Album: Jay-Z – American Gangster

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“Can’t leave rap alone the game needs me”. It looks as if no one believes that line more than the Jigga man himself. Almost a year has passed since his triumphant return Kingdome Come and he’s already delivering another album. This time around it’s a concept album inspired by the Denzel Washington flick American Gangster, based on the saga of real-life gangster Frank Lucas.

The conceptual theme of the album gives Jay-Z the chance to speak on his colourful past and many of the topics covered in the film of the same name, seemingly without the consequences of being criticized by the media for glorifying illegal activities and going back to the same creative well over and over. American Gangster is essentially a middle finger to the haters.

This is exemplified by the biographical hustling anthem Roc Boyz … (And The Winner Is) as he literally thanks his connections for supplying him with *ahem* product and celebrates the labour that afforded him his current lifestyle and stature. A fine line is trodden on though, as it is hard to tell where he is talking from experience personally and where he is taking creative license speaking in character.

Say Hello sees the God MC (or is it his character?!) borrowing from Al Pacino’s famed Tony Montana character, as he talks about acting when his back is against the wall and how his detractors wished they could do the same. The stellar beat allows Kanye West to continue exploring the stadium music sound he began experimenting with on his recent solo effort.

Those aforementioned destructive tendencies are furthered explored on the aptly named Ignorant S***t, which samples the iconic Between The Sheets by the Isley Brothers for the umpteenth time. Another legendary artist gets the reworked treatment, this time Marvin Gaye’s Soon I'll Be Loving You Again, on American Dreamin’. Jay details the road to riches while also talking about the strains of that lifestyle, in his quick-witted conversational style: “who in the ‘f’ knows how to be successful?/I need a personal Jesus, I’m in Depeche Mode”.

American Gangster is not just a brooding and calculated look at the illegal life, it also serves as a celebration, as Hov basks in the limelight (sometimes too much). This is driven home as he is joined by Nas (yes, their union is now truly cemented) on the raw organ-driven Success. Jay-Z interpolates lyrics from his buddy Eminem and shows his usual flair, however Nasir steals the show, stating: “I climax from paper, then ask why is life worth living?/is it the hunt for the s***t that you want, to receives great, but I love giving”. Jigga is not to be outdone though: “truth be told, I had more fun when I was piss poor/I’m pissed off/is this what success is all about? a bunch of n****s acting like bitches with big mouths”.

At the end of the day, Sean Carter’s spot as Hip Hop royalty, despite the haters, cannot be denied. He could have retired after 2003’s The Black Album, no matter if it was disappointing, he had by that point achieved more than many had ever dreamed of. However, that creative fire couldn’t be distinguished and he just couldn’t stay away.

American Gangster proves that he has plenty of gas left in his tank and that he still remains relevant, even if we are 11 years after the glory days of ’96, he is not a mere washed-up has been taking away the spotlight and shelf-space from the hungry up comers. AG is one of his sharpest releases, musically and conceptually, in several years.

Available Through Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella Records