Gangster rap (sort of) returns

By Nate Adams
Collegian Editor
November 14, 2007

After a flaccid comeback album that had him rapping bout 401(k)s and trading stocks instead of kilos of coke and trading shots, Jay-Z is back.

Again.

American Gangster, Hova’s newest album, finds him returning to his gritty roots as a trap-star (drug dealer) turned rap star. And while it covers no ground that the man hasn’t explored before, it is a refreshing return to form after the disappointment of Kingdom Come.

American Gangster the album is interesting; it simultaneously has nothing and everything to do with the Ridley Scott film of the same name (reviewed in last week’s Collegian) at the same time. While not officially affiliated with the film, it is the muse behind the album.

The story goes something like this: Jay-Z caught an advance screening of the movie, and was so inspired that he recorded nine tracks in record time. The new tracks, while not exactly as connected as a concept album, did parallel the rags-to-riches story that is at the core of both the film and Jay-Z’s own life story.

Jay-Z sees himself as a spiritual brother with the film’s main character, Frank Lucas, and there are some similarities that are hard to ignore. Jay-Z spends the majority of the record outlining these similarities, and while this crime story is as old and recycled as any other, it is nice to hear him regain some of the dirty focus that propelled his earlier albums.

The record is pretty standard. Early tracks like “Pray” and “American Gangster” are pretty much background music; not bad enough for anyone to notice, but lacking any element to make them stand out. Things progress some on the fast-paced “No Hook,” in which young Hov is all business, but as a pusher, not a CEO. “No Hook” is three minutes of sharp lyrics and complex imagery that tells the same old story with such vigor that it’s hard not to move with it.

There are a few bangers, like “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)” and its less impressive little brother “Hello Brooklyn 2.0.” While “Roc Boys” is the hotter track, “Hello Brooklyn 2.0” boasts a much better beat, sampling Beastie Boys and giving the listener a real authentic feel, like the kick drum is the pounding heart of a city ripe for the taking.

And so the album goes. Jay tells his story—Frank’s story—with conviction and style that almost allows the listener to forget how recycled and played out the story is. Still, even with old material, it’s good to hear Jay-Z back in fighting form. One can only hope that American Gangster is the first step in a return to form for Jay; while not a perfect album, he looks a lot better in a track suit than in a three-piece one.

adamsn1@lasalle.edu