Inspired by the movie American Gangster, the tale of drug kingpin Frank Lucas, Jay-Z has returned with a product as potent as the Blue Magic his first single was named after.
A cross between his classic debut album Reasonable Doubt and the soulful classic Blueprint, American Gangster grabs the day-one fans that drifted when mainstream fame hit, the folks that hail Hov as the greatest rapper alive and those aching to vibe instead of snap.
This is the perfect comeback from a comeback that wasn't well-received. Last year's Kingdom Come introduced a new Jay. Fresh out of retirement, he avoided songs about hustling and proclaimed that 30 was the new 20 and rapped about beach chairs. But it was too different, too soon for most. The album got brushed off as adult contemporary hip-hop-or worse, Jordan on the Wizards.
Now, with 11 years since his debut album, nine number one albums and several classics, Jay-Z is proving that he still has the game on lock.
If you doubted his flow, it only takes one listen to see that Jigga still seamlessly weaves stories together using the simplest language to illustrate complex concepts. On "No Hook" he does what many rappers wish they could: He creates a gripping song without a hook.
If you doubted his content, check the commentary. In "Ignorant Shit" he quips, "Scarface the movie did more than Scarface the rapper to me." And in "Say Hello," he makes a few more statements to the hip-hop police: "I'll remove the curses, if they say our schools gone be perfect, when Jena 6 don't exist, tell'em that's when I'll stop saying bitch, bitch."
The only problem is "Hello Brooklyn 2.0." It's nice but out of place. Lil Wayne's lyrics are far from lyrical and the beat strays from the 1970s soulful sound of the rest of the album.
In the end, you'll love it. American Gangster is the rebirth of Shawn Carter the hustler. Say hello to the bad guy.
-NIEMA JORDAN
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