Roc Nation has firmly denied claims that JAY-Z has quietly finished a new studio album, posting “‘Album done’ … Fake news” to its Instagram Story on August 10. The response followed comments from music executive Ray Daniels on his podcast, where he claimed Hov’s follow-up to 2017’s 4:44 was fully complete and being held back pending a business partnership.
The rumor spread quickly online, fueled by nearly a decade of fan anticipation and recent milestones in JAY-Z’s career: he’s currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album Reasonable Doubt and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint with a multi-night concert run at Yankee Stadium, where he brought out longtime collaborator Pharrell Williams. Roc Nation has now shut down similar new-album rumors more than once in recent years, including a similar denial in 2024.
While the label’s statement appears to close the door on this specific claim, it stops short of ruling out new music altogether. For now, fans hoping for JAY-Z’s first solo full-length since 4:44 will have to settle for the ongoing anniversary celebrations.
