Oscar-winning Moonlight star Mahershala Ali plays a boxer fighting some personal demons in JAY-Z‘s pensive “Adnis” video that was released Friday (July 28).
The minimal track’s new visual by director Mark Romanek shows Ali in black and white preparing himself for training as a quiet father-like trainer played by Danny Glover watches on. The imagery is compelling and fitting, as the song is a letter to JAY-Z’s dad (that he never wrote, as he says opening the track).
Throughout it, Ali embodies JAY-Z’s poetic lyrics, facing himself through his struggles with his father.
After being teased in one of JAY-Z’s 4:44 video teasers, “Adnis” was not included on the digital version of the album but is included on the physical edition.
Tidal users can watch the full video here: