Jay-Z presented his nearly-completed tenth album, American Gangster, Friday evening for a small gathering of media at Manhattan's Roc The Mic Studios. Inspired by the forthcoming Denzel Washington drama of the same name, the album – a crisper, more focused effort than his previous album, last year's somewhat maligned Kingdom Come – is a cinematic work, told with a loose narrative that follows the rise and subsequent fall of a New York drug lord. "It plays like a cautionary tale," he said. "But it's not me. I made it. I'm a bad motherfucker."
Working with producers like Bad Boy's Hit Men team, Jermaine Dupri and longtime collaborator Just Blaze, Gangster is lush with a live band sound that echoes the deep soul and funk sounds of the film, as on the electrifying banger "Roc Boys" and fierce lyrical workout "No Hook." Jay-Z spoke about acquiring tracks from Diddy's long-dormant crew of hitmakers. "He just had 'em, he didn't have anyone to give 'em to," he said, as a loop of the film played in the background on a PlayStation 2. Other standouts include DJ Toomp's booming "Say Hello to the Bad Guy," the No ID-helmed "Success" - which may feature former rival Nas - and the rescued "Ignorant Shit," originally recorded during the sessions for 2003's The Black Album (Roc-A-Fella). "Ignorant Shit" has been updated to include a verse from Roc-A-Fella's Beanie Sigel. It also now cannily addresses the controversy surrounding deposed shock rock Don Imus earlier this year. Nas, Sigel, R&B crooner Bilal (featured on the late album track "Fallen") and Pharrell (on lead single "Blue Magic") are the only guests.
Talking at length about the album's creation, Def Jam's reigning President and CEO said it took less than three weeks to record American Gangster. "I like the challenge of it," he said. "You could make 100 classic albums in a row and someone [else] could make one hot song and people compare you. This is the only sport like that."
Initially brought to his attention by Universal's noted soundtrack executive Kathy Nelson, American Gangster depicts the true story of Frank Lucas, a Harlem drug kingpin who amassed a $250 million empire in less than 10 years in the 1970s. Referencing Lucas' reserved, all-business attitude, Jay-Z often echoes the aspirational themes of the film, as on "No Hook," which finds him snarling, "Fuck rich, let's get wealthy."
American Gangster (Universal/Imagine), directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ridley Scott, is in theaters on November 2. Jay-Z's American Gangster will be available four days later on November 6.
del.icio.us
digg
Furl
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Comments
1.
apouaslame says:
je suis tres heureux de jez.aslmae
November 4, 2007 at 7:32 am
2.
zaid says:
jay-z the hip pop king is hot on a concrete stage. we want more albums and more hits. ur fans are dieing 4 u.
October 31, 2007 at 7:08 pm
3.
ddssoo says:
yuytr
October 20, 2007 at 11:54 am
4.
Thabiso Hadebe says:
The King of New York is back and his got something to say,so gathers up hustlers.
October 19, 2007 at 6:45 am
5.
Chinwuko Samuel Azuka says:
i love you jay-z
October 17, 2007 at 1:59 pm
6.
Ochieng' Odero says:
Jay-Z rocks...
October 17, 2007 at 11:26 am
7.
muwanga drake says:
hello am glad to send to you this email l need friends from usa and l; would like to vibe to help me and get forv me some like five and more am from uganda that is east africa.
October 16, 2007 at 1:12 am
8.
Nic-Nac says:
the hostest hip hop on the streets, check out www.nicnac1.com
October 15, 2007 at 1:59 pm
9.
Mr. Sharpe says:
So is this supposed to be the official soundtrack for the movie or did he just title it that to piggy back off the movie. either way it'll end up being a good look for Hov.
October 15, 2007 at 11:10 am
10.
J.Williams says:
Album Of The !!!YEAR!!!
October 11, 2007 at 10:14 am
11.
Crillz Beatz says:
Hovi's Home!!!
Crillz Beatz
www.myspace.com/crillzbeatz
October 10, 2007 at 2:40 pm
12.
ORONDARASHON says:
i like da new single wit Skateboard.P it has an 80s feel 2 it and im def. an 80s baby im def. looking foward 2 the album and movie we all no Denzel is phenomenal and def. a legend and so is Jay so i think this is goin 2 be 1 of those beautiful moments in hip hop and hollywood and as far as comparisons if u wonna say somebody like Nas,Jada,common,black thought,kool g rap,or anybody on thier levels as far as lyrics and not record sells i really dont wonna hear nuttin bout no comparisons and i am hip hop so i can talk here and we all know lil wayne is in the best shape
of his life right now but how in the hell do u start comparing this brother 2 one of the greatest of all time im sorry but real talk yall should be ashamed of urselfs if ur guilty of that GODFIRST ENT. MYSPACE.COM/ORONDARASHON
October 10, 2007 at 2:26 pm
13.
DEBORAH TAYLOR says:
ANY INFORMATION ON JAY-Z AND BEYONCE. I LOVE THIS MAGAZINE!!!
October 10, 2007 at 9:09 am
14.
Memphis Bleek says:
I just ate Jay's sperm
October 9, 2007 at 12:05 pm
15.
Crillz Beatz says:
The Real is Back!!!!
Crillz Beatz
www.myspace.com/crillzbeatz
October 9, 2007 at 10:22 am
16.
Kara Shields says:
I think that Jay-Z should make more albums after that because he a wonderful entertainer and I enjoy him very much. I'll wish the best of luck on the future of his collaborations and what else he has in store for us.
October 8, 2007 at 3:31 pm
17.
Dirty South says:
Already the G.O.A.T
October 8, 2007 at 11:22 am
18.
Game Over says:
B, you're blind, what you should see is Hov's best album since Blueprint. Get ready to eat those words...
October 8, 2007 at 7:27 am
19.
B says:
I see another flop in the making.
October 7, 2007 at 10:45 pm
20.
evenwhenilie says:
......after this album there will be no more lil wayne comparisons.
October 7, 2007 at 9:46 pm
21.
evenwhenilie says:
......after this album there will be no more lil wayne comparisons.
October 7, 2007 at 9:46 pm
22.
xinxin says:
no comment
October 7, 2007 at 2:26 am
23.
Prototype says:
Sounds good! Can't wait!
October 7, 2007 at 12:29 am