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Jay-Z Returns to His Roots For “American Gangster”-Inspired New Album

9/20/07, 10:09 am EST


On November 6th, Jay-Z will release a new album inspired by the forthcoming Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe movie American Gangster, meaning he has now un-retired twice. The MC/label head, who declared he was quitting the game after releasing 2003’s The Black Album, says he found inspiration to pen tracks after watching the film, which tells the story of Seventies Harlem heroin dealer Frank Lucas. “It was like I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a back story to the story,” Jay told the New York Times.

American Gangster, which is directed by Ridley Scott and features T.I., Common and RZA in supporting roles, tells a bad-boy rags-to-riches story in which the hero (Washington) is a criminal audiences can root for. “It immediately clicked with me,” said Jay-Z, who has long rapped about his early days as a drug dealer. “Like Scarface, or any one of those films, you take the good out of it, and you can see it as an inspiring film.” The American Gangster soundtrack is being released by Def Jam and features songs by Bobby Womack, the Staple Singers and Sam & Dave, but Jay-Z’s album, which will be called American Gangster, is so far not officially connected to the film that inspired it.

Jay told the Times he’s finished nine tracks so far, including “No Hook,” a song that enforces the “stop snitchin’” ideology and “takes you through this journey — his journey, my journey — so many people’s journey that come from the areas that we come from.” Calling last year’s Kingdom Come too “sophisticated” for some of his fans, Jay-Z said he sees American Gangster as a return to his street roots. “Watching that film, it brought back all these memories,” he said. “It took me back to those emotions.”


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Comments

tru dat | 6/29/2008, 6:03 pm EST

Jay-Z is a full surface gimmick! He does not sell records, his best effort was “hardknock life” 5 platinum but before and since he’e only sold 1 or 2 million copies per record but the media tries hype him up anyway. Kanye and 50 Cent crush Jay-Z’s record sales. Besides “Graph” of “Blackhand Entertainment” wrote the majority of his songs and hits. I also looked up Shawn C. Carter and Beyonce G. Knowles marriage license record on GovernmentRegistry. org 06/29/08 and there is no record! Jay-Z is washed up! There is a story on the internet that the 40/40 Club was sued and Shawn Carter was not named in the lawsuit, while the real owners were named, that means he’s not an owner at all! It’s also claimed that he signed a $150 million dollar record deal with “Live Nation” but they only do “live concerts” It also says that the Mary J. Blige Tour was a part of the deal, but that tour was already in progress when they claim the deal was signed as Jay-Z was only a “special invited guest” on the tour even though the radio tried to hype it up like it was his tour. All I can say is that Jay-Z is a liar and a gimmick he isn’t worth any where near $500 million.

shawtie | 2/10/2008, 7:56 am EST

can anyone answer this
what inspired jay-z to set up the roc-a-fella empire?

hi there | 2/6/2008, 5:11 pm EST

hi there

no 1 | 12/21/2007, 3:14 pm EST

i would like to say all the haters that dont have a braine cell or motivation to make and are jelous, just carry on being sheep, we need u :)

cool breeze | 12/6/2007, 7:02 pm EST

who yall talking about?

gtsy djawz | 11/17/2007, 1:05 pm EST

hcyzaewst gdwzih bfjgrnl eqpkyfoh otexcuvk rowhylzcj aelt

JEROME | 11/13/2007, 10:53 pm EST

the beatles have done what Jay-Z has, and MORE, and they are white. does that matter?

fuking your moms haters | 11/13/2007, 5:21 pm EST

Yall all need to da fuck up c@use if ya were in his position n people talk shit about you then ya wouldn’t like it n I bet ya or any rapper can do watz he haz don3 n jay is da BEST RAPPER ALIve and look at his background then come holla at your big homie lil homie

Anonymous | 11/8/2007, 2:24 am EST

Jay z is a very smart young man, is it not about growing and being better?so what if he,s not in game any more. He is makeing money the right way.

JEROME | 11/7/2007, 7:06 pm EST

So i stand corrected, Jay-Z stole the gesture from a sorority? That’s worse! damn is he lame, i thought rappers were supposed to be creative and artistic, some are but you corrected me Ray, he isn’t.

thanks again

ray | 11/7/2007, 4:26 pm EST

jerome obviously you know nothing the same hand jesture both ddp and jay used has been used by a certain female sorority for over 100 hundred years so the way i see it if they aint worried about then it aint a problem. ddp just broke and lookin for a buck

hovies home | 11/5/2007, 4:34 pm EST

Tyrone, Why is the white man trying to take your money? just go get a job and you can make some too. don imus needs interns

hovies home | 11/5/2007, 4:34 pm EST

Tyrone, Why is the white man trying to take your money? just go get a job and you can make some too. don imus needs interns

jerome | 10/30/2007, 5:35 pm EST

jay-z ripped of Diamond Dallas Page, a fake ass wrestler, that is corny, the man you all worship had to go steal shit from a wrestler. wrestling is fake and so is jay-z, stealing shit from DDP. There is helluva lot of proof that DDP used that symbol in the mid 90s and even trademarked it. PROOF! but all yall won’t hear none of it, too ignorant.

JEROME | 10/30/2007, 5:28 pm EST

Jay-Z ripped of Diamond Dallas Page with that diamond symbol shit. He ripped off a fake ass wrestler thats how corny he is. Wrestling is sum fake ass shit and the man you all worship actually stole his symbol, that is lame. CORNY!

Tyrone | 10/30/2007, 5:19 pm EST

FUCK ALL THESE CORPORATE BITHCES LIKE JAY-Z AND 50 CENT, THEY HAVE BECOME WHITE MEN. SITTING IN IN THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE BUILDING TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET OUR MONEY, JUST LIKE THE WHITE MAN. AND I AIN’T GONNA LET HIM KEEP ME DOWN LIKE BUSH AND OTHER TYCOONS, FUCK ALL THAT CORPORATE SHIT.

Lennox | 10/30/2007, 4:05 pm EST

Jay-Z is the best rapper alive HANDS DOWN, first of all. People just be hating because they don’t understand the true meaning behind most of his lyrics or never been through the struggle and really can’t feel him. Anybody who’s ever been smart about bein on yo hustle knows that Jay is the greatest business man out of the rap game and the BEST rapper of ALL TIME!!!

mike | 10/29/2007, 9:07 am EST

Fuck Jay Z and fuck this movie to.

Go1go2 | 10/26/2007, 3:14 am EST

Jay lesbian mom spoiled brat anything else jay z is corny gimmick

INTRINSIC | 10/23/2007, 3:23 pm EST

In the land of mediocrity it’s easy for J to shine.

I’m curious when did physical appearance or one’s sexual preference have anything to do with talent….Oh Yeah, it doesn’t!

As I was reading through most of this bullsh*t. I noticed these haters have something in common.

They’re all lacking a CHROMOSOME, which make them PRIMATES! I’m sitting here laughing at these Monkeys, complain about this Jay Z.

Let me help you out. As J is diversifying his portfolio. Most of you MONKEYS are one pay check away from eating Dog Food. DO THE MATH!

“BTW”, keep up the good work. It’s a matter of time before Corporate America find out how to market you MONKEYS.

Sit back suck a banana and wait your turn..

jimme p | 10/23/2007, 1:12 pm EST

jay is the truth. i’m sure this album is going to smash. kingdom come wasnt my favorite j album by far (maybe my least favorite), but the chances of this album not being a classic are slim. mark my words. haters get ready, you have some work ahead of you. this album will be the shit

bust1inyogrill | 10/22/2007, 2:00 pm EST

Cant wait for the album…sounds like it could be in the likes of Reasonable Doubt & The Blueprint.

stop hatin | 10/16/2007, 2:10 am EST

WOW i cant belive these people. Who gives a damn what jay looks like. About him being gay thats the most dumbest thing ive ever heard. He is the best in his game dont care what anyone says. Dont think he cares either. American Gangster is gonna b one of the best albums he ever made after resonable doubt and blueprint.
STOP HATIN.

GLORIA VANDERBILT | 10/12/2007, 8:51 am EST

At times i wondered about the world we live in, everyone is so hateful. I think we need to give HOV more credit for being such a hard working mf…he goes hard and reaps the rewards. Isn’t that what life is about, going for what you want.

They make a great couple, B & J and I could give a fuck about what they do in their private lives. I wish everyone would remember this is just entertainment business, don’t let it go to your head.

And who’s the authority on what’s ugly and what’s beautiful?

shademastr | 10/11/2007, 7:38 am EST

This article was about the man about to drop another hot album, and even if it’s not hot he’s already made his place in hip-hop history. His status is secure. Far as him keeping his relationship to himself, those who think that makes you gay I have a question….how many people do you allow into your bedroom when your handling your business. “0″ right! Why should he be any different. He owes it to the public to talk about his music, and moves he’s making in the RAP game. The rest of that stuff is nobody’s fucking business. The man was a Drug Dealer. Good one or bad one doesn’t matter…it’s nothing to be proud about. It’s destroying our people. Having said that I give him credit for growing up from that into one of the biggest players in the music biz.
Beyonce is smoking hot and I would keep her to myself too. Besides, they already explained why they don’t talk about it. It’s business that becomes the story, and not the music. Those who say they’re never together obviously don’t watch NBA basketball. They both are regulars (together) at Nets home games (which Jigga owns a piece).
I’ve seen a lot of nasty comments, but most of you need to take a long look at yourselves. This blog has some of the most stupid names I’ve ever seen. It’s also obvious most of you skipped English class. Anyway, I know this won’t make a different because haters never change. Like any other job someone’s got to do it. Keep up the good work.

BrooklynInTheHouse | 9/26/2007, 11:33 am EST

jay needs to call it quits- attaching himself to the film when his music is not going to even be in the movie is wack….the original soundtrack is bananas - that has score & new tunes on it by Hank Shocklee (of Public Enemy) and its off the hook!! & those are the REAL songs in the film

Boujey | 9/25/2007, 7:13 pm EST

Jay better come back with nothing short of a four and a half star/mic effort…his “kid brother” Kanye is well on his way to taking Jay’s throne…he may not be as lyrically gifted, but he has 3 of the top ten rap albums of this decade, and produced the bulk of Jay-Z’ most critically acclaimed album (Reasonable Doubt received all of it’s accolades years after it had been released).

ferro | 9/25/2007, 5:29 am EST

a) does it matter if jay-z is gay, as long as he spits that fly
b) how many women has he supposedly slept with - mya, superhead, rosario dawson - just cause he tries to be private doesn’t make him homosexual. if anyone in the hip-hop community would be accepted as gay, it would be hov, cause he’s the nicest ever

Dana Androvette | 9/24/2007, 7:29 pm EST

look who’s talking

Cee | 9/24/2007, 10:48 am EST

Yeah, drugs destroyed a generation so thoroughly that they can’t even tell when people mean “except” when they say “accept.”

Layrel | 9/24/2007, 9:54 am EST

I would have just made the album and pretended the movie did not exist. Jay-z should work for the discovery channel and narrate for a blind house cat. This movie reminds me of a real American Gangster not Jay-Z. If you were really an that good of a drug dealer why did it take you 10 years to get out the suites. What the fuck good does selling drugs do? Accept destroy the economy and almost an entire generation of people.

shark | 9/24/2007, 8:50 am EST

supersonic - go do something with your life!

supersonic | 9/23/2007, 9:19 am EST

thanks for re posting my entire article, I’m flattered, really!
Don’t take it seriously, though. It was just a big experimental big pile of shit, really!

46degreesouth | 9/23/2007, 6:24 am EST

Most over-rated ever.

Liz | 9/23/2007, 1:01 am EST

Jay-Z is about to come back stronger than ever. All the talk about the man being gay is just stupid. Gay or straight he’s paid. He’s a brilliant business man and he does him. Don’t hate because you'’ll never be on that mans level. He’s going to do it in November just like he always does. He has nothing to prove to no one. He does this for fun now because he’s paid already. Now that’s (America) Ganster! Go head Jay. Fuck da haters. Like he said before, “Fuck all yall haters blow DICK”!

MJ | 9/22/2007, 9:54 pm EST

I think it’s real cool for a talented brother to keep making music regardless of what the critics think or feel. Keep up the tremendous work JIGGA!

THEGOD | 9/22/2007, 9:48 am EST

supersonic | 9/20/2007, 9:40 pm EST

I think Jay-Z in a closet homosexual. I think Beyonce is just a cover. How often do you see these two in public together?
Jay-Z is very secretive about his “relationship” with Beyonce.

Also, how many men in show business go this long being famous without at 2 or 3 (that’s a very conservative number; it’s more like 30 or 40!)sexual indescretions?
How many superstar couples maintain this kind of fidelty? They could just be extremely devoted to each other. But if that’s the case, and they’re supposedly such a perfect couple, who have been “together” quite a few years, why don’t they get married?

Doesn’t “Rock-a-Fella” translate in rock and roll vernacular to “Fuck-A-Guy”???

I mean, there are probably a dozen different ways to spell Rockerfeller.

“Rockerfeller ” is a reference to the family who had a multibillion dollar dynasty.

This theory is definitely not worked out very well, it’s shaky at best, but just a thought.

I’ll research it a lot more someday, hoping to find a smoking gun.

Have you ever noticed how much JZ kisses just about every rapper/hip-hopper’s ass now? It’s almost like he’s kissing their butts because he can’’t take a punch anymore. Check out his website, you’ll see what I mean.

Sometimes the baddest motherfuckers who come down the pike, who you would never think in a million years were gay, turn out to be.

I’ll do a little digging on the web for a smoking gun. If there is one, it can be found. You just know how to catch the information.

DAMN WHY ARE YOU SO CONCERN ABOUT ANOTHAS MAN PERSONAL LIFE? DON’T YOU HAVE AN INTERNET BILL? THAT MEANS YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PROBLEMS…YOU DEVOTIN ALIL TOO M,UCH TIME ON HATER INFO. JUST RESPECT THE LONGEVITY.

Fan of the REAL Frank Lucas | 9/22/2007, 8:37 am EST

Frank Lucas the “American Gangster” has a son who has been inspired all his life by his father. He has music also. His is off the chain. You can check it at www.myspace.com/franklucasmusi c Maybe he should be connected to the film. What do you think?

supersonic | 9/22/2007, 7:48 am EST

He looks like he’s 60 years old, could’ve been a part of Malcolm X’s party in the 60’s.

WHO_CARES | 9/22/2007, 6:54 am EST

Rap is all about marketing these days, and JAY Z has got to be the ugliest mofo on the planet.

TheGameIsHova | 9/22/2007, 3:22 am EST

WOW!! 1st off supersonic….it’s Roc-a-fella get a grip. This shit is about to be a wrap, Jay is gettin set to shut shit down, anybody with an album to release better do it before november 6th. People thought Resonable doubt was a classic….Jay’s about to 5-mic it, bet a hun’d on it. Brooklyn stand up!!

Dana | 9/22/2007, 1:24 am EST

eva

Marie | 9/21/2007, 9:55 pm EST

Like it or Not, haters the Jigga Man is Baaaack! He is one of the best that eva did it and he will open his spot right back up. So, move over other greats.

Cool | 9/21/2007, 4:48 pm EST

Do what you do Jay

WHo cares who you are screwin? I don’t!

I am not a huge fan of Jay or his music, yet I respect him for what he has done and for how much progress he has made in his life. Good for him!

THA ROC IS IN THA BUILDING | 9/21/2007, 12:41 pm EST

all those people thats talkin shit about JAY must be white!

trish | 9/21/2007, 11:23 am EST

HE MAYBE UGLY BUT HE SURE IS RICH RICH

matt | 9/21/2007, 11:09 am EST

jay-z is god, all other rappers bow before him

The 1.4. | 9/20/2007, 11:56 pm EST

If its what I’m expecting american ganster (the album) might be his best one yet possibly topping reasonable doubt. If he uses his knowledge from the board room and affix it to the streets for individuals such as myself you might have a masterpiece. We all know he has a lot to talk about. Lets give credit when credit is due. (Throw up ya roc a fella diamonds!)

supersonic | 9/20/2007, 9:40 pm EST

I think Jay-Z in a closet homosexual. I think Beyonce is just a cover. How often do you see these two in public together?
Jay-Z is very secretive about his “relationship” with Beyonce.

Also, how many men in show business go this long being famous without at 2 or 3 (that’s a very conservative number; it’s more like 30 or 40!)sexual indescretions?
How many superstar couples maintain this kind of fidelty? They could just be extremely devoted to each other. But if that’s the case, and they’re supposedly such a perfect couple, who have been “together” quite a few years, why don’t they get married?

Doesn’t “Rock-a-Fella” translate in rock and roll vernacular to “Fuck-A-Guy”???

I mean, there are probably a dozen different ways to spell Rockerfeller.

“Rockerfeller ” is a reference to the family who had a multibillion dollar dynasty.

This theory is definitely not worked out very well, it’s shaky at best, but just a thought.

I’ll research it a lot more someday, hoping to find a smoking gun.

Have you ever noticed how much JZ kisses just about every rapper/hip-hopper’s ass now? It’s almost like he’s kissing their butts because he can'’t take a punch anymore. Check out his website, you’ll see what I mean.

Sometimes the baddest motherfuckers who come down the pike, who you would never think in a million years were gay, turn out to be.

I’ll do a little digging on the web for a smoking gun. If there is one, it can be found. You just know how to catch the information.

Meeks | 9/20/2007, 4:22 pm EST

The dude is a lyrical monster.

Haters never prosper.

That is all.

jay-z is a bum | 9/20/2007, 3:19 pm EST

you ever seen the movie “enemy mine”
jay-z looks like that dude..(not talking about dennis quaid)

jay-z is a bum | 9/20/2007, 3:17 pm EST

been saying it on this site for over a year now…a bum

R n' R | 9/20/2007, 2:52 pm EST

Start the snitching and get the garbage off the streets. Glad that happened with the Vick case. Wouldn’t it be nice if it happened with Notorious B.I.G. or 2pac’s killer(s)?

LOL | 9/20/2007, 1:55 pm EST

“Calling last year’s Kingdom Come too “sophisticated” for some of his fans…”

I suppose it was too sophisticated for music critics, too, seeing as it was almost universally recognized as a shitty follow-up to “The Black Album.”

blackgang | 9/20/2007, 1:28 pm EST

jay-z is forever stuck on foward and haters stuck on stupid

rom! | 9/20/2007, 12:50 pm EST

i cant wait to hear these songs from jay z, he`ll always have some haters like gawn damn or shat music, but HEY dont hate him for being the best!… JAY keep doing your thing man, you are the BOSS…. and remember they hate and snitch but you GET IT! jaja

PujaM | 9/20/2007, 12:24 pm EST

american gangster is going to be a great movie and i’m excited to hear Jay-Z’s take on it - the guy is a lot smarter than most people give him credit for. At 37, the guy has both street cred and the business in both his hands, and he still acts like a 25 year old with the hottest chic on the block.

bitterness leads | 9/20/2007, 12:20 pm EST

Bitterness MAKES me ALIVE!

sweetness follows | 9/20/2007, 12:17 pm EST

BITTERNESS is eating me ALIVE!

Sam From Detroit | 9/20/2007, 11:59 am EST

Rap music is back and better, cant wait for his album to be released.

Make Me Wonder | 9/20/2007, 11:55 am EST

He’s still fuckin Beyonce..

Sh@t Music | 9/20/2007, 11:13 am EST

Stupid name, retarded music.

GAWD DAMN | 9/20/2007, 10:48 am EST

jay z is one UGLY MOTHERFUCKER!

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