Allan’s World of Music

Jay-Z is a rap legend and I’ve enjoyed his work throughout my days of loving rap. It’s usually rare for me to listen to rap these days due to the situation of the major record industry and the type of work that is being spewed out on a daily basis was part of the reason I just look for my own music.

Jay-Z is a smart man for what it’s worth. From being a rapper to CEO and ultimately a very successful businessman, I have a lot of respect for the guy as you don’t get to where you are without not being smart.

Anyway, American Gangster is a concept album coupled with the movie “American Gangster” that I must watch. I didn’t get a chance to listen to “Kingdom Come” but the reviews weren’t great. With Jay-Z I think of having good beats or addictive hits (Dirt Off Your Shoulder and Big Pimpin’ come to mind). I find American Gangster to be more of very good rhyming and overall just excellent rapping without the beats dominating and over riding the lyrics. Jay-Z makes about a million references in this album it seems from Frank Sinatra to Depeche Mode to Tupac. In “Success” featuring long time rival, Nas, Jay-Z borrows a little from Eminem, in Ignorant Shit he samples the awesome beat by the Isley Brothers. There’s more stuff that I enjoyed

As a rap album, this is WHAT more rap should be. I’m usually sick and tired of most rap (e.g. 50 cent) and thankfully Jay-Z can bring mainstream rap to a more respectable name. If there are any flaws to this album, it’s that it’s too much on the lyrical content side of things. It’s hard to find these things catchy or addictive and I find it hard to have it on repeat for a long period of time.
Either way, I’ll give it a 4.5 out of 5. “Mad” rhymes on this one but just not quite the perfect balance of beats/rapping.

Check out these tracks:

Ignorant Shit (ft. Beanie Sigel) by Jay-Z

Success (ft. Nas) by Jay-Z

1 Comment for “Jay-Z: American Gangster Review”

1. name — September 1, 2008 @ 1:56 am
   
   

   Hello!,

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