Overall Customer Rating
4.4 out of 5
4.4
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Rating breakdown 30 reviews
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Star
1
30  reviews)
(30 Reviews)
90%of customers recommend this product. 
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27 out of 30
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Overall Customer Rating
4.4 out of 5
4.4
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating breakdown 30 reviews
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Star
1
30  reviews)
(30 Reviews)
90%of customers recommend this product. 
(
27 out of 30
)
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
american legend
on November 5, 2008
Posted by: frank12345
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from miami, fl
Jay-Z is one of the greatest rappers of all time. Back in the 90's he dropped classic after classic but then he decided to retire after The Black Album although he was never really gone but he didn't release a new albums til last year when he decided to return from the hiatus with Kingdom Come. The album got lukewarm response and while the production wasn't bad it wasn't the right album to comeback with dealing with anything from his hollywood friends, to how 30 is the new 20 and the redundant strip club anthem with Pharell and Usher. It was obvious that Sean Carter wanted to be #1 but not for any price. The album was commercial but not too interesting. Being the richest man in Hip Hop it looked like he had completely forgot about his roots but desperatlely wanted to hang on to his crown. One year after that the news came about Jay-Z dropping another album. Being the president for Def Jam, holding clothing lines, owning the 40/40 club and co-owning the New York Nets he doesn't need to release another album cause the majority of his income comes from elsewhere and being closer to 40 then 30 he belongs to the seniors of rappers, so why another album?. But Jay-Z is doing it for the love of the game and he's proving it more then ever with this release.
"American Gangster" as this album is called is a conceptual album based on the Denzel Washington film with the same name. It's about the drug dealer Frank Lucas in the early 70's. And that itself works well cause Jay-Z was one himself and his classic debut album "Reasonable Doubt" portraited his early life before success with Hip Hop. Most of the songs here are suppost to make references to scenes from the film. So, Incase you have seen it you probably have a better understanding. The sound is very much retro soul, taken from an blaxploitation flick from exactly that time. Perhaps the sample-driven sound could pass as dated by today with all of the extra-ordinary productions we find but considering that it's suppost to be the soundtrack to something from the early 70's it's understandable. The majority of the production is from Diddy's proteges LV & Sean C (Also known As the Hitmen). But some of the songs also comes from The Neptunes, Jermaine Dupri, Just Blaze and Dj Toomp. But most of them haveone thing in common, they're sample driven retro soul sounding.
After a short intro, The album starts with dramatic "Pray" where you also can hear the spoken words of Beyonce. It feautures violins and church choirs and sets the tone for what's coming. The song is semi-autobiographical where he talks about his childhood and what made him a hustler. References to Sinatra, Berry Gordy, Kennedy an be heard here. In the last verse he'll make a reference to a Kanye West' song by saying "Everything I've Seen Made Me Everything I Am". Second song "American Dreaming" heavily samples from Marvin Gaye, even by using his voice. Lazy as that may be the lyrics are really good where he talks about how he chose fast money over education. "Hello Brooklyn" Pt 2" is unfortunately a miss-step. The minimalistic production is inadequate and Lil Wayne singing the hook is just corny. It simply doesn't fit in here. "No Hook" is another autobiographical song simular to "Pray" with no hook just verses and a deep laidback sound. He said that hustling was his ticket out of the hood and even if he promised his mom to stay out of trouble he was going to die inside if he didn't try. "Roc Boys (The Winner is)" is the closest to hit potential here, it uses a soul horn sample and would work fine for radio. It's a celebration to a successful lifestyle. More classic soul/funk on "Sweet". Pharell provides the beats and backround vocals for "I Know", but it does feel a little out of place here but the song is really good.
With "Party Life" we have another decent midtempo backed by a soul singer while on the Beanie Sigel collaboration "Ignorant S*it" we have a song that samples The Isley Brother's "Between the Sheets". The Dj Toomp produced "Say Hello" follow the path of soul-funk and is pretty good aswell. Next up is something that most Hip Hop fans don't wanna miss. "Success" is another duet between Jay-Z and his former rival Nas, just like on "Black Republican". It was produced by Jermaine Dupri but got to say the beats here suits the song perfectly. The same producer follows up with the jazzy "Fallin" where Bilal sings the hook. It reminds me of some of the songs from Common's last album, where Bilal also appeared. "Blue Magic" from Pharell was the first single and it one of the best songs with it's minimalistic production and beats, if you liked the Clipse's last album you're gonna love this one. The album closes with the title track which is 70's soul-funk aswell.
Overall, This album isn't perfect but it's the best Jay-Z released in a long time and it's obvious he's trying to drop another album simular to Reasonable Doubt dealing with the issues he knows best. It's a conceptual album, it got good lyrics and a production that both feels suitable as a score and as an autobiography. The production is quite simular from song to song and it doesn't have the obvious hit single like most Jay-Z fans are used to. But neither did "Reasonable Doubt" with few big hits or major album sales after it's release. This album is much diffrent then what most people would expect from one of the most commercially appealing Rap stars, but that also why I like it and admire him for dropping it. "American Gangster" is the best Jay-Z album in a long time and if he finally decides to call it quit now atleast he'll do it by the knowledge on retiring on top.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5 out of 5
5
Best album to date
on October 30, 2007
Posted by: SUHN
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from DALLAS
"This CD brought me back to the golden days of hip hop. Jay sounds like he did during the Reasonable Doubt era.Not to take anything away from his previous albums but this one is a Jay we havent herd in a while. He sounds back hungry, back in the steets. He dose a good job of painting a vivid picture threw out the album. I think with this album he is going to once again WAKE UP the industry and force MC's to step up thier game and also force radio program directors to start playing REAL HIP HOP once again."
What's great about it: Creative lyrics, refreshing beats
What's not so great: none
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1 out of 5
1
Worst Album Ever
on November 7, 2007
Posted by: ForReal
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from WITH you
Same old recycled lines from other artists and past lyrics. Jay is running out of things to say. Nothing original... I was looking forward to real storytelling like Meet the Parents...but what I got is part action of the movie that J pretends reflects his own life and other stuff we already heard. Excuse me, I fell asleep. He poses as though this is thought provoking, mature material....He is hoping a new audience falls for his lame attempt to be relevant.
He is authentic as that bottle of champagne he drinks.
What's great about it: Fallin, American Dream
What's not so great: The rest
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
A Little Disappointing
on September 30, 2008
Posted by: CallawayMan
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from Grand Forks, ND
Jay-Z is probably the best ever but this album doesn't have the same kick butt feel to it as his previous albums do. Still a respectable release but not what I was hoping for.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5 out of 5
5
The Best
on November 13, 2008
Posted by: dub6661
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from Florida
Love This Album One Of his best If you like this album you definitely need to check out "Crack Addiction" Jay Z with DJ Bobby Black.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5 out of 5
5
awesome album by jay z
on July 20, 2010
Posted by: CyanideTheJudasKissAllNightmareLong101
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from bonita springs,fla,usa,united states
awesome album by the best rapper alive jay z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What's great about it: everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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4 out of 5
4
Typical Hov
on October 30, 2007
Posted by: Diesil
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from Birmingham,AL
I read an article online where Jay-Z stated that this album was between blueprint and Reasonable Doubt. I beg to differ those were two of my favorite Jay-Z albums and to me this album is at the bottom of the list along with kingdom come. Jay-Z is comparabale to Jordan when he came back to play for the wizards, although he was a skillful player he just didnt have it like he used to. My problem with this album is the beat selection we hava an album called American Ganster and you have the neptunes doing beats on here please. Where are the primos,ski, clark kent and all of the other producers that could have given this album a real grimy dark feel to it instead you get Blue Magic "Im gettin it"no. Although this album didnt meet my expectation its still Hov so I would definetly recommend it.
What's great about it: Lyrics, Concept album
What's not so great: Rehashed topics, poor beat selection.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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3 out of 5
3
not that impressive
on November 6, 2007
Posted by: snowgoon
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from Albuquerque, NM
I had been anticipating this album ever since I had heard about it a month ago, but now that I bought it, i ask my self why I was so stupid to buy it before preveiwing it. After listening to it once all the way through, I wasn't that impressed. Now to be fair, I was only some what a Jay-Z fan but this album didn't help his status at all. The only reason that he is the most successful rapper is because he is the CEO of Def. Jam records, it is definatly not because of his rhymes or his beats. I will however give credit to "Blue Magic" that was another good song on the album, not the best, but still worth mentioning. My current favorite is Pray and second is Fallin', after that however the album is not worth buying. If you have the opprotunity to just buy single tracks, do it. Or if you want whole albums, at least sample it before you buy it because in my opinion this was a waste of Money. Don't buy Jay-Z's cd. Go see the movie though, Denzel was great as Frank Lucas.
What's great about it: Pray and Fallin'
What's not so great: every other song
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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