A Written Testimony

A Written Testimony (Arabic: شهادة مكتوبة) is the debut studio album by American rapper Jay Electronica. It was released on March 13, 2020, through Roc Nation. The album follows the release of Jay Electronica's debut mixtape, Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge), almost 13 years earlier. A Written Testimony was primarily recorded in 40 days, from the 26th of December, 2019, to the 6th of February, 2020. Lyrically, it is influenced by the doctrine of the Nation of Islam, and is thus described as an Islamic hip-hop record, with elements of conscious rap and psychedelia.

Most of the tracks on A Written Testimony feature uncredited appearances by Jay-Z, while Travis Scott and The-Dream make credited guest appearances. Louis Farrakhan, James Blake, James Fauntleroy, and other artists provide additional vocals. Production was primarily handled by Jay Electronica, who is credited on six out of ten tracks, along with Swizz Beatz, Hit-Boy, the Alchemist, No I.D., and Khruangbin, among others. Before its release, the album was supported by "Shiny Suit Theory", featuring vocals from Jay-Z and The-Dream, originally released on the 5th of November, 2010, and rereleased as a single on Tidal in September 2018.

The album received widespread acclaim from music critics, praising Jay Electronica's rapping and production, though certain controversial lyrics have been characterized as anti-Semitic. Commercially, the album debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 and also charted in Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Belgium. It charted its highest on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, peaking at number 8. It would also receive a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards, although it would lose to Nas' King's Disease (2020). A Written Testimony would later be followed up by the albums A Written Testimony: Leaflets and A Written Testimony: Mars, the Inhabited Planet and the extended play (EP) A Written Testimony: Power at the Rate of My Dreams, all released in 2025.