| Jay-Z
seems to be like a fine wine.he gets better
with time! I say thins because after Volume
Two: The Hard Knock Life
it seemed like he got less hungry and got drawn
into the commercialism of Hip Hop. Slowly, Jay-Z
has returned to the MC many fell in love with
on Reasonable Doubt
and his last Kingdom Come
was a strong example. While it took hits from
critics, I liked it because he sounded like
a grown man and not a MC trying to survive in
a young man's game.
His
latest LP, American Gangster
is in the same line, with Jay showing a penchant
for more complex lyrics, less catchy hooks and
harder, sometimes slower beats. This is Jay-Z's
first concept album as it's based in part on
the movie of the same name. Jay was looking
at the movie while doing the LP and includes
a lot of lyrics regarding the movie and segments
from the film.
The
LP features guest appearances from Lil' Wayne,
Beanie Sigal, Idris "Driis" Elba (of
The Wire fame),l Beyonce,, Bilal and Nas and
production from The Neptunes, Driis, Sean "Diddy"
Comes, LV, Sean C, No I.D., DJ Toomp, Just Blaze
and Bigg D., Mario Winans and Chris Flame.
Tracks
that stick out in my mind include "Ignorant
Shit" , American Dreamin'", "Hello Brooklyn
2.0", "Fallin", "Success", "Say Hello" and "No
Hook".
"Ignorant
Shit" with Beans and Jay back together talking
about how ignorant stuff sells and gets more
attention and that's why people make music about
it.
"No
Hook" talks about the traps of the streets and
the rap game especially when dealing with the
record labels. He talks a little Frank Lucas
also, reminding me of an Eminem autobiographical
track with a dark sound courtesy of DIddy, Sean
C. and LV.
"Roc
Boys (And The Winner Is)." contains a wicked
horns sample from "Make The Road By Walking"
and Jay to talk about love for a good time.
The
Beastie Boys' B-Boy Bouillabaise (Hello Brooklyn)
is used on "Hello Brooklyn 2.0" featuring Lil
Wayne. Both rappers take the time out their
busy schedules to talk up their love for the
place they call home. Wayne along with rapping
also does the hook on the track and the beat
is a bumper that can quake you stereo system.
"American
Dreamin'" uses a Marvin Gaye sample ("Soon I'll
Be Loving You Again") and Jay talks about trying
to get the American dream through the drug game.
Jay also talks about why people choose to do
the drug game even though it's illegal.
"Say
Hello" is produced by DJ Toomp, (known for his
work with T.I.) and the beat is slow and ripe
for a good story. Jay talks about why he's successful
and why he's not a bad guy. You got give him
a lot of credit for his success as a artist
and where he came from. He just wants you to
know that. Jay also includes some commentary
on how the drug game is manifested by the government
and also Jena 6 and Al Sharpton also.
"Success"
brings two of the best MC in the last twenty
years together with Nas joining Jay produced
by No I.D. and co-produced JD. Both do show
why they are respected as such big deals in
the game. While not "Black Republican", the
beat featuring elements of "Funky Thing, Part
One" is strong and both MCs talk about the pros
and cons of success.
"Fallin'"
is about the making mistakes that could be costly
and features Bilal on the hook. The song really
reminds you of a 70's track and it's because
of The Dramatics "Fell On You" sample. He talks
about getting locked up and the ramifications
of that.
Other
tracks include "Blue Magic", "Pray", "Party
Life", "Sweet", "I Know" and "American Gangster"
Overall
this is another hot album from Jay-Z. He finds
a way to have a few club joints to appease the
causal fans of Rap and a lot more with substance
for the Hip Hop folks. Jay is particularly venomous
when it comes to Rap getting blame for the violence
in the streets and the youth's attitude and
he's right. People do violent and/or illegal
things because their needs aren't being met
at home, school, work or when dealing with the
system.
With
that I'll give American Gangster
4.5 GeoGlobes.
I'll
give Eardrum 4.5 GeoGlobes
|
You've got to stop dividing yourselves. You got to organize. 
