more difficult being a female in the DJ game?

A: Uggghhh, yes, sometimes it can be. These guys trying to hit on me can be annoying at times (laughs).

Tommy Gunz: Awww man, what a rough life you must live, dudes always trying to holla at you (laughs).

DJ Lady Star: (Laughing). It can be sooooo annoying, like dude I’m trying to work, leave me alone (laughs).

Q: So guys trying to hit on you, got it. Is there any other difficulties you encounter?

A:  Well real talk, sometimes dudes feel like than can get over on me with the money, that’s probably the most annoying part. Especially these promoters. They’ll hit you with the ‘It was slow night” line, maybe because they think I look too nice and will fall for that. It can be a hassle sometimes.

Tommy Gunz: I feel you, you always have to be on top of your game when it comes to the money, especially in this business

DJ Lady Star: Facts! I don’t know, sometimes I feel like I too nice (laughs). But at the end of the day, don’t play with my money, don’t let my ‘nice-ness’ fool you, I don’t play (laughs).

Q: If you ask a lot of DJ’s, one of the most annoying things they have to deal with is when people ask for special requests. Do you take requests during your gigs?

A: Yooo that can be sooo annoying sometimes! I do take requests, if they give me money, (laughs). If I have it, and if they ask the right way, and the request isn’t crazy, I might throw it on when the vibe is right! I luv when I do play a request, and I can throw it in my mix and it still sounds dope!

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring DJ’s trying to get in the game?

A: I guess my advice to people who wanna be DJ’s would be make sure this is really what you want to do. Make sure you’re doing it for the love of the craft and not just for the money. Becoming a DJ doesn’t just happen overnight, you gotta put serious time and effort in to it.

Q: That’s Real talk. Do you have any advice for other females in particular who are trying to get in the game?

A: I guess make sure you get into the game for the right reason, do it for the luv of the craft. There are some dope female DJ’s out there who actually got skills, and then you got the ones who are just beautiful and they just play music. I mean, I’m not knocking their hustle, I’m just saying. Because if all you are is just a pretty face, you won’t last in this game but so long.

Q: Where do you prefer spinning, New York or New Jersey? Or does it matter?

A: (Sigh). Well I always have much luv for Jersey, but honestly New York is kind of where it’s at, money-wise. Spots in the city are usually willing to pay a DJ more, and with less hassle then in Jersey. Plus, that city-vibe is just different, you know.

Q: So how do you get your gigs, do you have a booking manager or do you do it yourself?

A: (Laughs). Well to keep it real I pretty much handle that myself for the moment. Basically I get my gigs through word-of-mouth and social media. I don’t have a manager, so I usually deal with the club owners and promoters myself, and book my own gigs. Normally I might be a little shy, but I gotta eat so I gotta make it happen, feel me?

Q: What’s your personal Favorite record out right now?

A: Hmmm, right now I gotta go with that Nicki Minaj “Megatron” joint. Song is fire!!!!!

Q: Hottest record in the Club right now is ________?

A:  Probably that Bad Bunny “Callaita” record. The response I get is always crazy when that comes on!

Q: Do you have a Favorite Artist?

A: I have a lot of artist I like, but if I had to pick one I guess I would say Drake.

Q: So right now you’re killin’ the club scene. So what’s next for you, what would your ‘Dream Gig’ be?

A: Hmmmm, well I guess my ‘Dream Gig’ would be getting on commercial radio, one of the big stations like Power 105 FM or Hot 97 FM. Or even a big Livestream gig, where people from across the world can check me out. To be able to move to a bigger platform and be able to reach more people would be dope!

Q: As a DJ, how do you continue to work on your craft?

A: Practice, practice, practice (laughs). I always try to practice on my mixing skills to perfect my craft. I also listen to the radio a lot, as well as Soundcloud; check out what’s hot, do my research. I like to listen to other DJ’s as well: their mixes, transitions, scratches, etc. It’s how I learn.

Q: You’ve spun at venues all across the Tri-State. How are New Jersey DJ’s different from New York DJ’s?

A: Hmmm, I don’t think they are any different honestly. I mean, the music may be different depending on where you’re spinning and the type of event, but otherwise it’s all about you and your own personal style really, that separates you from other DJ’s. Jersey & New York have similar vibes, music-wise.

Q: Where can everybody catch you spinning?

A: Everywhere (laughs). Just follow me on my Instagram page, I always post my flyers where I’ma be at.

Q: Where can everybody follow you at online?

A: You can check me out on IG, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, SoundCloud at @DJLadyStar.

The post INTERVIEW: ‘DJ of the Month’: DJ Lady Star: #GoodFellazTV #DJoftheMonth appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.

A new streaming service of the same caliber as Tidal or Apple Music has finally arrived for Christians and its name is Godify! Known as “The Clean Stream”, Godify is set to hit the scene as a major platform for Christian Artists by the end of the year.

The new streaming platform was created by recording artist/writer Nucci Reyo  and his business partner Mark Bullock, and is already generating a huge buzz throughout the ‘net.  According to Nucci Reyo aka “The Kings Kid”, a former Platinum recording ‘ghostwriter’ for Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, among others:

This is revolutionary for Christians…Godify will finally be a Christian platform able to compete with Larger Streaming Services, such as Spotify or Netflix. I knew funding would be key so I decided to bring in Mark Bullock as a partner.”

Mark Bullock, a successful entrepreneur also known as “Mr. Idea”, works with many investors in developing successful businesses. During a recent interview on Rutgers University Radio he stated:

I instantly knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’ve created many apps, but this will be my masterpiece.”

Godify, which also will offer videos and movies, solves many problems including content protection for the youth. Many parents across the country (and the globe) complain that it’s almost impossible to protect their children from being exposed to negative, unfiltered content. Children are subject to more sex, violence, and explicit language than ever before via the internet, television, and other conventional media avenues. During the Rutgers Radio interview Nucci explained:

With Godify, you can download it, give it to your child and walk away with peace of mind.”

When asked what the people could expect from the new platform Mark had this to say:

If I had to describe us, I would say imagine YouTube, Netflix and Apple Music being one combined clean streaming service. That’s what Godify is!”

Godify is currently gaining momentum and attention as it is recognized as the first major Christian platform. Rutgers University and Princeton University are amongst the first big institutions to acknowledge the breakthrough in accomplishing such a daunting task.

Mark mentioned in the Rutgers interview:

Major financial backing has been the only hindrance in launching a major christian platform and now that’s over. Godify is a household name for now and the future.”

Godify officially launches December 6, 2019 worldwide. Stay tuned to GoodFellaz TV for all the latest news on this innovative new streaming service.

Visit www.GodifyStreams.com for more information.

https://youtu.be/BGcBbc0GMSY

The post Introducing Godify: The Christian Streaming Platform Set To Launch December 2019: #GFTV #IndustryNews appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.

Yeezy Season approached- at least according to Twitter.

Last week Kanye West finally returned to Twitter, where he wasted no time- announcing several new projects including an upcoming book of philosophy, and 2 New Albums.

That’s right. After a prolonged leave of absence from his social media accounts, little was heard from  Mr.West up until just recently. Apparently he’s been busy- according to his latest tweets, he has 2 new projects on the way: a new solo LP set to drop on June 1st and a group project with long-time collaborator Kid Cudi under the name “Kids See Ghosts”.

“My album is 7 songs” announced ‘Ye via Twitter, along with, “Me and Cudi album June 8th. It’s called Kids See Ghost. That’s the name of our group”. Needless to say he had the ‘net immediately in a frenzy after those tweets.

The pair have previously collaborated on joints such as“Paranoid”, “Heartless”, “Poke Her Face” and most recently “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1”, off his last album “The Life of Pablo”. A day later, once again via Twitter, Kanye dropped the cover art for his LP with Cudi. The artist behind the cover art, the legendary Takashi Murakami, has previously worked with West on the artwork for “Graduation”, along with the visuals for his “Good Morning” video.

During another  series of tweets, Yeezy also announced: “Teyana Taylor June 22nd” and “Pusha T May 25th”, which caused even more excitement from music fans all across the globe.

So it looks like there is a lot of “GOOD Music” on the way. Stay tuned to GoodFellaz TV for all the latest news and new music from Kanye West as it drops first.

The post Kanye West Announces 2 New Albums Set To Drop In June, Including “Kids See Ghosts” With Kid Cudi appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.

It looks like Hov is back on top- of the ‘Forbes List’ that is!

Forbes Magazine just released its annual ‘Forbes Five’ list showcasing Hip Hop’s wealthiest artists, and this year there was a lot of movement. After 7 years of being #2 behind Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Jay-Z has finally claimed the #1 spot, with a net worth of over $900 million. In 2017 Jigga “kept the registers ringin'” with an impressive $90 million increase in his bank account, due to several profitable ventures including his Armand de Brignac and D’Usse liquor investments, along with his stake in Roc Nation and Tidal as well.

Coming in at #2 (for the first time), Diddy fell back a spot in the race to a billion, however his estimated $825 million net worth and various ventures including Bad Bay & Ciroc made sure he wasn’t far behind. And just in case you forgot about him, lol, Dr. Dre came in at #3 with $770 million, due to his impressive musical catalog and lucrative investments with Beats by Dre & Apple Music.

After some movement at the bottom of the list since last year, the legendary Eminem is also back on the Forbes list after a 4 year drought. Eminem, who dropped a new album last year and went on tour generating some serious money, is tied with Drake at $100 million for the final spot on the list.

Forbes ‘Top 5 Wealthiest Hip-Hop Artists’

1. JAY-Z $900M

2. Diddy $825M

3. Dr. Dre $770M

4. Drake $100M

5. Eminem $100M

The post Jay-Z Takes #1 Spot on Forbes ‘Top 5’ Wealthiest Hip Hop Artists List appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.

Jay-Z is back with his new album “4:44”, and his timing couldn’t be better!

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first heard that Jay was dropping a new album. I mean granted we’re talking about one of the greatest, if not THE Greatest, artist in the history of Hip-Hop. An artist who, over the course of 2 decades has defined and then redefined Hip-Hop music. Hov probably has more classic albums then many artists today have had albums, period! From “Reasonable Doubt” to “The Blueprint” to “The Black Album”, Jay-Z has arguably had more impact on the culture, and music as a whole, than any other rapper ever.

Yet it’s now 2017. The Hip-Hop climate is waaaaay different now than it was 1996, or even 2006. We live in an era where “mumble rap” is a thing, where ‘turn-up’, auto-tune, and ‘swag’ has replaced ‘skills’, lyrics, and the art of being an emcee. The days of crafting classic albums have taken a backseat to iTunes singles and streaming music. Most artists in this current era don’t make it past their sophomore LP, at the most.

And here we have Jay-Z, with his 13th solo album, which he dropped exclusively through his Tidal streaming service, partnered with Sprint. That last sentence alone should indicate just how far music has come since the “Reasonable Doubt” days. You know, back when they used to release CD’s and Cassette tapes that anybody could buy, anywhere, at any time.

The problem with being a legendary artist, as well as a legendary businessman (Hey, he’s almost a Billionaire), not to mention the husband of one of the most famous entertainers on the planet Beyonce, is that sometimes your newer accomplishment can almost get lost in the mix. Or even worse, all that success might dull the passion for artistry, causing many super-stars to just ‘phone it in’ after a while, putting out product that’s less-than stellar (Think “Magna Carta Holy Grail”).

This is where Jay-Z finds himself in 2017. On the heels of his last LP, his aforementioned 2013 release “Magna Carter Holy Grail”, which- let’s face facts- wasn’t that good at all. Sure it had a few radio singles, and sure it was probably better than most other Hip-Hop albums that came out around that time (not that that is saying very much these days, lol), but it was the definition of “less than stellar”. It was very forgettable. But it was Jay-Z, so we had to appreciate it because, well he’s Jay-Z.

That very sentiment was in the back of my mind as I first downloaded “4:44” (And not via Tidal or Sprint either, so sue me, lol). However, after a few listens on my lap-top and smartphone over the course of the day (After all, we are in the future, lol), I have to say: it’s pretty damn good! As a matter of fact, I’ll go even one step further and say Jay-Z’s new album is exactly what we need!

But the question is, who is “We” these days? I myself was a teenager when Jigga first dropped “Reasonable Doubt”. I still remember the thrill of hearing him and the Notorious BIG going back-to-back with straight bars on “Brooklyn Finest”, or the soulfulness of Mary J. Blige voice on “Can’t Knock The Hustle”. Which makes me kind of, ummm, old I guess, lol. At least by today’s Hip-Hop standards.

The question is, is ‘Me’ and ‘We’ the same thing in 2017? I mean, in today’s Hip-Hop, there are actually rappers who wear dresses and women’s clothing (I still can’t get over that, smh). In this era, some of the biggest hits on the radio currently are by artists who have been labeled as “mumble-rap”. Yes, there is actually a genre of Hip-Hop called “mumble rap” in 2017, lol. Don’t worry, I’m also having a hard time understanding that. In this era, where does an artist like Jay-Z even fit in anymore, besides being the ‘OG’ and Businessman that today’s youth look up too?

This is why “4:44” is such a refreshing, and important album. The 10 song project, produced exclusively by long-time collaborator No I.D., ushers in possibly a new genre: Grown-Folks Hip Hop. The beats are soulful, reminiscent of his “Blueprint” days, yet the sound is neither stale nor just a carbon-copy of his early work. It’s actually a breathe of fresh air in a radio soundscape dominated by ‘Trap Beats’ and Auto-tune hooks. There are no forced collaborations with the current who’s-who of rap; instead Jay keeps the features to a minimum, with guest appearances by Frank Ocean, Beyonce, The Dream, Damian Marley, and even his mother Gloria Carter. You know, features that actually make sense.

What’s really impressive about the new album though is this may be Mr. Sean Carter’s most personal work to date. For somebody who has done so much in his career, who has been in the news as much as he has over the last couple of years, it’s dope to actually hear about his life from his point-of-view, instead of just the generic ‘I’m-Rich-And-Famous’ bars sprinkled with a few product-placements here and there. He speaks on his relationship with Beyonce, his alleged infidelity, ‘beef’ with long-time friend Kanye West, his venture with Tidal, among many subjects. Hey, he even reveals that his mother is a lesbian on one of the standout tracks “Smile”, where she recites a few lines of poetry at the end of the song. That’s something that I didn’t know. I don’t think anybody know that, unless you were in Hov’s inner-circle. That’s what I call personal.

Now, let’s keep it 100%, this is NOT Jigga best body of work. Often times, the difficulty in being a ‘legend’ is that it’s hard to top your greatest feats. Songs like “Moonlight”, which features a classic Fugees sample, is a straight filler track; the beat itself sounds uninspiring. Even the intro record “Kill Jay-Z”, although not bad, lacks that epic feel fans are used to from a Jay-Z album. Hova’s flow also seems to lack energy at certain points, almost as if he’s trying to keep his voice down in the booth so he doesn’t wake Blue Ivy up in the next room, lol. Gone is the ‘gutta’ Jay, replaced instead by a calmer, gentler S. Carter. Also missing from the new project are those sure-fire radio hits that were once a pre-requisite for a Jay-Z album. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing per se, but it is noticeable.

But while it may not be his best album, it’s not his worst album either (That distinction goes to #MCHG in my opinion). Tracks like “The Story of OJ”, “Smile”, “Caught Their Eyes” & the tittle track “4:44” are DOPE!!! It’s the type of album you have to listen to a few times to really feel it. It’s a Good Album, and more importantly, it’s a Important album for the climate of Hip-Hop.

Why is it important then, if it’s not his best work? It might not be another “Blueprint”, but it might be THE blueprint for- yes I’m running with the phrase, lol- Grown Folks Hip Hop!

Imagine, a hot song, with some actual content in the mix. For every verse about flossin’ and Ace of Spades, there’s also a line like:

Generational wealth/ that’s the key,”

from Jay’s song “Legacy”, or a verse like this:

Financial freedom my only hope
Fuck livin’ rich and dyin’ broke
I bought some artwork for 1 million
2 years later, that shit worth 2 million
Few years later, that shit worth 8 million
I can’t wait to give this shit to my children
Y’all think it’s bougie, I’m like, it’s fine
But I’m tryin’ to give you a million dollars worth of game for $9.99,”

from one of the standout songs on the album “The Story of O.J.”, which is also accompanied by a dope video- you guessed it- exclusively on Tidal, lol.

Maybe this could be the start of a new sound for Rap. More content. More reality. Or if not a start, then a shift in the direction of the culture. In the midst of the Trap & Mumble-Rap onslaught that has gripped the radio of late, newer artists such as Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Chance the Rapper and Drake have made careers off of content, both socially and personally.

I guess only time will tell. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, make sure you check out that new “4:44” album. Not because it’s Jay-Z and you’re ‘supposed to’, but because it’s good music, and why wouldn’t you. Do it for the culture!

GoodFellaz TV Rating:

4 out of 5 Stars

The post REVIEW: Jay-Z’s “4:44” Is Right On Time, Why This Album Is Important For Hip-Hop In 2017 appeared first on GoodFellaz TV.