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Amazon.com: Separate from the official motion picture soundtrack, this collection of all-new original material is a musical journey and lyrical interpretation of snapshots from the upcoming motion picture American Gangster. The conceptual, full body of genius work from the new album balances the line between pure entertainment and real life. JAY-Z draws upon past experiences, speaking to the harsh reality of the drug trade still taking place in our nation's cities. While not glorifying the Frank Lucas story, JAY-Z articulates the lure of a gangster's life and stands as an example of one who chose to leave those streets behind to go on and become one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. Jay-Z Photos More from Jay-Z 
Kingdom Come | 
Kingdom Come - Deluxe Edition | 
The Black Album - Special Edition |
The Black Album | 
Blueprint 2.1 (Special Edition w/ 2 Bonus Tracks) | 
Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse |
MTV Unplugged | 
The Blueprint | 
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia 2000 |
Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter | 
Vol. 2, Hard Knock Life | 
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 | Amazon.com: An unofficial musical companion to the film of the same name (dir. Ridley Scott), American Gangster traces the rise and fall of a self-made American man. Sound tired? Perhaps, but a dozen albums into his career, Jay-Z can be forgiven his occasional dabbling in shopworn archetypes. A panoramic, cinematic work in four acts, American Gangster bulges with instrumental melodrama. Take "American Dreamin'": despite the Diddy-produced track's sultry, shifty beat, a pile of whining strings and tinkling piano flourishes all but completely suppresses the rhythmic interplay between the vocals and drums. Again and again, Jay-Z's otherwise compelling raps fall prey to a similarly overwrought studio aesthetic. (In this, the album resembles many a Ridley Scott film.) There are exceptions: Bigg D's "Hello Brooklyn 2.0" and the Neptunes' "I Know" and lead single "Blue Magic" are unqualified bangers, and Jermaine Dupri's "Success" (featuring Nas) flaunts a relentless organ lick with 'round-the-way mojo to spare, but the album's overriding sonic melodrama is all Diddy. Still, no one steals Jay-Z's thunder easily. Having long since joined the top ranks of the hip-hop elite, Jay-Z can (and does) ultimately weather the best efforts of another major-league ego and still come out on top. --Jason Kirk Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-07
One word for this album -CLASSIC! CLASSIC! CLASSIC!
I am a very harsh critic of Hip Hop, but I will have to say Jigga came through with this one. I just love this album. Its like you can never get tired of listening to it. Once again Jay-Z continues to prove why he is the Greatest rapper of all-time...ever to do it.. Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-16
if jay didnt have fans before this album would he get any ?
every album after the black album jay loses respect. he doesnt do it for the love he does it for the money. dont get me wrong thats what were here for. but after you make your deal the buisness is done and you get back in the kitchen to cook up that new masterpiece. if jay didnt have fans before this album would he get any honestly? its time to retire. Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-16
good cd
this 2 me is a grown man cd. music for tha grown folks. i like it. its something that you can be laid back to and chill with yo girl Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-14
uh?
Its a okay cd. Not jay's best by any means. I think it was rushed. I wouldnt buy this over again. Rating:
Date: 2008-05-28
American Gangster
Before I start with the review I have to plug the review by Scipio Africanus, Vanquisher of Hannibal "The Holy of Holies".
If you are looking for entertainment check out this guys review. He went and bought a rap CD called American Gangster hoping to hear "a rapper who didn't disparage blacks and women or abuse profanity.....lol" Then go check out his profile....is he for real?
On with the review: On his last CD, Kingdom Come, Jay-Z became a victim of his own success. Most people did not feel the album because they could not relate to the Hollywood persona. A product of his own success. This meant Jay-Z could no longer draw from his usual well of inspiration i.e. his own life. For most artists this would have spelt the end but Jay has been here before. At the turn of the century Jay-Z's relevance in the game started to decline and his heir(s) apparent, Bleek & Beans, could not carry the mantle. That's when Jay-Z came back with "The Blueprint". To make it Jay-Z went out of his comfort zone, from bringing in, little known but soon to blow, producers Just Blaze & Kanye West, to borrowing from KRS One to even going public with his beefs. It became an instant classic.
Fast forward to 2007 and Jay-Z faces extinction once again, his role as president of Def Jam is met with mixed feelings, Roc-a-fella is on life support (Kanye carrying it), his last album flopped and most fans feel he should have stayed retired.
So what does he do? He finds inspiration in a movie and makes his own soundtrack to it. The move is a smart one because firstly, it allows him to ignore all the negativity surrounding him and focus on the theme of the album. Secondly it allows to reconnect with his lost audience without losing face for rapping about things he doesn't experience himself anymore. And finally the move takes away the pressure of making a big radio single to promote the CD as the movie acts as his promotional vehicle.
The album plays out in three acts like a classic gangster flick, the come up, the triumph and the fall. Jay-Z gives us the background story on `Pray', showing that he is a product of his poverty stricken, drug infested, crime riddled, corrupt environment. The parallels to the movie are striking although the story is different. On the second act (triumph) he reincarnates the soul of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye on `Roc Boys' & `Party Life'. Jay-Z is at his best here with a billionaire's swagger, dropping metaphors like they don't matter. The mood switches on the final act as things take a dark turn as Jay-Z deals with the trappings of `Success' and the ultimate downfall.
For the music Jay-Z taps another comeback king in the form of Diddy and his new production team of Sean C & L.V. The trio expertly handle the majority of the production and provide the most meaningful moments in the album. The beats on `Pray', `No Hook' and `American Dreamin' are dark but soulful. They are not mind blowing but they fit the theme to a tee. The biggest surprise, production wise, is Jermaine Dupri's contributions. Mr "You know what this is" helms the gloomiest portion of the CD and admittedly pulls it off, see `Success'. In another surprise move Jay-Z shows love to the dirty south by giving Lil' Wayne a guest spot and including two cuts from Bigg D and DJ Toomp. The latter is responsible for beat on my favourite song `Say Hello'
Overall, this is another classic CD from Jay-Z (That makes it 4 by my count). He seems to be able to produce his best every time his back is against the wall. |
