Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z and America’s favorite adorned “hustler turned rapper,” provides us yet again another installment and view into a story that lurks in the shadows and crawls through the soul of America’s history. This history, as some would say it, is controlled through manifest destiny- the art of expansion, the craving to seek what’s rightfully yours, and most importantly, to claim that stake…..by any means necessary. “American Gangster” is not only a concept album. It’s so much more than that. It is a living testament to all the rights and wrongs that has taken place in America since the advent of narcotics and organized crime, thus giving birth to The American Gangster and the “Gangster mentality….created by the White, mastered by the Black and absorbed by the Fiends, taxed by the Governmentality, [and] chartered by Forbes.”
Through the album, Jay-Z bobs and weaves through a myriad of topics that a true American Gangster has experienced. At the end of it all, whether good or bad, “either you’re somebody or you ain’t nobody.” Yes!!! That’s the American way…not because Jay-Z said so, but because you live it every single day. “American Gangster” the album, the saga, the life….
“Intro”- This is one of Jay-Z’s most prolific openings probably since Reasonable Doubt. Through an excellent performance by Idris Elba, we get a real understanding that being a gangster isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Like manifest destiny, there are spoils, but like any illegal game, death is always around the corner. And death, while being a gangster has taken place not only on the streets, but also in the government. I credit Jay-Z for giving us a great intro filled with tension, anticipation, and vivid story-telling. 5/5
“Pray”- I would say this track in somewhat of a prequel to “Allure.” Jay-Z gives us a sort of coming of age track where he drives us through streets where that grew him, raped his innocence, and replaced it a complex view of what law enforcement means- “a treasure chest was removed, cops said he’ll be back next month. What we call corrupt he calls payin’ dues.” He understands he’s not angel and the only thing he can do is pray to the Lord for forgiveness. Puff and the Hitmen with vocals from Beyonce really hit it out of the park on this track. Monster!!! 5/5
“American Dreamin”- Anything with Marvin Gaye on it is an instant classic. Lol. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the album. Puff & The Hitmen do it big on the production again. This is a beautifully written song as Jay once again captures an early state of mind about being caught up in a game that feeds to souls that don’t have shit and want it now. For some, the way out is college. For Jay, the way out is through snow…or as he called it Snidos. Lol. I think one of the most poignant lines were “survive the droughts, I wish you well. How sick am I?” It’s almost as if Jay is conflicted with his earlier perverse thoughts and wanting a better insight in the world around him. I haven’t seen this kind of Jay in a very long time. 5/5
“Hello Brooklyn” ft. Lil Wayne”-AND I AIN’T GOT NO COMMENT ON THIS SHEEEEEEIT. 2/5
“No Hook” – HA!!!! “Had to get some challah bread so you can holla back at” That’s my line boi. Jay’s flow on this track was ridic. “roids, rolls royce keep my movements, smooth while maneuvering through all the manure in the sewer that I grew up in” I liked the track except where he spoke about Dehaven. Cmon Hov, you shoulda kept that movin. 4/5
“Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)…”– L’chayim!!! 5/5
“Sweet”- Jay-Z takes a piece of the movie where Frank’s mother had told him that he could have been anything else in the world and his younger brothas would have followed in his footsteps. He starts off the song by sayin that his nephews would also do the same but they also challenged him by asking if he was ashamed of the life he led and preaches. His response is, “I can walk down the halls of mirrors in Versailles and be so satisfied when I look at myself in the eyes, no shame, no sir” I found that comment to be so intriguing because indeed there is nothing to be proud of in being a gangster but Jay continues to follow the same rules that he’s been speakin’ about since 1996….”Gotta learn to live with regrets.” 11 years later and he’s still not making excuses or apologies and he’s being his own man and always being real. He threads a similar cloth Frank Lucas was hemmed on….Nobody owns him and indeed it may not be what you call perfect but it’s his life. And who’s life is perfect right? Another Puff & Hitmen monster… 4.5/5
“I Know” - When I first listened to the track, I wasn’t impressed. I listened to it another 5 times and also tied in the imagery in the movie and thought this song was brilliant. He took the essence and feel of “Excuse Me Miss” and turned it into about a love tale around the destructive force of heroin. “Just for one night baby take me in vein.”- CRAZY!!! In a complex and twisted artistic way, if you played this song in the background of the scenes where you saw all those black ppl in the movie with needles in their arms, it would cause a certain shiver in your spine. There’s something very twisted, very addictive about this song and it took me a while to appreciate it. Big up Neptunes for the track!!! 4.2/5
“Party Life” - Okay, so this is another song that just annoyed the hell out of me when I first heard it but, like “Sweet,” when I put it in context with the movie, there was a point in the movie where these gangsters were really feelin’ themselves talkin about how much money they had and how ill their furs were. I mean Frank Lucas walkin up in the boxin’ match with that fur is mad cocky! lol. Like, who is he? Better seats than all of em’ and shakin’ the hands of boxing legends. A pimp’s anthem indeed. Plus, who can deny the sample? Jay’s wittiness on this track is ridic. lol. “Whatup Randy?” lol… This track is either love or hate….gotta love it…..yaaaaa diiiiiiig? Guru, Puff & Hitmen givin that funk!!! 4/5
“Ignorant Shit”- Umm….considering I was one of the many who heard this about 3-4 years ago, I will just say that I like the original better sans Beanie’s verse. Regarding his statement about Imus, that’s real talk….”till we all without sin, let’s quit the pulpittin” 4/5
“Say Hello” - I’m only feelin’ the third verse on this track but I am also concerned about his Jena Six comment. Yeah I feel what you’re sayin hovie but where were you when all that was poppin off? It’s almost like “Minority Report” We can comment, complain, and report about the matters but what are we really doing to combat the issues? I’m still unsure about this track. N/A
“Success”- Jay and Nas went in on this track and it’s a very important subject to discuss- Success. It’s evident that Nas and Jay are just different kind of emcees and you have to give them their respect when their in their own zone. I preferred “Black Republicans” more though. I didn’t really like the whole “Let that bitch breathe” thing. “Google Earth Nas i got flats in other continents” lol. “I used to give a fuck, now I give a fuck less” lol…crazy….jay’s first couple of lines were on point!!! No I.D, i see you mang!!! 3.9/5
“Fallin”- Oh my…Jay’s a beast on this track. Jermaine Dupri production? couldn’t believe it. I love this…..i like the smoothness and sleek of the chorus and the rawness and grit of the verses. Jay proves that he hasn’t missed a step on that straight flow, straight rap, straight at your neck type cridddack!!! “Damn gravity’s ill” love that line… The story-tellin on this track is beautiful…he touches so many different topics and it’s great to see Hov have tracks like “Success” and “Fallin” come one after another. Excellent juxtaposition. I love the piano and instruments towards the end of the track. Ugggh…greatness 5/5
“Blue Magic”- BROOKLYN STAND UP!!!! This track ooozes crack. lol. Too many stand out lines on this track. Finally , aPharrell chorus that I love. Gotta big up En Vogue for that “Hold On” joint! “Blame Reagan for makin me into a monster, blame Oliver North when I ran contra” daaaaaamn! MY MAN! Crazy thing, I could actually see Biggie doing this track and murdering it just with the swag and the grit in his voice. 5/5
“American Gangster“- JUSTIN BLAZE AND THE BLAZETTES….crazy. Jay’s flow is untouchable over this track. I WANT THE SKY BABY!!! What an excellent ending to an album that gives us passion, terror, fiends, love, death, family, friends, enemies, and then some….this is an undeniable track and when I first pressed the forward button from track 14 to track 15 in the wip, i almost thought i was gonna lose my damn mind. I had to pull the wip ova and celebrate. lol. Instruments, horns, piano, everything…..LOVIN IT!!! 5/5
FINAL RATING- 4.4/5
This rating, to some, might be a little low. I think it’s quite fitting. Some may even say, “damn, why not just go for the 4.5?” The answer is this: While I believe this is a great album and Jay-Z really came back strong, I am a little concerned that albums surrounding topics of drugs and gangster life are so appealing in America. I suppose this is more of a case of morality for me. I am also betwixt certain emotions of whether Jay-Z has anything else to write about. One of my boys said that saying “American Gangster” was a concept album was just a cop out and gave Jay-Z an excuse to rap about drugs once again since “Kingdom Come” was ummm…”too sophisticated?” Well, Mr. Carter, I for one am an intelligent consumer and my reasonings for not liking KC had nothing to do with my lack of sophistication…But that’s neither here nor there. The fact of the matter is is that drug tales sell. This is something that we, as consumers, really need to internally analyze. Some would also say that tales of rags to riches…ergo, the Horatio Alger affect, are appealing. That being true, how many times are we going to get the same dose from Hov? If all we can expect is drug stories and a drug album from Jay and all the Jay-ettes out there then are we just as Ignorant as he? I don’t know….All in all, I like this album a lot and I definitely recommend it’s purchase for those who didn’t buy “Kingdom Come.”
Apologies for the wait but hope ya’ll feel it!
L’chayim bitches!!!! lol
~Thesis
Reecie
thehonorable
Thesis, i read it all of this and this was not even a review… you should get into sales copywriting.
lmao…. I never said it was a review…Brotha, “Pre-Review”…major difference!
Ha, i think i already have you beat, I am in sales…but I think you would do better than me in proof-reading though. Whatchu think?
Jokes? I did not read the title. I jumped right into the article.
Side note: Since you are in ny, what do you think about the firing of Stanley o’neal and the step down of Dick Parsons? Do you think he will run for mayor?
3.5 out of 5 - i hope that changes.
A little of topic but I think Chris Rock made an interesting point about the music industry.
“Music kind of sucks. Nobody’s into being a musician. Everybody’s getting their mogul on. You’ve been so infiltrated by this corporate mentality that all the time you’d spend getting great songs together, you’re busy doing nine other things that have nothing to do with art. You know how shitty Stevie Wonder’s songs would have been if he had to run a fuckin’ clothing company and a cologne line? … Rap sucks, for the most part. Not all rap, but as an art form it’s just not at its best moment. Sammy the Bull would have made a shitty album. And I don’t really have a desire to hear Warren Buffett’s album - or the new CD by Paul Allen. That’s what everybody’s aspiring to be.”
Well you don’t HAVE to do a review and you can do it whenever you want to do it…but nobody cares about information two or three weeks after the fact. Sh1t gets old after two weeks! That’s the beauty and the beast of the blog game…everyone wants information now. As a reader of many other blogs, I want to know what happened last night, what’s happening today, etc. So…I understand why people expect the same from us.
But anyways…take your time, but realize that the show must and will go on either way.
Just to be clear, my initial comments were and are not directed to anyone specifically. It was a mere rant/frustration with how “leaking” has ruined the true listener’s and avid music supporter’s experience with the product and the artist. That is real and in my opinion, not to be taken lightly. Again, I’m just one man and cannot change the machine but i felt I needed to voice my concern over what seems to be an urgent need in the blogosphere for people to want quantity, rather than quality. I’m not saying i’m the be all and end all of all things golden in the review space but when I do a review, shyt, i make sure it’s better than anything else out there! Reppin HM and reppin my love for music! That’s real….
Re: “Well you don’t HAVE to do a review….”
I’m aware i don’t have to. We don’t have to do anything. I’m also aware that information gets extremely dated after 2 weeks…hell, after a week. lol. Hence, why I said, “I ask that you give me another day.” I was speaking to the real Jay fans…not the people who jumped on Hov after “It’s A Hard Knock Life.” lol. And with respect to wanting information right now, I totally agree. But my subject matter was not about singles or freestyles, or random songs that artists want to put out to get a feel of how the market will respond. That information needs to get public attention, as quickly as possible.
My aim was specifically at the issue of album leaks. I have been the consumer to hop on the album leak band-wagon but i aint doin that no more….Some may not care but for those who feel the same way I do and are feelin what i’m sayin, then my word is born! ya diiiiig!……ya ya diiiiiiig (jay’s a fool for that, by the way. lol)
Oh, and I’m sure the show will go on….The blogosphere is bigger than me…But I won’t have it change me in the process and I will make it a point to be real and matter-of-fact to those who care about what I have to say.
TheHonorable- word up! I hope so too…
ddot- bro-ham, don’t live in NYC right now homie….
Stallion
Nov 7th, 2007 at 8:46 am
A little of topic but I think Chris Rock made an interesting point about the music industry.
“Music kind of sucks. Nobody’s into being a musician. Everybody’s getting their mogul on. You’ve been so infiltrated by this corporate mentality that all the time you’d spend getting great songs together, you’re busy doing nine other things that have nothing to do with art. You know how shitty Stevie Wonder’s songs would have been if he had to run a fuckin’ clothing company and a cologne line? … Rap sucks, for the most part. Not all rap, but as an art form it’s just not at its best moment. Sammy the Bull would have made a shitty album. And I don’t really have a desire to hear Warren Buffett’s album - or the new CD by Paul Allen. That’s what everybody’s aspiring to be.” ——————————— My thoughts exactly, the music industry is fighting a losing battle with the CD sells failing and it’s only a matter of time before the industry is forced to change until then, they are gonna keep pushing crap artists who can put out the next club banger and bring in money.
Now I must admit, I am one to listen and or dl an album before it drops, but usually they’re for a specific song(s) or an artist I don’t really respect. I do try to abstain from listening to an album early if I’m truly anticipating it, as well as buy the albums of my favorite artists.
….
I think it’s a 4…
damn, so much for my review…crycrycry.
Dam, Reecie vs Thesis, is this blog beef?
LMBAO@Blog Beef
redshade - GREAT REVIEW!
lol…i had a feelin someone would take it there. We’re all adults and adults can agree and disagree.
no blog beef b….let’s move on!
Lol, I had a full one. Should I post it anyway?
I say post it. I am curious…
Jay-z is on track for another number 1, ahead of chris brown.
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003669700
lol @ the people who jumped on Hov after “It’s A Hard Knock Life.”
but this makes me ask, why the name changes in rappers especially if the lyrical content stays almost the same?
ddot-
Jay’s a damn cash-cow. lol.
Challah
Damn. My man.
You got everything right on point. Great review. Sounds like you really worked hard on this one…major album, you have to.
A few points of my own though [not that review I had planned, but might as well get half the job done]…
Hello Brooklyn-Why does everybody hate this song? I mean, sure, it might take a couple listens to get it through your head right, but it worked for me. I think it’s pretty good. Wayne is always like that, he’s just crazy. He does what he wants. I think it worked out, considering that it could have been something that lead to…I don’t know, something like what came of “4, 3, 2, 1.” Jay and Wayne working is a like a miracle to people who listen to both. I’ll admit Wayne needs to get a bit more serious sometimes, but still…it just sounded so damn good to me. I think…4/10.
Ignorant Shit-Why, Beanie? WHY??? That was probably the worst thing he could have done with that track. Not only was it way short, but it also SUCKED. Jay blew him so far out of the water…not even worth mentioning Beanie’s name on the album. I mean, damn. “Scarface the movie did more than scarface the rapper to me…” just killed me. I’ve never heard the original before, so I’ll take a look at that. This would have been a perfect track weren’t it for Beanie. 4.1/10
Say Hello-Thesis, I see where you’re coming from with the whole “Jena six comments” worries. However, we have to look past that…that’s barely a couple bars. Hell, Eminem can rap about lord knows what, no matter how soon it is, and he gets away with it easy. I think the production and the hook on this one just absolutely killed it. “They say I’m a bad guy,” that just went right into my ears. I loved it. 5/5, if you ask me.
Success-That opening line, “I used to give a fuck, now I give a fuck less/what do i think of success? it sucks/to much stress,” that comes from Eminem, if you didn’t know. I wouldn’t give Jay too too much credit there, although it sounded good. Nas and Jay on this track…it kinda didn’t work as well as Black Republican. There was no challenge here…it was like, “Okay, lets rhyme about riches, and say nothing about the fact that we’re both on the same track here.” Black Republican just went 10 steps ahead, weaving storytelling from the past to the future. This…not so much. I agree with your rating, though.
One last thing, I think tracks like “No Hook” and “Pray,” the real serious ones, were a bit too consecutive. They could have mixed them around…it kinda threw me off on the first listen. You listen to Reasonable Doubt, and he can rhyme all stuff like that the whole album, but that’s why it works. He dedicated that whole album to the same kind of vibe, and when it wasn’t, it just worked well enough to lure you in. Maybe it was just the production on them…not quite sure.
I think this is his best album since Blueprint. I mean, I was one in few that didn’t hate on Kingdom Come, but this is better anyway. Barely beats the Black Album…maybe I haven’t heard Black Album recently enough to say that, but it is what it is. I know that everybody’s getting on that general bandwagon, but seriously. Think about it…you’ll realize.
Again, great review, T. Keep the good stuff coming.
“American Gangster” (the final track) was the TRUTH, right?! First place I’ve seen someone showing thet track some love. Nice review, thesis.
n/a on say hello? 4/5 on party life? 3.9/5 on success? but 5/5 on blue magic? everyones entitled to opinion but I definitely feel like you rated the standouts on this disc the lowest.
Sup Thesis.. Good review homie, I’m feeling this album
I really feel like this album was more soulful than “The Blueprint” maybe not better, but I would put it on the same level on my first few listens. The best thing about it, is it can play through and you don’t feel like skipping a single track. I keep find myself listening to Blue Magic and realizing I’m on the second to last track once again… having started at the Intro.
“I used to get a fuck, now I give a fuck less” is a Eminem line Thesis. Check “The Marshall Mathers LP”, under the track “I’m Back”
“I used to give a - fuck, now I could give a fuck less
What do I think of suc-cess? It sucks, too much press I’m stressed”
Isn’t this like Jay Z fourth album since he retired?
The Mashup with Linkin Park
Unfinish Business with R.Kelly
Kingdom Con
The American Gangster soundtrack.
To be fair after he released the Mashup and Unfinish Businness he did announce he was coming back.
Pretty sure that Unfinished Business was right before.
It’s not a soundtrack, also.
dj k-nyce-
Da deal? I tried to be really meticulous about the kind of ratings I gave and i feel confident about it. Why did you like “Say Hello,” if I may ask? Again, aside from the ratings, i explain my train of thought towards those decisions. you think i rated stand out ones too low? In my personal opinion, “Success” was okay…and like Redshade said, their pairing on this track just didn’t mesh as well as a “Black Republican.” Honestly, I would rather Black Republican on this album than Success…
I don’t know…i rated the album at first listen a 3.5/5…i went to 4.4/5….i gave this album a serious analysis and I think 4.4/5 is very accurate….
I still am somewhat partial to “Finding Forever” than “American Gangster”…I like AG a lot, don’t get me wrong….But i feel FF hit my soul ya dig?
the miracle-
Oh yeah man, the final track was ridic! Nice way to end the album indeed.
Thesis, I definitely see what you mean about Finding Forever.
Something about it, it just flowed really well, and against this, a tiny bit better.
word up…juuuust a tiny bit. nyah mean!
Redshade-
school going well man? what year in highschool you in?
It’s all good. Freshman, 9th grade, but they keep me in the middle school…something about the high school not having enough space. It’s cool though. Keepin’ my grades up, staying out of BS. How’s work going for you?
the album is a banger…probably one of the best hip hop albums of the year, but thts not saying much this year…
over all it’ll do…jay murders most of the tracks…soe of tht shyt coulda been left out…wasnt feeling “ignorant shit”…maybe because jim jones already used the sample with trey songz…
jay also reached a little further with the production, he’s rhyming over 808’s and snares, some down south shyt…my favorite song, well the hood’s favorite song right now is “say hello”, dj tomp on the track(what you know-t.i.,you dont know me-t.i., cant tell me nothing-kanye)…that shyt is killing cutlass trunks around the us right now.
yo, great review. im feelin success though, hot track. i get what your saying with AG being better then KC, although its tied into the movie. im happy ya mentioned finding forever, thats how all albums should be, personally im a Lupe Fiasco fan though and cant wait for ‘THE COOL’. till then ill be bumping AG, FF, and the new alicia keys joint is sick.