American Gangster

by Jay-Z

Overview

"Y'all n*ggas got me really confused out there. I make 'Big Pimpin' or 'Give It to Me,' one of those -- that had me as the greatest writer of the 21st century. I make some thought-provoking sh*t -- y'all question whether he fallin' off." When you've built up a back catalog of eight studio albums and walk the earth as one of the biggest, most high-profile artists of the '90s and 2000s, you're bound to get some mixed signals from those who pay attention to you. However, the jury did not take long to reach a verdict on 2006's Kingdom Come: the consensus on it (as a major fall-off) was as swift and strong as the consensus on Reasonable Doubt (as a classic). Once used copies of Kingdom Come became easily attainable for less than two dollars, it was apparent the next Jay-Z album might not be so anticipated. He'd need to get some fresh inspiration and make some corrective maneuvers. Fortunately, both came unexpectedly -- rather than by desperate force -- after he saw an advance screening of the early-'70s period piece American Gangster, which played a direct role in nine of the songs on this album of the same name. While several tracks connected to specific scenes are also rooted in productions trading in the regal grit that made up so much '70s soul, the album is not a straight narrative, broken up by tracks like the boom-clap of "Hello Brooklyn 2.0" (produced by Bigg D) and the glitzed-out pair of "I Know" (a half-icing Neptunes layer cake) and "Ignorant Shit" (where Just Blaze transforms the Isleys' quiet storm staple "Between the Sheets" into a high-gloss anthem). Combined with the tracks laced with '70s soul -- including six produced by Diddy & LV & Sean C, one by Toomp, and two by a newly forged partnership between Jermaine Dupri and No I.D. -- it all adds up to an album that seems nearly out of time, at least when it comes to the years spanning Jay-Z's career, without resembling a true regression. "Success," for instance, takes its lead from The Black Album's "Public Service Announcement," with blaring organ over heavily weighted drum knocks, yet despite the likeness, it's one of the album's highlights. And while Jay mentions American Gangster and protagonist Frank Lucas directly, and intersperses some tracks with dialogue, the connection does not overshadow the album. It's not like he's yelling "Shaft's Big Score 2K7!" or "Leonard Part Six, Part Two!" It's all as natural as Scarface riffing off Scarface. And that might be the most common complaint about the album -- it's really just another case of Jay-Z being Jay-Z, albeit with different presentation. Unless you know each verse from Reasonable Doubt through Kingdom Come, it might sound like he's dealing with no variation on well-worn themes, the exact same thoughts and emotions that make up older tracks about his past as a drug dealer -- the rise, the arrogance, the conflictedness, the fall, and all stages in between. When he's in the right frame of mind, though, as he is throughout much of the album's duration (it is a bit sluggish in spots), he's as affective with his subject as Isaac Hayes and Marvin Gaye were with romance. Just as key, the level of insolence and spite on display here is as high as it has ever been. "I got watches I ain't seen in months/Apartment at the Trump, I only slept in it once/N*ggas said Hova was over, such dummies/Even if I fell I land on a bunch of money" has more of those qualities than all of Kingdom Come. One could say that's not really saying much, but regardless of context, this is a very good Jay-Z album. He is, for the most part, doing what he has done before: what he does best. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	11/06/2007
Label:	Roc-A-Fella
UPC:	0602517499898

Tracks

1. Intro
2. Pray
3. American Dreamin'
4. Hello Brooklyn 2.0
5. No Hook
6. Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)...
7. Sweet
8. I Know
9. Party Life
10. Ignorant Sh*t
11. Say Hello
12. Success
13. Fallin'
14. Blue Magic
15. American Gangster

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jay-Z   Primary Artist,Vocals
IDRIS   Primary Artist,Co-Producer
Lil Wayne   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Nas   Primary Artist,Vocals
Idris Elba   Primary Artist,Co-Producer
Beanie Sigel   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Cameron Johnson   Trumpet
James Lewis   Bass,Guitar,Guitar,Bass
Jeanine Wynton   Violin
A.J. Walker   Vocals
Rhonda Robinson   Vocals (Background)
Carmen Cameron   Vocals
No-ID   Co-Producer
Kenneth Whalum   Sax (Tenor)
Canei Finch   Piano
Lisa Kim   Violin
Beyonce   Vocals
Shannon Jones   Vocals
Keyon Harrold   Trumpet
Ed "Wolverine" Goldson   Bass,Guitar
Dawn Hannay   Viola
Aaron J. Johnson   Trombone (Bass),Clarinet (Bass)
Bigg D   Multi Instruments
Leisa Johnson   Vocals
Kanye West   Vocals
Matthew Lehmann   Violin
Adonis Shropshire   Vocals
Jayms Madison   Vocals
Saunders Sermons   Trombone
Minyoung Chang   Violin
Elizabeth Lim   Violin
Ed Goldson   Bass,Guitar
Juan Carlos Perez   Vocals (Background)
Timon Abuptah   Strings
Sarah O'Boyle   Violin
Jermaine Dupri   Co-Producer
Jeanne LeBlanc   Cello
Andy Snitzer   Sax (Alto)
Bilal   Vocals (Background)
Keon Bryce   Vocals (Background)
Cheri Dennis   Vocals
Eileen Moon   Cello
Still Phil   Drums
Matt Lehmann   Violin
Bashiri Johnson   Percussion
Jeff Kievit   Trumpet
Cassie   Vocals
Sandra Park   Violin
Pharrell Williams   Vocals
Mario Winans   Drums,Strings,Co-Producer
Sue Pray   Viola
Juan Perez   Vocals (Background)
Charles Pillow   Sax (Tenor)
Arden Altino   Bass,Piano,Strings,Keyboards,Fender Rhodes
Arden "Keyz" Altino   Bass,Piano,Strings,Keyboards,Fender Rhodes
Ryan West   Strings,Horn Engineer
Sharon Yamada   Violin
Mike David   Trombone
Marty Reid   Guitar
Angela Wood   Vocals

Technical Credits

Steve "Rock Star" Dickey   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer,Engineer
Ced Hollywood   Engineer
Dwight Grant   Composer
Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young   Engineer,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
LV   Producer
Rudy Love   Composer
Andrew Wright   Engineer,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Idris Elba   Arranger
Darren Smith   Engineer
Victor Abijaudi   Mixing,Engineer
David Stone   Composer
Victor Abjaoudi II   Engineer,Mixing
Justin Smith   Composer,Composer
No I.D.   Producer
Angel Aponte   Engineer
Deleno Matthews   Composer
Michael Deller   Composer
Derrick Baker   Composer
Hector Delgado   Mixing,Editing,Arranger
No-ID   Producer
IDRIS   Arranger
Matthew Testa   Assistant Engineer
Michelle Figueroa   Assistant Engineer
Derrick Selby   Engineer
Chris Jasper   Composer
Ernest Wilson   Composer
Phil Tan   Mixing
Arthur Ross   Composer
J. Peter Robinson   Design,Photography,Art Direction
Shawn Carter   Design,Composer,Producer,Art Direction,Executive Producer
Bigg D   Producer
Rudolph Isley   Composer
Marvin Isley   Composer
Maxine Jones   Composer
The Neptunes   Producer
Diddy   Composer,Producer,Associate Producer
Josh Houghkirk   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
David Guy   Composer
Dion Wilson   Composer
Levar Coppin   Composer
Nasir Jones   Composer
Cedric Hollywood Jr.   Engineer
Hector Helgado   Mixing,Editing
Carline Balan   A&R
Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro   Mixing
Mike Deller   Composer
Seth Firkins   Engineer
Heather Boyden   Assistant Arranger,Assistant Engineer
Darin Smith   Engineer
June Ambrose   Stylist
Arthur Elgort   Photography
Hart Gunther   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Andrew Coleman   Engineer
Larry Ellis   Composer
Eric Weissman   Sample Clearance
The Hitmen   Associate Producer
Terese Joseph   A&R
Drew Hollywood   Programming
Bernhard Kaun   Composer
Marvin Gaye   Composer
Jermaine Dupri   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Tony Hester   Composer
Tony Dawsey   Mastering
Terry Ellis   Composer
Ken "Duro" Ifill   Mixing
Bosco Mann   Composer
L.V.   Producer
L.A. Reid   Executive Producer
Cindy Herron   Composer
O'Kelly Isley   Composer
Thomas McElroy   Composer
Alan Hawkshaw   Composer
Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton   Mixing,Engineer,Vocal Engineer
Willie Hale   Composer
Tom Brocker   Composer
Drew Money   Engineer
Matt Testa   Assistant Engineer
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Barry White   Composer
Chad Hugo   Mixing
Dawn Robinson   Composer
Ernie Isley   Composer
Sandra Park   String Contractor
Leon Ware   Composer
Denzil Foster   Composer
Pharrell Williams   Composer
Mario Winans   Producer
Ronald Isley   Composer
Just Blaze   Producer
Sean Combs   Composer,Producer
Andy Geel   Assistant Engineer
Ryan West   Engineer
Dwayne Carter   Composer
Chris Flame   Producer
Carter Administration   A&R
Anthony Palazzole   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
DJ Toomp   Producer
Dave Guy   Composer
Leon Michels   Composer
Thomas Brenneck   Composer
Kenneth Whalum   Arranger
Aldrin Davis   Composer
Hype Williams   Photography