Jay-Z, rapper and business mogul, is reportedly back in the studio, according to his longtime friend and collaborator, Memphis Bleek, per hiphopdx.com. The news comes after the Roc Nation founder has spent the last several months embroiled in legal battles.
During an appearance on the podcast Drink Champs, Bleek hinted that Jay-Z, who hasn’t released a solo album since 2017’s 4:44, is hard at work on a new project. Bleek recounted a recent encounter with the rap icon, saying, “I just was with him in Vegas. He just came out on the show, like, yo, my n***a, they went stupid. I said, ‘Listen, I know you working. Save me a verse.’ He’s like, ‘Alright, I got you.’ So if it happens, it happens.”
The rumour of new music follows Jay-Z’s recent legal victory. He was accused of rape by a woman who claimed he and Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulted her when she was 13. The woman later dropped the lawsuit after her story was found to have multiple inconsistencies.
Following the dismissal, Jay-Z filed a defamation lawsuit against his accuser and her attorney, Tony Buzbee, claiming the false allegations caused him “serious financial harm.” Court documents state the accusations led to the loss of several contracts, including one that would have generated at least $20 million in revenue. The filing also claims Roc Nation was denied a $115 million loan, and Jay-Z himself lost out on a $55 million credit line.
As of now, there is no confirmed release date for new music, but Bleek’s comments have fuelled excitement among fans hoping for a new Jay-Z album.
