10/29/07 - Jay-Z - American Gangster (nobodysmiling)

Legendz · 10-29-2007, 05:43 AM

What drives Sean Carter to continue to record album after album? After Forbes estimated that Jay-Z banked in the uppers of $34 million in 2006, one would have to surmise that it’s not about the money anymore. And with 6 Grammy award wins in his career, it’s safe to assume it’s no longer about the accolades either. When you’ve achieved everything there is to achieve (the money, power and respect), what more is there? All that remains is the allure of the game; the rush you receive when they’ve assumed you can’t do it any better and you suit up one more time to hit the final fade-away. It’s only fitting that Jay’s latest effort is named American Gangster; there couldn’t be a career that’s more comparable to the life of a hustler. And like the hustlers Jay-Z often alludes to in his rhymes (De Niro and Pachino), he too feels compelled to pull off just one more heist.

American Gangster is a complete cinematic experience that begins with “Pray,” the beginning of Jay’s “tale of lost innocence.” Jay narrates the listener through an anecdote where Jay witnesses a hustler bribing the cops with dirty money, which eventually blurs the lines of right and wrong for a then young, impressionable Jay. He fades out the verse with “anywhere there’s oppression, the drug profession/…flourishes like beverages (soda can opens), refreshing (ahhh…)/sweet taste of sin/everything I seen, made me everything I am/bad drug dealer or a victim I beg?/what came first, moving chickens or the egg?” The final question acts as a segway into “American Dream.” The Hitmen (Sean C & LV), Mario Winans and Diddy work the boards chopping up a Marvin Gaye sample to provide the muse for Jay’s early visions of doubling up [his financials]. Jay paints the canvass with “this the shit you dream about with the homies steaming out (inhales)/back, back, backin’ the Beamers out/seems as our plans to get a grant to go off to college didn’t pan or even out/we need it now, we need a town/we need a place to pitch, we need a mound…/for now I’m just a lazy boy, daydreaming in my La-Z-Boy.” By the end of the track, Jay’s gone from daydreaming about moving the “snow” to being consigned weight from his connect.

Jay takes respite from the plot to admire Brooklyn on “Hello Brooklyn” and to air out old partner, Dehaven on “No Hooks.” Although there’s much fuss made about Lil Wayne’s feature on “Hello Brooklyn,” the N.O. native spits less than 16 bars and is mainly used to croak the chorus while Jay raps to the city as if it’s a love interest of his. Like with most controversy, Jay-Z doesn’t waste much time addressing Dehaven on “No Hooks” stating “so fuck Dehaven for caving/that’s why we don’t speak/made men ain’t supposed to make statements” and ends his brief foray into his personal life with those two bars. The plot picks up with “Roc Boys,” a dope boys celebratory anthem; a “we made it” track where material possessions are boasted nonstop and coupled with punchlines, metaphor and double entendre galore. Jay cleverly uses his first verse like an award acceptance speech thanking his connect, the brown paper bag, enemies with bad aim and closes thanking the customer. “Sweet” shows an unapologetic dope dealer still wallowing in material possessions whereas “Roc Boys” is where Jay has made it, “Sweet” is the Jay at the top of the hustler game. On “Success,” Jay’s bitter because for all the work and stress he’s put in he’s not able to enjoy the spoils of the dope game. On the track it’s lyrical onslaught and a game of lyrical one-upmanship with Nas. Jay rhymes “I’m way too important to be talkin’ bout extortin’/asking me for a portion is like asking for a coffin/broad day light, I’ll off your on switch/you not too bright, good night…long kiss/bye, bye, my reply bla, bla (gun shots sound effect)/blast burner and past burner to Ta Ta/finish my breakfast, why/I got an appetite for destruction and you’re a small fry” instantly dismissing any notions of the man not having it anymore. Nas drops some jewels but Jay strangles the beat. The tale concludes with the fall of the hustler on “Fallin’.” Jay wraps this masterpiece up with the hustler being bagged by the Feds and sullenly regretting his decision from a jail cell.

American Gangster is everything that the fans wanted Kingdom Come to be. It’s the greatest rapper of our generation doing what he built his career upon and what he does best; brilliantly allowing us, the listeners, to live the life of a hustler through his rhymes. The beats lend a lot to the experience on this particular effort. The production is top-notch with the Hitmen and Diddy’s dramatic soundscapes providing apt backgrounds of each of Jay’s vivid memoirs. It’s hard to believe that at this point in his career and skill level that Jay could get any better than he is, but on this album he does raise the ceiling higher than ever before. He’s already the best but the skill he displays in knitting his words together which is displayed on American Gangster is nothing less than astonishing. American Gangster is an incredible listening experience; hands down a classic; and another reason why it’s difficult and nearly impossible to dispute who the king of Hip Hop is.

ImmortalTechnique · 10-29-2007, 12:36 PM

good review...

southsidehitz · 10-29-2007, 01:58 PM

this has to be the best album out this year..... fallin is best track on the album

Dakidd2122 · 10-29-2007, 06:05 PM

I agree the album is crack, and even better when you see the movie. But the tracks to look out for is

Fallen Best Track on da album.
No Hook
Success
Hello Brooklyn
Sweet
Pray

Rocky · 10-29-2007, 07:36 PM

wow horrible review its a good album but definite classic WTF??

Da_Kingpin · 10-29-2007, 08:35 PM

crazy album mayne pray is too tight

The Real K.I.N.G. · 10-29-2007, 10:19 PM

Thought I was the only one feeling falling like that.

districtx202x · 10-30-2007, 12:37 AM

on every track jays flow was on point
especially on that american gangsta track
but dat track fallin gots to go in the record book as one of jays best songs(its alot of classics)

co0lperson · 10-30-2007, 03:05 AM

This new Concept album or whatever its called is a classic for concept albums but defintly this album is crack but i think for some people it will take a little bit for it to grown on them (it did for me now its one of my favorite Jay-Z albums) because it seems all radio staions play now are soulja boy & all of that other music that so called "Hip-Hop."

Caput85 · 10-30-2007, 03:00 PM

I Think it will Be better that
kingdom Come

BLUE HFNER · 10-30-2007, 04:31 PM

thanks for the info!

Young Nicks · 10-31-2007, 10:07 PM

Shit i was just talking about how this was a classic...

The Real K.I.N.G. · 10-31-2007, 10:15 PM

Who would've thought Hov would come back with a Classic after Kingdom Come. Let the hate begin

Da Real Deal · 10-31-2007, 10:22 PM

I been tellin dudes that shit is a classic but they won't listen. THey always talking about they wasn't feelin it and that it didn't have a hit record on there n shit.

The Real K.I.N.G. · 10-31-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Real Deal

I been tellin dudes that shit is a classic but they won't listen. THey always talking about they wasn't feelin it and that it didn't have a hit record on there n shit.

Well lets just say you know good music. And I'm not saying this cause I got Jay Z in my avy either real talk.

Sole1 · 11-01-2007, 12:06 AM

Fallin is fuckin amazing yo

youngbuck312 · 11-24-2007, 01:25 AM

Much better than Kingdom Come.

xyunga187x · 11-24-2007, 03:23 AM

jay z cool but lil wayne better

zeus803 · 11-24-2007, 11:06 AM

One of the hottest albums of the year.

10-29-2007, 05:43 AM	#1
Legendz Veteran Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,735 Repped: 877 Repped 9,264 Times in 1,395 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	10/29/07 - Jay-Z - American Gangster (nobodysmiling) 10/29/07 - Jay-Z - American Gangster (nobodysmiling) What drives Sean Carter to continue to record album after album? After Forbes estimated that Jay-Z banked in the uppers of $34 million in 2006, one would have to surmise that it’s not about the money anymore. And with 6 Grammy award wins in his career, it’s safe to assume it’s no longer about the accolades either. When you’ve achieved everything there is to achieve (the money, power and respect), what more is there? All that remains is the allure of the game; the rush you receive when they’ve assumed you can’t do it any better and you suit up one more time to hit the final fade-away. It’s only fitting that Jay’s latest effort is named American Gangster; there couldn’t be a career that’s more comparable to the life of a hustler. And like the hustlers Jay-Z often alludes to in his rhymes (De Niro and Pachino), he too feels compelled to pull off just one more heist. American Gangster is a complete cinematic experience that begins with “Pray,” the beginning of Jay’s “tale of lost innocence.” Jay narrates the listener through an anecdote where Jay witnesses a hustler bribing the cops with dirty money, which eventually blurs the lines of right and wrong for a then young, impressionable Jay. He fades out the verse with “anywhere there’s oppression, the drug profession/…flourishes like beverages (soda can opens), refreshing (ahhh…)/sweet taste of sin/everything I seen, made me everything I am/bad drug dealer or a victim I beg?/what came first, moving chickens or the egg?” The final question acts as a segway into “American Dream.” The Hitmen (Sean C & LV), Mario Winans and Diddy work the boards chopping up a Marvin Gaye sample to provide the muse for Jay’s early visions of doubling up [his financials]. Jay paints the canvass with “this the shit you dream about with the homies steaming out (inhales)/back, back, backin’ the Beamers out/seems as our plans to get a grant to go off to college didn’t pan or even out/we need it now, we need a town/we need a place to pitch, we need a mound…/for now I’m just a lazy boy, daydreaming in my La-Z-Boy.” By the end of the track, Jay’s gone from daydreaming about moving the “snow” to being consigned weight from his connect. Jay takes respite from the plot to admire Brooklyn on “Hello Brooklyn” and to air out old partner, Dehaven on “No Hooks.” Although there’s much fuss made about Lil Wayne’s feature on “Hello Brooklyn,” the N.O. native spits less than 16 bars and is mainly used to croak the chorus while Jay raps to the city as if it’s a love interest of his. Like with most controversy, Jay-Z doesn’t waste much time addressing Dehaven on “No Hooks” stating “so fuck Dehaven for caving/that’s why we don’t speak/made men ain’t supposed to make statements” and ends his brief foray into his personal life with those two bars. The plot picks up with “Roc Boys,” a dope boys celebratory anthem; a “we made it” track where material possessions are boasted nonstop and coupled with punchlines, metaphor and double entendre galore. Jay cleverly uses his first verse like an award acceptance speech thanking his connect, the brown paper bag, enemies with bad aim and closes thanking the customer. “Sweet” shows an unapologetic dope dealer still wallowing in material possessions whereas “Roc Boys” is where Jay has made it, “Sweet” is the Jay at the top of the hustler game. On “Success,” Jay’s bitter because for all the work and stress he’s put in he’s not able to enjoy the spoils of the dope game. On the track it’s lyrical onslaught and a game of lyrical one-upmanship with Nas. Jay rhymes “I’m way too important to be talkin’ bout extortin’/asking me for a portion is like asking for a coffin/broad day light, I’ll off your on switch/you not too bright, good night…long kiss/bye, bye, my reply bla, bla (gun shots sound effect)/blast burner and past burner to Ta Ta/finish my breakfast, why/I got an appetite for destruction and you’re a small fry” instantly dismissing any notions of the man not having it anymore. Nas drops some jewels but Jay strangles the beat. The tale concludes with the fall of the hustler on “Fallin’.” Jay wraps this masterpiece up with the hustler being bagged by the Feds and sullenly regretting his decision from a jail cell. American Gangster is everything that the fans wanted Kingdom Come to be. It’s the greatest rapper of our generation doing what he built his career upon and what he does best; brilliantly allowing us, the listeners, to live the life of a hustler through his rhymes. The beats lend a lot to the experience on this particular effort. The production is top-notch with the Hitmen and Diddy’s dramatic soundscapes providing apt backgrounds of each of Jay’s vivid memoirs. It’s hard to believe that at this point in his career and skill level that Jay could get any better than he is, but on this album he does raise the ceiling higher than ever before. He’s already the best but the skill he displays in knitting his words together which is displayed on American Gangster is nothing less than astonishing. American Gangster is an incredible listening experience; hands down a classic; and another reason why it’s difficult and nearly impossible to dispute who the king of Hip Hop is.

10-29-2007, 10:19 PM	#7
The Real K.I.N.G. Too Ill For Radio Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,929 Repped: 825 Repped 460 Times in 184 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 8 Times in 8 Posts	Thought I was the only one feeling falling like that. __________________ R.O.B.

10-31-2007, 10:07 PM	#12
Young Nicks $ C4RRYIN6 MY$3LF $ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Anderson,SC a piece of shit of a city... 864 Posts: 1,616 Repped: 426 Repped 929 Times in 249 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Shit i was just talking about how this was a classic... __________________ Yo dont forget to click the green button or leave rep.

10-31-2007, 10:15 PM	#13
The Real K.I.N.G. Too Ill For Radio Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,929 Repped: 825 Repped 460 Times in 184 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 8 Times in 8 Posts	Who would've thought Hov would come back with a Classic after Kingdom Come. Let the hate begin __________________ R.O.B.

10-31-2007, 10:22 PM	#14
Da Real Deal Most Likely To Succeed Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago Illinois/Jackson,MS Posts: 4,987 Repped: 892 Repped 2,800 Times in 612 Posts Neg Reps: 178 Neg Repped at 150 Times in 102 Posts	I been tellin dudes that shit is a classic but they won't listen. THey always talking about they wasn't feelin it and that it didn't have a hit record on there n shit. __________________

10-29-2007, 12:36 PM	#2
ImmortalTechnique OPEN WIDE! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brew City, Milwaukee Posts: 3,042 Repped: 189 Repped 845 Times in 371 Posts Neg Reps: 7 Neg Repped at 235 Times in 142 Posts	good review...

10-29-2007, 01:58 PM	#3
southsidehitz Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 132 Repped: 12 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	this has to be the best album out this year..... fallin is best track on the album

10-29-2007, 06:05 PM	#4
Dakidd2122 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bronx.NY Posts: 1 Repped: 0 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I agree the album is crack, and even better when you see the movie. But the tracks to look out for is Fallen Best Track on da album. No Hook Success Hello Brooklyn Sweet Pray

10-29-2007, 07:36 PM	#5
Rocky Veteran Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: MTL Posts: 2,570 Repped: 69 Repped 29 Times in 22 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	wow horrible review its a good album but definite classic WTF??

10-29-2007, 08:35 PM	#6
Da_Kingpin Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,010 Repped: 99 Repped 1,001 Times in 150 Posts Neg Reps: 19 Neg Repped at 3 Times in 3 Posts	crazy album mayne pray is too tight

10-30-2007, 12:37 AM	#8
districtx202x Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: washington dc Posts: 178 Repped: 0 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	on every track jays flow was on point especially on that american gangsta track but dat track fallin gots to go in the record book as one of jays best songs(its alot of classics)

10-30-2007, 03:05 AM	#9
co0lperson Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 340 Repped: 258 Repped 20 Times in 4 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	This new Concept album or whatever its called is a classic for concept albums but defintly this album is crack but i think for some people it will take a little bit for it to grown on them (it did for me now its one of my favorite Jay-Z albums) because it seems all radio staions play now are soulja boy & all of that other music that so called "Hip-Hop."

10-30-2007, 03:00 PM	#10
Caput85 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 832 Repped: 416 Repped 4 Times in 4 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I Think it will Be better that kingdom Come

10-30-2007, 04:31 PM	#11
BLUE HFNER LIL_BLUE HEFNER J.R™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL Posts: 2,311 Repped: 529 Repped 2,493 Times in 193 Posts Neg Reps: 6 Neg Repped at 5 Times in 4 Posts	thanks for the info!

11-01-2007, 12:06 AM	#16
Sole1 Still Versatile... Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: T.O. Posts: 1,481 Repped: 170 Repped 78 Times in 39 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Fallin is fuckin amazing yo __________________

11-24-2007, 01:25 AM	#17
youngbuck312 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 392 Repped: 200 Repped 7 Times in 6 Posts Neg Reps: 3 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Much better than Kingdom Come.

11-24-2007, 03:23 AM	#18
xyunga187x Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: la Posts: 99 Repped: 1 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	jay z cool but lil wayne better

11-24-2007, 11:06 AM	#19
zeus803 Noob Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sumter SC Posts: 124 Repped: 37 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	One of the hottest albums of the year.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode