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No I.D. Hails Beyoncé’s “Genius-Level” Input Into JAY-Z’s 4:44

“I always call Bey our de facto A&R,” the producer said.

July 03, 2017

JAY-Z worked closely with Chicago-based producer No I.D. to craft his new album, 4:44. However, speaking to the New York Times, the producer suggested that nothing the pair created together made it onto the album until it had been met with Beyoncé's approval.

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“I always call Bey our de facto A&R. Pillow talk is the strongest conversation on the planet,” he said in a new interview published following the release of the new album. “Every song has to get past her ears, in my eyes. She came by a lot and played a good part in helping us get over hurdles on certain records. Of course she’s genius-level with that.”

No I.D. also touched briefly on how much they focused on responding to Bey's Lemonade during the recording process. The album title track acts as a public apology for past indiscretions.

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“We just wanted him to respond and then let it be and still touch on other things. I created that beat to box him into telling that story,” the producer explained.

In a separate interview No I.D. said that there are more songs from the 4:44 sessions, including tracks recorded with James Blake.