Tidal’s Cryptic Project 4:44 Is a Short Film Starring Mahershala Ali and Lupita Nyong’o
After teasing its mysterious 4:44 project over the past week via online and IRL ads, Tidal is finally ready to spill the beans on what those pesky repeated numbers a mean. And, surprise! It’s not a new Jay Z album.
The streaming service has revealed that 4:44 is not a musical endeavor, but rather is a short, NC-17 film starring the major A-list talents of Mahershala Ali, Lupita Nyong’o, and Danny Glover. There’s not much to unpack from the brooding black-and-white teaser Tidal unveiled on Wednesday night—will it be four minutes and forty-four seconds?—but we do know that it includes an extended sequence of a shirtless Ali exercising and boxing with a punching bag. Tidal also teamed up with Sprint to create the film, because, you know, telecommunication collaborations are all the rage now. (Sprint also owns a hearty stake in the company, so it’s not that surprising.) With this partnership, the film will exclusively air on sprint.tidal.com, as opposed to the normal Tidal website.
After the commercial announcing the film aired during the NBA Finals, Marcelo Claure, the president and CEO of Sprint, took to Twitter to share the snippet and say “more news” about 4:44 would be known today. Jay Z, meanwhile, has been playing coy.
Ali and Nyong’o are experiencing massive highs in their respective careers at the moment. Nyong’o is set to star in a film alongside Rihanna that was inspired by a viral Twitter meme—yes, really—as well as Marvel’s highly anticipated Black Panther, and Ali took home the coveted Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work in Moonlight earlier this year.
Related: That Rihanna and Lupita Nyong’o Twitter Meme Is Becoming an Actual Movie
Lupita Nyong’o Confesses Her Girl Crush:
Lupita Nyong’o’s Best Red Carpet Moments, from 12 Years a Slave to Queen of Katwe
Lupita Nyong’o stole the show in a dramatic vermilion Ralph Lauren cape dress and minimal jewelry at the 2014 Golden GLobes.
Photo by Getty Images.
Following her red carpet hit at the Golden Globes, Nyong’o chose a similarly dramatic take on a simple silhouette for the 2014 Critics’ Choice Awards. The combination of her white Calvin Klein Collection dress, Paul Andrew shoes, and Kimberly Macdonald jewelry was simply stunning.
Photo by Getty Images
For the less formal Producers Guild Awards, the 12 Years a Slave ** star looked smart in a beige cutout dress and strappy black sandals by Stella McCartney. She added a bit of texture to the otherwise simple look with a snakeskin-printed Chesneau Heltzel Minaudières clutch and Jamie Wolf jewelry.
Photo by Getty Images
Though nothing could diminish our love for Nyong’o, her outfit of choice for the SAG Awards—a turquoise Gucci dress and matching makeup—was a little too blue for our tastes.
Nyong’o’s pretty vintage Valentino dress at Entertainment Weekly’s SAG Awards Pre-Party demonstrated her masterful style.
Nyong’o looked sweet at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon in a light pink, printed Dior dress and Paul Andrew blue velvet pumps. Mise en Dior blue pearl earrings (the trendiest accessory of the season) and a Judith Leiber clutch polished off the pretty look.
In a glamorous green Dior at the BAFTAs—accessorized with a gold metal belt and cuffs, no less—the star reminded us what Hollywood is all about.
Lupita Nyong’o in 2014.
Lupita Nyong’o in Prada at the 2014 Met Gala.
Lupita Nyong’o at the 86th Annual Academy Awards in 2014 wearing Prada.
Lupita Nyong’o at the Oscars in 2015.
Lupita Nyong’o in Gucci at Cannes in 2015.
Lupita Nyong’o at the 2015 Golden Globes.
Lupita Nyong’o in Alessandra Rich in 2015. Photo by Getty Images
Lupita Nyong’o in Dior and Sophia Webster in 2014. Photo by StartraksPhoto.com.
Lupita Nyong’o in Gucci in New York, New York, March 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Balmain on Late Night with Seth Meyers, March 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Dolce & Gabbana at Variety’s Power of Women lunch in New York, New York, April 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Calvin Klein at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala for Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology in New York, New York, May 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Boss at the 70th annual Tony Awards in New York, New York, June 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in DPipertwins at the Fem the Future Pre-VMAs Brunch hosted by Janelle Monáe in New York, New York, August 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Carolina Herrera at the premiere of Queen of Katwe at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, September 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Mary Katrantzou at the Vanity Fair and Tiffany & Co. dinner in her honor in Toronto, Canada, September 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Erdem on Jimmy Kimmel Live, September 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo attend a screening of Queen of Katwe on September 25, 2016 in New York City.
Lupita Nyong’o in Kibonen NY promoting Queen of Katwe at Sirius XM Studios in New York, New York, September 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Elie Saab at the premiere of Queen of Katwe in Hollywood, California, September 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in an Escada coat at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, September 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o in Monse leaving The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, September 2016.
Lupita Nyong’o at the 2016 Met Gala.
