Memphis Bleek Says Jay-Z Pulled Back From Solo Rap as Business Takes Center Stage
He portrays the shift as intentional, arguing Jay-Z no longer feels challenged enough to return to album mode.
Overview
- In a Club Shay Shay interview, Bleek said music was the backbone early on but that Jay-Z’s public persona is now defined by being a businessman.
- He argued that without peers on his level, Jay-Z lacks the competitive spark that once drove frequent releases.
- Jay-Z’s most recent solo album is 2017’s 4:44, followed by sporadic features and a joint project with Beyoncé as The Carters.
- Bleek walked back hints of a new album after a call from Jay-Z, and producers such as The Alchemist and Cash Cobain have also retracted similar teases.
- Separately, a Community Advisory Committee voted 4-2 to reject Jay-Z’s Times Square casino proposal.