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Loading ...423 views - 2 Comments - November 27th, 2007 by CB
The much-anticipated release of Jay-Z’s new album American Gangster was released earlier this month. It’s a better album than his previous effort on Kingdom Come, but I have to ask, “Where’s the soul?”…and if you have an answer for that, then my next questions is, “Where are the beats?”.
Jay says he found inspiration to pen tracks after watching a pre-screening of the film, American Gangster, with Denzel Washington, which tells the story of Seventie’s Harlem heroin dealer Frank Lucas. “It was like I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a back story to the story,” Jay told the New York Times.
American Gangster’s attempts at being a return to the street anthem has a hint of desperation and its nod to the movie isn’t matched by an album that feels either cinematic in scope or well-scripted in design.
Very few of the tracks are worth listening to and the rest are begging to be remixed. Jay’s lyrics are clever, which, as fans we are acustomed to, but his delivery is borderline annoying. In the past Jay’s songs have stood out with the slick production of beatmakers like Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, and Kanye West. The Neptunes and Just Blaze do contribute several tracks to the album, but it’s like he selected the buy one get one free tracks that others passed on-In addition, Diddy and his cheesecake fetching peons are credited for producing six tracks. They’re not garbage, but this is Jay-Z, not Da Band!
American Gangster tries to be a musical reflection of the 70s era. The soul samples that lay the backdrop for Jay’s recitals make me want to swap out the unofficial soundtrack for a Marvin Gaye classic or a Isley Brothers’ jam. The Hello Brooklyn track had me digging for the Beastie Boy’s Paul’s Boutique album trying to find the original track in the secret medley at the end.
With the lack of beats and soul Jay-Z’s, American Gangster left me with an empty spoken word album. Hopefully the “Best Rapper Alive” will stay out of retirement long enough to live up to his title.
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Wow, Jay Z, and the American Gangsta was hot like Natalie Jo. She’s from the Bay. I listen to it the first time I didn’t like it, then I listen again, and I kinda like it, then, I decide to play it, during one of my photo shoot with Natalie jo, and really listen to it, Jay Z, American Gangsta album is hot. It’s just like drinking that first beer, after t 2 or 3 beers that shit is good. I like beer. Jay Z great album… Nice 70’s and 80’s touch… great beer… and Natalie Jo, very great.
//signed// twistedrich
check this out too…Top 10 Albums on the Billboard 200:
1. Jay-Z - American Gangster
2. The Eagles - Long Road Out of Eden
3. Garth Brooks - The Ultimate Hits
4. Chris Brown - Exclusive
5. Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride
6. Josh Groban - Noel
7. Britney Spears - Blackout
8. Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift
9. Angels & Airwaves - I-Empire
10. Cassidy - B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story
//signed// 2 cent