American Gangster
by Jay-Z
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 201 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 177 out of 201
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 201
  3. Negative: 12 out of 201

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  1. ajayd
    Sep 11, 2009
    10
    Stop tryin to compare this to lupe...lupe has nothing on Jay. THis album is a hip hop master piece.
  2. JamesH.
    Jan 11, 2008
    10
    Perfection.
  3. KurisuM.
    Nov 13, 2007
    8
    Above average album, Not as well put together as The Streets (Mike Skinner) album A Grand Don't Come for Free... similar concept from a couple years back. The album is meant to be more of a story... as opposed to seperate tracks, you're listening to seperate chapters. Decent overall, worth the buy.
  4. JoshN
    Nov 5, 2007
    10
    Jay Z hits hard with his new album. Much much better than Kingdom Come, though it is still not his best. Vintage Jay-z. If that's what you want, enjoy this album for what it is worth
  5. MichaelE.
    Nov 6, 2007
    9
    Exceptional. One of the best albums of the year. Definitely better than the disappointing "Kingdom Come". This is the calibar of material that we've come to expect from Jay Z.
  6. Fufa
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    this cd Is crazy I guess everybody is a jay fan again right ? Damn that's crazy.
  7. SashaR.
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    I dont usually like jay, but this is a master piece right here.
  8. [Anonymous]
    Nov 7, 2007
    10
    Excellent album. And no, this isn't a Kanye record. First of all, it's a pro rapping, not a producer. Secondly, if you think Hov is taking a page from Kanye, you obviously have not heard Reasonable Doubt.
  9. Fantasy
    Nov 7, 2007
    8
    Good movie with outstanding peformances by Denzel, Ruby Dee, and Russell. Denzel's wife was totally miscast and without chemistry.
  10. NajehD.
    Nov 7, 2007
    8
    One of the top 3 rap albums this year along with Chamillionaire and Talib Kweli. Nice bounce back from Jigga.
  11. JoeL
    Nov 7, 2007
    9
    A Classic when judged against todays music
  12. leyod.
    Nov 8, 2007
    10
    jigga back dis rite here iz fire
  13. UNReal101
    Nov 8, 2007
    9
    Every lyric, every beat, every calculated step of this album comes together to pull off an excellent journey through the mind of Frank Lucas & the feel of the 1970s. Haven't heard something this entertaining since 'Hip Hop is Dead' from NaS... well there was also Kanye's ish, but this is a real Hip Hop album.
  14. DavidA
    Nov 9, 2007
    8
    Considering how he supposedly put the album together with the quickness, and it still came out pretty damn good, he gets more credit. But if you want to compare with his latest, I think it's as good as Kindom Come, but not as good as the Black Album or The Blue Prints.
  15. StanP.
    Jan 2, 2008
    10
    Clearly one of jay's better albums...he makes the reappearance most were hopig for in kingdom come, which I feel wasn't one of his best albums but it was kind shaking off the rust. the American gangsta album has several hits and after watchin the movie it makes one appreciate the album more. if you don't appreciate the album watch the movie and then listen. I believe Clearly one of jay's better albums...he makes the reappearance most were hopig for in kingdom come, which I feel wasn't one of his best albums but it was kind shaking off the rust. the American gangsta album has several hits and after watchin the movie it makes one appreciate the album more. if you don't appreciate the album watch the movie and then listen. I believe someone else stated that jay-z is a story teller and this is a rapped story about the hustle of frank lucas as well as jay-z.… Expand
  16. DonlaW.
    Mar 17, 2008
    10
    Let's be real about something here. Almost every album Hov puts out has the potential to become a hit. Nothing will ever be bigger than his Blueprint, but this album cuts it pretty close. It's quite different seeing that the entire theme is based on the hit movie. From what most of us know, he's the first to do this. I've listened to every track and as he promised Let's be real about something here. Almost every album Hov puts out has the potential to become a hit. Nothing will ever be bigger than his Blueprint, but this album cuts it pretty close. It's quite different seeing that the entire theme is based on the hit movie. From what most of us know, he's the first to do this. I've listened to every track and as he promised before he released it, it would be one to remember. Sleeping on this album is like going backwards on a highway.… Expand
  17. JayO.
    Nov 10, 2007
    9
    First time through the album, I didn't think there was much there. Obviously tracks like 'No hook', 'Ignorant Sh*t', and 'Fallin'' stood out right away. However, after the third time listening to the album, I was hooked on every single song. 'American Gangster' is an amazing C.D. and a great complement to, not only the movie by the same First time through the album, I didn't think there was much there. Obviously tracks like 'No hook', 'Ignorant Sh*t', and 'Fallin'' stood out right away. However, after the third time listening to the album, I was hooked on every single song. 'American Gangster' is an amazing C.D. and a great complement to, not only the movie by the same name, all those who grew up and the lived that street life.… Collapse
  18. Kevin
    Nov 13, 2007
    9
    This CD is really good, i'm glad he could recover from his last couple of cds. I like the feel of this album...
  19. ricky
    Nov 10, 2007
    10
    this album is just great. all-round.
  20. EthanH.
    Nov 5, 2007
    9
    Fantastic album; his best since "The Blueprint".
  21. Blake
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    A Brilliant Masterpiece!!! You Go Hova!!!
  22. JiggyW.
    Nov 6, 2007
    8
    Much, much better than Kingdom Come. Jay-Z's best album since the Blueprint. Consider this his real comeback album.
  23. SumT
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    An awesome album when you compare it to the other more comercial albums being released now. His best since Blueprint, maybe even better.
  24. HarveyW.
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    Crazy
  25. GangstaD
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    One of Jiggas best albums. Best album since The Blueprint and in some cases better. Period.
  26. AmberC.
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    HOV proves again why he'll never be irrelevant! I love him and this is the best him we've seen in a while!! ROC IS IN THE HOUSE!!
  27. LarryC.
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    This is black superhero music! Some are suited for retirement. Others are not. I thank God, as a true rap and Hip Hop fan, that Jay-Z is the latter. HOV returned to recording with his pop-laden Kingdom Come. Full of deeper meaning and more conscious lines and messages than typical for the Greatest MC rap knows, Kingdom Come failed to hit with his true followers.
  28. MarquesH
    Nov 6, 2007
    9
    Jay-Z went back to his roots on this one. There are no pop hits on this album. It is a grind/gridy album which put meaning back into gangsta sh*t. Buy this album. You will not be disappointed.
  29. RachaelW.
    Nov 7, 2007
    9
    Jay-Z is back! Making the old new ... SOLID album. He got some really good beats from the Neptunes and the others... all i have to say is "ANd I don't need a hook for this SH*T1" - and he didn't on that track.
  30. Dontrelle
    Nov 7, 2007
    10
    A great album by the greatest MC in the world!! Probably, my choice for album of the year. It's that good.
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Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best Album of 2007
40
#40 Most Discussed Album of 2007
41
#41 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Sputnikmusic
    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.
    Read full review
  2. AllMusic
    80
    This is a very good Jay-Z album. He is, for the most part, doing what he has done before: what he does best.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    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.
    Read full review
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