This fall, it was announced without warning that Jay-Z was so inspired by seeing an advanced screening of the recently-released Ridley Scott crime saga “American Gangster” that he wrote an album of the same name in record time. While not a proper soundtrack, Jay-Z has gone on to say that the album is a return to his vivid rhymes about his street uprising.
Does Jay-Z succeed? Gangster is his tightest album since 2001’s classic “The Blueprint,” with a flow reminiscent of his pioneering debut album, 1996’s “Reasonable Doubt.” In fact, it’s hard not to hear the ghosts of older tracks in his newer material, as Jay-Z’s flow is startlingly reminiscent of his younger, hungrier self.
In records of late, Jay-Z’s cadence has been a bit rusty due to his position in the rap industry: he’s a pro and he knows it. But on “Gangster,” the rapper uses his elder statesman status to educate youngsters on how hard the streets are. Second single “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is…)” uses a deceptively upbeat hornline to turn a posse shout-out into a sly portrait of Jay-Z’s previous drug-dealing career, infusing more menace into throw-off rhymes such as “Bullet wounds will stop your buffoonery / Thanks to the pastor rapping at your eulogy” than most rappers can stuff into a full-length.
Ultimately, Jay-Z’s newest release will likely land him back on the top of the charts and into the critical acclaim which highlighted his previous albums. But the biggest surprise of this album is not Jay’s skills — we all knew he had it in him. The real winner here is Diddy, who, along with his associates, crafts commanding beats to almost half of the tracks. It is rare to commend the mogul on musical talent, but his backdrops haven’t been this raw since the Notorious B.I.G. days. Apparently, Jay-Z can bring magic to anyone just by being on point, and his massive return on “American Gangster” is no different.