Jay-Z’s American Gangster is one hell of a comeback album . . . for Diddy. Sean Combs, along with his production team, the Hitmen, oversees Gangster‘s best tracks, “Pray” and “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is).” As for Jigga, let’s hope he finally makes good on his promise to retire. The rap legend allegedly got a sneak peek at the movie American Gangster and was so inspired by what he saw, he decided to come out of retirement (again!) to write and perform a new batch of songs. But instead of focusing on the film’s subject, Harlem heroin dealer Frank Lucas, the CD is mostly about Jay — the old drug-dealing Jay, that is.
While musically more solid than his last comeback album, 2006’s Kingdom Come — where Hov ruminated about his monied, corporate life — American Gangster feels less authentic. The emphasis on Jay’s old hustling days comes off as a calculated attempt to recapture the hunger of his 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt. On “I Know,” he pretty much admits to reviving the very persona his fans would rather hear: “She wants that old thing back, she want those heroin tracks.” And on “Success,” he raps, “Truth be told, I had more fun when I was piss-poor.” It’s too bad that one of the greatest rappers ever — who also happens to date one of the most beautiful women in the world — isn’t having much fun these days. But it’s downright troubling that he’s making mediocre albums that pander to his audience.
This article appears in Nov 14-20, 2007.
FIRST OF ALL YOU ARE ABLE TO WRITE BECAUSE THSI MAN HAS A CAREER. WHEN HE NEEDS YOUR WHO GIVES A FUCK WHAT YOU THINK OPINION HE WILL ASK OR GIVE IT TO YOUR RETARDED ASS ANYWAY. HE CAN RAP CIRCLES AROUND YOUR ASS AND I THINK THAT IS WHY YOU WANT TO BASH HIM. DON’T HATE CONGRATULATE. FURTHER MORE IF HE IS SUCH A HORRIBLE RAPPER AS YOU CLAIM THEN YOU SHOULD STILL BE GIVING HIM HIS PROPS BECAUSE HE HAS FOOLED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OVER AND OVER. I KNOW YOU CAN’T FATHOM THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HE HAS SEEING AS HOW YOU PROBABLY MAKE $50, 000 OR LESS A YEAR BUT JEALOUSY IS VERY UNBECOMING. HOVA IS DA GOD AND REALLY TO COMPARE ANY OTHER RAPPER TO HIM IS DISGRACEFUL. ALWAYAS REMEMBER WHAT YOU EAT DON’T MAKE HIM SHIT THE SOONER YOU GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD THE SOONER YOU WANT WASTE PAPER, INK AND TIME WRITING THIS SLANDEROUS SHIT. DIG A HOLE DIG HOLE GO HEAD AND BURY YA SELF. CLOWN!!!!!