Jay-Z has come out of retirement for a second time with American Gangster, an album inspired by the movie of the same name. And unlike on Kingdom Come, he has something to say this time. In fact, this is the first set of songs in which returns to his roots. By revisiting his life on the streets over a set of heavy, moody beats, American Gangster is Jay-Z’s grittiest album since his debut.
Jay-Z made his presence felt on the pop charts throughout his career with singles like “Hard Knock Life” and “Izzo {H.O.V.A.).” American Gangster, however, largely eschews this style in favor of darker songs with less overt hooks. One track is even titled “No Hook,” and the album’s second single, “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is…)” is the only cut that seems immediately radio-friendly. Its cheerful horn section and Kanye-sampling chorus scream chart success, and the third verse features some of Jay’s funniest raps; he might even have some thinking they’re listening to Matisyahu when he drops words like “Bar Mitzvah,” “Mazel Tov,” and “L’Chaim,”
On the whole, though, American Gangster is much more serious, and it blows Kingdom Come out of the water. Whereas Kingdom Come detailed Jay-Z’s life now—the story of an aging corporate executive worth over $500 million—this release tells tales of Jay-Z’s rise from a small-time pusher to a big-time hustler, loosely mirroring the narrative arc of the film. “I got to get you out of here momma or I’ma die inside / I got the reins our direction’ll soon change / To live and die in N.Y. in the hustle game,” he raps forcefully, and the constant focus on this narrative holds the album together.
As far as beats go, American Gangster is consistently good and occasionally great. Highlights include “Ignorant Shit,” which culls sounds from Reasonable Doubt’s perfect first half, the surprisingly lush “I Know,” featuring and produced by Pharrell and “Say Hello,” produced by rising star DJ Toomp and reminiscent of his work on T.I.’s “What You Know.” “Hello Brooklyn 2.0,” featuring Lil Wayne, is the album’s most notable failure, with a barebones, repetitive drum loop and stagnant verses.
Overall, American Gangster is a welcome return to form for Jay-Z. It doesn’t touch either of his classic albumsshy;—Reasonable Doubt or The Blueprint—but it shows that he’s still got game even as he approaches forty.
