Jay-Z - American Gangster

NME.COM feature on Jay-Z - American Gangster album including album review, artwork, tracks, listen now, tour dates, discography and more.

Album Review

Release date: 10 November 2007

Jay-Z - American Gangster

Jay-Z: 'American Gangster'

'You leave ‘American Gangster’ longing for more don’t-give-a-fuck attitude'

Not 12 months have elapsed since ‘Kingdom Come’, the record that saw Jay-Z shrug off the moth-bitten dressing gown of retirement and dive back in to the rap game. The Hova’s first post-retirement record had both eyes on the crossover buck, featuring everyone from Beyoncé to Chris Martin. Jay-Z’s since cooled to it, though, admitting later that it was “maybe too sophisticated”. So...

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Jay-Z Tickets

Date / Time Artist Venue Town/City Seetickets Viagogo
Jun 11, 2012 20:15 Jay Z Manchester Arena Manchester

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from £53

 

Jun 13, 2012 19:30 Jay Z Lg Arena, The Nec Birmingham

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Jay-Z News

Jay-Z to write new songs for Willow Smith-starring version of 'Annie'

Jay-Z to write new songs for Willow Smith-starring version of 'Annie'

The rapper will score the Will Smith produced musical

Jay-Z to curate and headline his own music festival this summer

Jay-Z to curate and headline his own music festival this summer

Rapper will headline the 'Made In America' festival in Philadelphia

Fans frustrated as BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend ticket site crashes

Fans frustrated as BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend ticket site crashes

Tickets for Jay-Z and Rihanna headlined bash go on-sale

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Jay-Z - American Gangster: Wikipedia Album Entry

American Gangster is the tenth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on November 6, 2007 in the United States via the record labels Island Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella. American Gangster is Jay-Z's first concept album, which was inspired by the film of the same name. The album features production from Diddy & The Hitmen, Just Blaze, and The Neptunes, among others. Guest appearances include Beanie Sigel, Lil Wayne, and Nas. Jay-Z released a cappella version of the album on his birthday, December 4, 2007.

Music critics praised American Gangster, and noted that Jay-Z was trying more "complex lyrics". The album was released to significant commercial success, despite being pulled from the iTunes Store, selling 425,861 copies in its first week and debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, tying Elvis Presley for the second most number one albums. The Rolling Stone magazine named American Gangster the third best album of 2007.

Two singles have been released from American Gangster. The first, "Blue Magic", was released on September 20, 2007, peaking at 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, 31 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks. The track's name is a reference to the kind of heroin that Frank Lucas sold in the movie American Gangster, the CD even came in a package similar to the one the heroin came in. The second single, "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." was released on October 10, 2007, and reached 63 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks.

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Jay-Z - American Gangster Lyrics

Jay-Z - Intro Lyrics

It's the Dynasty niggaz as promised
The world's most infamous Roc-A-Fella Records
This is Roc La Familia
It's Young Hova, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Amil-lion

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Jay-Z - Party Life Lyrics

Oh, I like the party life
The city in bright lights
Little girls dressed in skintight

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Jay-Z - Hello Brooklyn 2.0 Lyrics

Hello Brooklyn

Hello Brooklyn, how you doin'?
Where you goin'? Can I come to?

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Jay-Z - American Dreamin’ Lyrics

Dreamed of you this mornin'
Then came the dawn and I thought you were here with me
If you could only see how much I love you
That's all, that's all, baby

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Jay-Z - Sweet Lyrics

Sweet
And still there's pain

If I would have grew up to be a doctor

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Jay-Z - Say Hello Lyrics

It's that Roc-A-Fella music, soulful

Say hello to the bad guy, they say I'm a bad guy
I come from the bottom but now I'm mad fly

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Jay-Z - Fallin' Lyrics

I know I should'nt have did that
I know it's gonna come right back
I know it's gonna destroy everythin' I made
It's probably gonna get your boy sent away

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Jay-Z - Success Lyrics

Your success took a shot at you
What are you gonna do now? Are you gonna kill it?
You gonna become unsuccessful?
Frank, you can be successful and have enemies

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Jay-Z - I Know Lyrics

And I know and I know
And I know and I know
And I know and I know
And I know and I know

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Jay-Z - Roc Boys Lyrics

And the winner is Hov
My man, speech

First of all I wanna thank my Connect

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Jay-Z - No Hook Lyrics

Poor me, dad was gone, finally got my dad back
Never that he wouldn't live long, they snatched my dad back
Guidance I never had that, streets was my second home
Welcomed me with open arms, provided a place to crash at

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Jay-Z - Pray Lyrics

Deliver me from my enemies, oh God
Defend me from all those that rise up against me
Deliver me from the work of inequities
The Savior from the blood of me

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Jay-Z - Blue Magic Lyrics

Roc-A-Fella Records
The Imperial Skateboard P
Great Hova
Y'all already know what it is

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Jay-Z - Ignorant Shit Lyrics

Yes sir, just the sound of his voice is a hit
Y'all niggaz got me really confused out there
I make 'Big Pimpin'' or 'Give It To Me' one of those
Y'all hail me as the greatest writer of the 21st century

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