Does Jay-Z’s American Gangster Still Resonate Today?

By: DeeWeb

The year is 2007, and the blockbuster movie starring the legendary Denzel Washington, “American Gangster,” drops alongside the accompanying concept album from arguably the largest rap star at the time (and possibly of all time), Jay-Z. Receiving mostly positive reviews, revisiting this innovative project raises the question: does this album stand the test of time almost 20 years later? Spoiler alert—the answer is “Yes!”

The album opens with an enigmatic quote from the feature film, followed by the solemn track “Pray,” which sets the tone for the gritty and nostalgic feel of the album. Following this track is a classic Marvin Gaye sample (“Soon I’ll Be Loving You Again,” 1976), where Jay solidifies the 1970s drug kingpin storytelling theme for the listeners. While there are a few more uptempo and contemporary tracks on the album, the opening tracks let you know there will be no ass-poppin’ club hits for the most part.

While there are very few features on the album, the few that exist feel very organic and non-forced—they just make sense. Prime Lil Wayne and Nas both make appearances and shine as always, but the highlight has to be Beanie Sigel appearing on “Ignorant Sh*t,” especially after the breakup and restructuring of Roc-A-Fella Records; he definitely does not disappoint.

While the project is undoubtedly a hit in the long and storied discography of Jay-Z, it is not without its flaws. Although the Neptunes production shines on some of the best tracks, the Jermaine Dupri/No I.D. collaboration on “Fallin’” falls flat, and the track itself feels out of place on this album despite the storied track records of both producers. Also ironically the titled track “American Gangster” produced by Just Blaze just feels chaotic with Jay seemingly chasing the beat throughout the song. Sometimes, a big name does not mean a track should be exempt from hitting the cutting room floor. However, overall, the project could still easily fit into the rotation of any hip-hop aficionado.

Favorite Tracks: I Know, Ignorant Sh*t, Say Hello, Blue Magic

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (8.7/10)