User Score
8.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 118 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 9 out of 118

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  1. M.Mahar
    Nov 7, 2007
    4
    This is such a copy of the movie, "American Gangster." I prefer the movie over the album. Jay-Z is such a copy cat!
  2. jkm.
    Feb 5, 2008
    4
    I'm tired of this getting put of Lupe the cool but its really not that good you could jay z on anything and it will sell doesn't mean that its good
  3. AaronM
    Nov 10, 2007
    0
    This CD is pure garbage. I don't know what you all are smoking. There is not one hit song on this CD and the production value is so poor, it's ridiculous! Jay should have stopped at the Black Album. Ever since, his flow has been breezy and choppy, and his arrogance won't carry him like a Kanye album.
  4. whathuh
    Nov 5, 2007
    0
    I thought this guy retired...
  5. Ralph...
    Nov 5, 2007
    3
    jay z has become a one dimensional artist. the album fails to carry any substance. his lyrics are mediocre and he fails to paint pictures or showcase and true artistry as an mc. pray, noo hook and fallin are the good tracks. nas had a great verse on success but the beat and jays blatant biting of eminems rhymes make the track an underwhelming experience.
  6. RyanA
    Nov 5, 2007
    4
    Here is a guy who has made a life off of producing and rapping, not off kill and selling coke; the pretending has got to stop somewhere. Jay-Z has the capability to produce much better than this. That's not to say this album is with out merit, there are some decent songs scattered throughout, but nothing ground breaking. This album missed the mark. Better luck next time.
  7. LouisP.
    Nov 13, 2007
    4
    Seems I am one of the few that realizes that this time out, Jay-Z is not only dumbing it down but phoning it in. The producers fill the album with amazing head-knodders, bringing there best beats to the table but Jay-Z's material hardly regsisters. I hoped for a throwback album, on par with the days of "Resonable Doubt", what I found is the wordsmith has lost his way. With lyrics that barely flow and content that doesn't regsister on even a simplistic level, "American Gangster" is the first time Jay-Z doesn't only fail his audience, but himself. This album is nothing but a cash-grab hooked on the tail of a hit movie. He should be ashamed of himself. Expand
  8. JonnisJ.
    Nov 18, 2007
    3
    It's a stinker. The beats are pukealicious.
  9. ChrisC.
    Nov 22, 2007
    3
    Jay Z has always said he is "the best". However if you truly do listen to his lyrics, you will realize that many of them are taken directly from *real* rappers. He has copied lyrics from the likes of Tupac and Biggie.. most of the time verbatim, and makes into his "own" song which gives him money. This album also features lil wayne. Two terrible rappers on one track. The only good song on this CD features Nas. Nas begins to rap and he basically steals this song. If you truly love hip hop you already know this is crap. I am just trying to inform people that this is what makes rap bad. Expand
  10. PJB.
    Jan 27, 2008
    4
    People hated on Kingdom Come, so now we get this pile of filler. I am still amazed how so many publications gave this album such high scores, when the only people who could really enjoy this album are those who never listen to hip-hop. This album is primarily produced by two of Puff Daddy's underlings, LV & and Sean C, who are also responsible for the disappointing Big Doe Rehab (Ghostface). Their beats are AWFUL. Generic soul samples with no variation or innovation make listening to this album a chore. It's almost pathetic to hear Jay-Z rapping about selling coke and cooking up drugs when he's been out of the ghetto since 1995. The only real highlight of this album is an appearance by Nas, who outshines Jay-Z not just on that track, but the whole album. Frankly, I don't know why Nas every squashed the beef between them. I would hate Jay-Z too if he was making millions claiming to be the best, while I was the true lyrical king of New York who only got respect from white boys and rock critics. Expand
  11. SérgioF.
    Nov 15, 2007
    3
    I don't quite appreciate Jay's music and this album can prove his lack of talent
  12. Apr 10, 2011
    2
    Dude always calls himself the "Best" and that's exactly why he is not the best. He brags so f****kin much, i can call at least three rappers am 100% sure are far better than him (Eminem, Andre 300, Nas). Am only giving this a two because of the two songs i like( Roc Boys and Success) outside those two, The rest=Garbage !!!
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Feb 4, 2011
    90
    It's excellent, to be honest. Jay-Z sounds relaxed and comfortable in his legacy on the mic: he's not feeling as pressed to perform as he did on Kingdom Come, and the MC just lets his talent flow effortlessly.
  2. This is a very good Jay-Z album. He is, for the most part, doing what he has done before: what he does best.
  3. There are also sparse, programmed beats from the Neptunes and lesser-knowns like No I.D., with Jay-Z fixing his flow accordingly. What unites the collection more than a specific sound is a narrative arc that loosely parallels Lucas' rise and decline.