Hip-hop icon Jay-Z could be gearing up for a musical comeback, according to longtime collaborator Memphis Bleek. The Roc-A-Fella Records veteran revealed during an appearance on Drink Champs that he recently spent time with the rap mogul in Las Vegas and hinted at the possibility of new material.
“I just was with him in Vegas. He just came out on the show, like, yo, my n****, they went stupid,” Bleek said. “I said, ‘Listen, I know you working. Save me a verse.’ He’s like, ‘Alright, I got you.’ So if it happens, it happens.”
Jay-Z, whose last studio album 4:44 dropped in 2017, has been relatively quiet musically over the past several years, focusing more on business ventures through Roc Nation and other projects. A return to the studio would mark a major moment for fans who have been eagerly awaiting new material from the 24-time Grammy winner.
The speculation about fresh music comes at a turbulent time for the 55-year-old rapper, born Shawn Carter. Jay-Z has recently faced two major legal cases. One involved a woman who accused him and fellow rapper Diddy of raping her when she was just 13. The other was brought by Rymir Satterthwaite, a man who has long claimed to be Jay-Z’s son. Both cases have since been dismissed.
Following the dismissal, Jay-Z launched a defamation lawsuit against the woman and her attorney, Tony Buzbee. He argued that the allegations cost him lucrative deals, including a $20 million minimum-fee contract, a $55 million personal credit line, and a $115 million loan for Roc Nation. His legal team stated the accusations caused “severe financial and reputational harm.”
Meanwhile, Satterthwaite, who has never undergone a DNA test, withdrew his paternity case in July, stating, “It’s a lot going on. We got to step back and play chess, not checkers.” Jay-Z had previously obtained a restraining order against him in 2022 over what the court described as “frivolous” claims.
While his legal team continues to push for full dismissal of the defamation case, fans may have reason to celebrate. If Memphis Bleek’s hints prove true, Jay-Z could soon be stepping back into the spotlight with new music.
