Track Listing

1. Intro
2. Pray
3. American Dreamin'
4. Hello Brooklyn 2.0
5. No Hook
6. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)...
7. Sweet
8. I Know
9. Party Life
10. Ignorant Sh*t
11. Say Hello
12. Success
13. Fallin'
14. Blue Magic
15. American Gangster

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1770 in Music
• Released on: 2007-11-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

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

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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

JAY-Z IS ONCE AGAIN AT THE TOP OF HIS TALENT
Shawn Carter is back with another excellent album as usual.
Tha gangsta image goes perfectly with Jay-Z's thug style.
I ain't got nuthin' more to say but "BUY URGENTLY THIS ALBUM IF YOU'RE A TRUE JAY-Z FAN. Jay-z comes always with fresh music and great inspiration and he never disapoint his fans. Listen to this album.¨
Peace Jay-Z and thanks for your great music.

2 Mainstream for me
Yeah some good producers on this one but 2 much mainstream for me. Maybe for you 2! =)

Jay-Z the king reclaims his throne
Jay-Z's american gangster really prove that he still has the fire inside to make a great album . I had picked up kingdom come and was very dissapointed in it but this effort appears to put J back as one of the top men in the rap game while many gush over lil Wayne he does'nt not compare to Jay-Z . I think Jwent back to his roots to deliever this powerful album .