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The #10 Album of the Year: Jay-Z - American Gangster
With his criminally overhyped, thuddingly anticlimactic comeback album, ‘Kingdom Come,’ Jay-Z offered listeners insight into the surprisingly dull life of a thirtysomething hip-hop mogul with nothing to prove and nothing much to say. The album’s disappointing sales suggested that fans found the view from the boardroom infinitely less compelling than the street-corner perspective of Jay-Z’s early work. On American Gangster, the hustler-turned-executive finds inspiration in the Ridley Scott film of the same name, the lush atmosphere of ’70s soul, and the bracing grit of blaxploitation.
American Gangster makes explicit the implicit subtext of so much street rap: that studio gangstas are generally more influenced by the contents of their DVD collections than their personal memories. Judging by this surprisingly strong return to form, Jay-Z might want to consider spending less time in the office and more time at the movies. Please, Jay.. we’re begging you.
I’ve already posted my favorite track #10 “Ignorant Sh*t”, so here is my second favorite: Track #2 “Pray”
— livejamie
With his criminally overhyped, thuddingly anticlimactic comeback album, ‘Kingdom Come,’ Jay-Z offered listeners insight into the surprisingly dull life of a thirtysomething hip-hop mogul with nothing to prove and nothing much to say. The album’s disappointing sales suggested that fans found the view from the boardroom infinitely less compelling than the street-corner perspective of Jay-Z’s early work. On American Gangster, the hustler-turned-executive finds inspiration in the Ridley Scott film of the same name, the lush atmosphere of ’70s soul, and the bracing grit of blaxploitation.
American Gangster makes explicit the implicit subtext of so much street rap: that studio gangstas are generally more influenced by the contents of their DVD collections than their personal memories. Judging by this surprisingly strong return to form, Jay-Z might want to consider spending less time in the office and more time at the movies. Please, Jay.. we’re begging you.
I’ve already posted my favorite track #10 “Ignorant Sh*t”, so here is my second favorite: Track #2 “Pray”
— livejamie