A quick bit of history: Jay-Z dominates the rap scene for eight years straight, then announces his retirement with the release of 2003’s the Black Album. Three years later, Shawn Carter steps back up to the mic, releasing the “comeback”
With his tenth studio album, American Gangster, Mr. Carter lays all doubts to rest. The hustler-turned-king of hip-hop returns with an album that easily outshines Kingdom Come, serving as a return to his stylistic roots. Just Blaze, Jermaine Dupri, The Neptunes, Beanie Siegel and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Hitmen beatmakers all help create a sonic tapestry that proves to be one of the best hip-hop releases of the year.'
Taking inspiration from the movie of the same name, Jay-Z presents his version of a superfly seventies concept album with American Gangster. Shaking off the retirement rust that pervaded Kingdom Come, Hov casts himself as the lead in the story of a man rising up the ranks in the dope game, riding the wave of success and then reflecting on his mistakes as it all crashes down around him.'
“Pray”, Gangster’s opening track, explores the life of a young hustler determined to come up in the world, with Beyonce and Kanye West lending vocals as Diddy’s Hitmen lay the groundwork. The Hitmen work production on six tracks total, the strongest being “Roc Boys (and the winner is)”. It’s classic Reasonable Doubt-era Hov, with a silky, funktified celebratory delivery. "This is black superhero music right here, baby," he declares, and he's right.'
As Jay-Z proves with the soulful “American Dreamin”, you can’t go wrong with a Marvin Gaye sample. "I need a personal Jesus, I'm in Depeche Mode…they say it’s celestial, it’s all in the stars… it's like Tony La Russa on how you play your cards," he rhymes over snippets of Gaye’s “Soon I’ll Be Loving You Again”. The bass-heavy Beastie Boys nod “Hello Brooklyn” is a standout track, despite the handicap of Lil Wayne’s annoying presence. The
Just Blaze offers up the Black Album outtake “Ignorant Shit”, as Hov and Beanie Siegel defend hip-hop against the Don Imus-led critics on one of Gangster’s stronger tracks: "I missed the part when it stopped being about Imus, what do my lyrics have to do with this shit? Scarface the movie did more than Scarface the rapper to me… are you saying that what I'm spittin' is worse than these celebutantes showing they kitten? You kiddin?"'
Pound for pound, the best track on the album is “Success”, a collaboration with Nas that explores the life of excess while dominating the hustler world. The theme flips on the Dupri-produced “Fallin”, with the character reflecting on his fall from grace as neo-soul singer Bilal sings the chorus.'
American Gangster ends with a bang, as the title track tears through mile-a-minute rhymes. “The way I shine, it’s like a zillion dollar light bill,” he raps over celebratory horns and a cymbal-crash soul-funk vibe, and it’s hard to argue.'
With American Gangster, Jay-Z proves he’s still the greatest rapper alive.
