Jay-Z - American Gangster - Review

Released December 2007
Purchased In Stores
Summary: Album Inspired by movie "American Gangster"
Comment: 'Roc Boys' is clearly the best track on the album. As with the rest of the album, it is steeped with drug dealing references but the music is excellent and the main theme is celebrating one's success whatever the business itself may be.
'Ignorant Sh*t' is one of the other highlights of the album. But, having said that, I think Jay over did the crassness. It was part of the point he was trying to make, but the result is a song that those that don't relishing excessive cursing may find hard to listen to for entertainment.
'Success' grew on me, especially Jay's verse, which I initially thought was terrible. It still don't think it is very good, as there just isn't much to it. NaS' verse is clearly the better one, and even it isn't very good.
The music on this album is excellent, and a number of the album quality cuts suffer from weak concepts and average (for Jay-Z) lyrics. But I'm not a Jay-Z superfan, so, to some, those album cuts may be considered much better.
The odd 'Hello Brooklyn 2.0' is the only real dud and even it has a hot beat.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Solid but Miss-able unless a big Jay-Z fan)

Intro: N/A
Pray: B-?
American Dreamin': B-?
Hello Brooklyn 2.0 feat. Lil Wayne: D
No Hook: C
Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...): A-
Sweet: C+
I Know feat. Pharrell: C-
Party Life: C+
Ignorant Sh*t feat. Beanie Sigel: B+
Say Hello: C+
Success feat. NaS: B-
Fallin': C+
Blue Magic: C
American Gangster: B-?