2008 Woodie Awards
American gangster (music review)
Erich Pilcher
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: A&E
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Often times when a big blockbuster movie is released, a soundtrack is soon to follow. One of the latest Hollywood blockbusters "American Gangster" has a soundtrack and also another CD that allows the listener to take a different approach to watching the film.
Jay-Z's "American Gangster" is not the soundtrack to the film but a concept album based on the film. Going back to the days of the 70s when music albums were used to tell a story, Jay-Z, using various melodic beats and descriptive thought-provoking lyrics, tells the tale of a young man who grows up with nothing, then rises and falls from the top of a crime empire.
For typical rap fans this CD serves as quite possibly one of the best rap albums this year. With true rap beats such as "American Gangster" and "Pray" Jay-Z taps into the pure emotions entailed with a life of crime. The CD also includes more melodic, simple beats with track "Hello Brooklyn" and the albums first single "Roc Boys" featuring rap superstar Kanye West. The tracks lighten the mood of the album and show Jay-Z's lyrical genius on full display.
For hardcore Jay-Z fans this CD is a disappointment. The CD goes back to Jay-Z's early releases Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime and is far cry from Hard Knock Life and Life And Times Of S. Carter. However, it does show that Jay-Z can make any form of rap music work to his advantage.
Overall, the CD is better than most new releases but where it disappoints is with the artist. Fans have come to expect greatness from Jay-Z and if this CD had any other rap artist's name on it, it would be called a great album.
Jay-Z's "American Gangster" is not the soundtrack to the film but a concept album based on the film. Going back to the days of the 70s when music albums were used to tell a story, Jay-Z, using various melodic beats and descriptive thought-provoking lyrics, tells the tale of a young man who grows up with nothing, then rises and falls from the top of a crime empire.
For typical rap fans this CD serves as quite possibly one of the best rap albums this year. With true rap beats such as "American Gangster" and "Pray" Jay-Z taps into the pure emotions entailed with a life of crime. The CD also includes more melodic, simple beats with track "Hello Brooklyn" and the albums first single "Roc Boys" featuring rap superstar Kanye West. The tracks lighten the mood of the album and show Jay-Z's lyrical genius on full display.
For hardcore Jay-Z fans this CD is a disappointment. The CD goes back to Jay-Z's early releases Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime and is far cry from Hard Knock Life and Life And Times Of S. Carter. However, it does show that Jay-Z can make any form of rap music work to his advantage.
Overall, the CD is better than most new releases but where it disappoints is with the artist. Fans have come to expect greatness from Jay-Z and if this CD had any other rap artist's name on it, it would be called a great album.
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