American Gangster [PA] by Jay-Z

Pros: Soulful, complementary production. And when Jay's on, there are few better emcees.
Cons: Pharrell needs to stick to designing sneakers or skateboards or something.

I can admit to being skeptical about this whole "American Gangster" thing. To me, Jay-Z's decision to jump into the studio after catching a screening of the Denzel Washington/Russell Crowe flick (which details the NYC drug trade at the height of the ...

Pros: Jay-Z sounds more inspired than in Kingdom Come; a terrifically executed concept album; soul-tastic production
Cons: An anemic first single, a lukewarm Weezy and a questionable Pharrell contribution tarnish the show

Jay-Z was barely out of studio-album retirement, and already it was proving to be a rocky return. For a man who just never seemed to be toppled even slightly from his perch during his reign as hip-hop’s most enduring top dog, 2006’s Kingdom ...

Pros: Great concept and he sticks with it for nearly the entire album, excellent production
Cons: Pharrell's production, I wish Diddy was gritty

The Black Album was supposed to be his swan song. It was to be the perfect ending. For every song, there was to be a different producer. While it didn't end up that way, it was still a concept that he thought would put that exclamation point on ...

Pros: A few passable tracks.
Cons: Unoriginal and repetitive lyrics, music that misses the mark.

It’s not hard to comprehend why Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z felt enamored enough with celebrated criminal Frank Lucas to mirror his album, American Gangster, after the Denzel Washington / Russell Crowe biopic of the same name.  ...

Pros: A worthy conceptual reprise; Potent and focused Jay-Z rhymes
Cons: A half hearted and inconsistent attempt at a "concept" album

I have been here before... I remember being the guy who was semi-ridiculed when I said I felt Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt was a cinematic concept album about the mafioso lifestyle. Others thought I was over-doing it a bit, but I ...

Pros: The real Jay-Z is here.
Cons: The real Jay-Z was kidnapped and murdered by his far more boring evil twin.

Let’s be blunt here: if you’re awaiting Jay-Z’s forthcoming The Blueprint 3 with anything other than apathy or dread, you’re kidding yourself. His recent material is little more than a bizarre hotchpodge of ill-advised ...

Pros: Beats surprisingly dope and different from certain producers, original lyrics, some excellent tracks
Cons: A couple of lazier songs, sometimes the beats mess up the flow

Aight, most people think it’s a no-brainer to say that American Gangster is a much better album than Kingdom Come was. There’s really not much to analyze here about Jay-Z’s newest album (well, actually – that’s a lie ...

Pros: A more focused, more inspired Jay-Z; strong soulful production; a great thematic concept album.
Cons: Not that much at all... it's mostly just one bad song ("Hello Brooklyn 2.0").

The subject of drug dealing is nothing new to Hip-Hop, and it's certainly nothing new to Jay-Z. Before he was rapping for a living, he was selling drugs in Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, New York. His first album, 1996's "Reasonable Doubt", ...

Pros: A return to form for Jay-Z. One of the better hip-hop albums this year.
Cons: Concept is half-baked. Album does lag at points.

Heading into 2007 there was very little reason to believe Jay-Z could restore his position as one of hip-hop’s most vital, talented figures. After all, it was only last year that the ridiculously wealthy, east-coast rapper returned from his pathetic, ...

Pros: Hov's back.
Cons: Weezy F. Baby, auditioning for a musical near you

As big of a Jay-Z stan as I am, when it was first announced that he was making comeback numero dos this fall I was a bit skeptical. You can blame last year's Kingdom Come for that. It seems like there's two schools of thought on that album -- the ...

Pros: Very good production, Jay's storytelling, Nas' guest appearance
Cons: "Blue Magic", Lil Wayne, and Jay's flow is off at times

Sean Carter returned to the hip-hop game last year with a bang. Over the horns of "Show Me What You Got", Jigga went platinum in a down year for hip-hop and went from hustler to businessman. That's right, Jay grew up, and instead of rapping about the ...

Pros: Vintage Jay, the album feels like a movie, GREAT production, Reasonable Doubt 2...
Cons: THIS should have been his real comeback album!

Interesting line samples on my headline huh? Well, it reigns quite true. In Jay Z's career, he has been indeed the sire of summer hits like "Big Pimpin", "Give It To Me", and "Girls". Lesser followers of the Hip Hop world wouldn't ...

Pros: Strong lyrics, great samples and it's freaking Jay-Z
Cons: Sorry Pharrell, but your beats are wearing on me

Jay-Z hustled, sold drugs, bought nice cars and watches, and now he's an adult with a Bentley and an American Express Black Card. We've heard it all before, right? Well, it's still worth listening to. Over and over. Preferrably at a rearview-mirror ...

Pros: Jay Z heart is still in the music... But hes focused this time.
Cons: A few weaker moments...

Some people find inspiration in folk heroes. Others find it in their favourite Athlete. Some find it in relatives or friends. Jay Z finds it in Frank Lucas, the American Gangster. After releasing the stellar, if somewhat inconsistent Kingdom Come, ...

Pros: Some big tunes
Cons: Geared to a more adult audience

"American Gangster" is the tenth studio album from Jay-Z. Contrary to early belief, this isn't a soundtrack to the film of the same name, which was released a week before this album. This is a concept album, taking inspiration from the movie it has been ...