Jay-Z: American Gangster Review
Hip Hop > Reviews > – Nov 8, 2007 – by Mic Sean 
Jay-Z’s American Gangster, inspired by the biopic of the same name, has been widely touted as Jay’s return to his foundation; the foundation which was introduced on Reasonable Doubt and perfected on The Blueprint. As the years have passed, Jay’s gritty tales of streets flooded with dope have morphed to stories of the good life. It seemed Jay no longer connected to the struggles of street-life, but rather preferred the gratuitous celebration of overcoming it. Thankfully, due to the inspiration provided by Ridley Scott’s recent opus, based on the life of Harlem gangster Frank Lucas, Jay-Z has made a much overdue return to his roots.
The album starts off slowly with a drawn-out intro, featuring a barrage of vocal clips provided in part by Idris Elba (The Wire, American Gangster), who also plays a minor role in the American Gangster film. The intro, although lengthy does succeed in setting the tone for the album and channeling the mood of the film. The words intertwine as the words define what a true “American Gangster” is.
As the intro fades the disc quickly picks up steam as Jay-Z rips through his sixty minute offering, with many high points and few missteps. Notable cuts include the Sean C and LV produced “No Hook”, “Roc Boys”, “Pray” (featuring Beyonce) and “Sweet”, the JD and No I.D.-produced “Success” (featuring Nas) and “Fallin” (featuring Bilal). High points of the album also include the Pharrell collaborations on “Blue Magic” and “I Know”, a track centered around Jay-Z’s heroine and her addiction.
Songs such as “Party Life” and “Hello Brooklyn” although ambitious, miss their mark. “Party Life”, an ode to “fly shit” and the good life, starts off promisingly and quickly nosedives as the second verse comes in, where we find Jay-Z at his laziest. Although he’s trying to “slip niggaz a mickey” as he once bragged (Mo’ Money featuring R. Kelly and Twista), his spewing of phrases like “that’s my biiiitch” and his usage of Juelz Santana and Lil’ Wayne’s catch phrase “ya dig” repeatedly, makes Jay seem like a rapper trying too hard to reach out to a younger demographic. On “Hello Brooklyn” Jay-Z sounds more than capable over the Bigg D produced track featuring a sample of the Beastie Boys’ 1989 cut “B-Boy Bouillabaise (Hello Brooklyn)”, yet his pairing with Lil’ Wayne is both awkward and forced. Perhaps due to the fact that they collaborated via email, or the fact that Wayne’s flow, improved as it is, is light years behind Hov’s.
Missteps aside, with American Gangster, Jay-Z returns in true form. Between songs describing the ascent and success of a drug king-pin a la Frank Lucas (Roc Boys, Success, Party Life, Ignorant Shit) and tales of desperation and hustle, consequences and failure (Pray, No Hook, Fallin) Jay-Z accomplishes what most of his contemporaries are unable to; the creation of a captivating, thoughtful, and entertaining listening experience, which purveys depth and substance via witty and clever wordplay. Out of fifteen tracks, the intro included, all but two have rewind and replay value. Jay-Z’s American Gangster, just like the movie, is a good investment and a great addition to any true Hip-Hop aficionado’s collection.
Comments
11 Comments so far
So yeah, I have to comment on this one. Party life being a misstep. That’s probably one of the craziest statements I’ve ever heard. I agree with Hello Brooklyn, but I just don’t believe you’re listening to the same Party Life as everyone else. Tyvm.
Immediately seconded.
Solid review, however–Party Life is a solid track hands down. Ive spoken at length to many folks about this album and all have noted Party Life to be a very cool, smooth, laid back track. Maybe your not listening to it correctly? Maybe its a time & place some (for you). Im just trying to see how you could possibly not think highly of this song. That is all.
P.s. Please take another listen to the third verse of Party Life.
lol, I feel you play boy, the party life was a tad weak to me as well. But overall good review, Jay did his thing. But how you going to make a song about Brooklyn with Lil Wayne? and that track was terrible.
Huh, are you kidding me? Is there some other version of this song that I’m missing. You need so many more people.
i also agree party life is ill to me but also has hip hop gotten so bad that we have dropped are standards on what a good album is? Not that im a huge bleek fan but he could have made that song. Or maybe AZ shit hit jaz O up or something. but wayne, that shit sounded so forced.
American gangster is solid.
What about “Hello?”
that cut is fire. ya dig !?
Yo….Jay killed a couple of tracks…I know, American Dreamin, Party Life…all dope. But he just wanted to get Weezy on the album and it was a whack track.
Jay is the man. I think this has an old sound to it …it works. He got the soundtrack much success. scheme keep on growing you are Fantabulous !!! I aint young but I still have a good ear for music.
Vicki C
Good review Mic Sean! This album definitely reminds me of the original Jay-Z.
Hello Brooklyn with Little Wayne through me off, but for some reason my homegirls from the south love that ish… I think he should have put Fab on that track, but President Carter must know what he is doing. Welcome back to the Top Hov! I thought you were gone homie but Im glad you proved me wrong.
Overall an accurate review…Definitely agree on Hello Brooklyn (of course it’s my girl’s favorite song), it just doesn’t work and could easily have been left off.
As far as party life, i’m not sure the lyrics are the point. If you compare that song to most of the “swag rap” that permeates the radio today, Party Life is light years ahead. My first thoughts upon hearing it was it was more the old master showing these rap neophytes how a “swag rap” song should sound.
Lastly, I wasn’t feeling “Sweet”, didn’t feel like the beat and lyrics meshed well. Understood the point of the song, but for me it just didn’t work. Great job on the review though. Keep it up.
I sincerely appreciate the record. I like Hello Brooklyn a lot. But I don’t think Weezy needed a whole verse. The little gaspy/slurred sing-songy lines where he kept saying baby and lady were sufficient. Then he kept talking and ruined it for ALL. The verse sucks. But the biggest sucker of all is Pray. I have no idea what the song is about because I can’t get past the dry ass husky pre-school-like fumbling through Scripture courtesy of Beyonce. Thanks B. Another ruiner for ALL.