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

this cd Is crazy I guess everybody is a jay fan again right ? Damn that's crazy.

I dont usually like jay, but this is a master piece right here.

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.

jigga back dis rite here iz fire

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

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

this album is just great. all-round.

A Brilliant Masterpiece!!! You Go Hova!!!

An awesome album when you compare it to the other more comercial albums being released now. His best since Blueprint, maybe even better.

Crazy

One of Jiggas best albums. Best album since The Blueprint and in some cases better. Period.

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!!

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.

A great album by the greatest MC in the world!! Probably, my choice for album of the year. It's that good.

This is vintage Jay-z, the flow, the concept, even production is sick. Except for Hello Brooklyn 2.0 every track is timeless, so glad to have Hov' back. ITS UR BOY!!

This Album real dread y'll and coming from the Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago).

"American Gangster" is up there with Jay's first album "Reasonable Doubt." Jay-Z is definitely one of the best and most consistent hip hop artists of all time.

best album since the blueprint.

Quite good. Hip hop(rap) is still dying though.

Stop hating! This is a great album.

A hip-hop masterpeice. Every song hits its mark.

Stop tryin to compare this to lupe...lupe has nothing on Jay. THis album is a hip hop master piece.

bringing it back to reasonable doubt and blueprint. this album is his 3rd best. very soulful and diddy finally is back on his game. fluid album.

My boy Jigga is back for more and what an incredible effort it is!! "American Gangster" is without a doubt a brilliant achievement by him and in my opinion just as good as his classic LP "The Blueprint". "Pray" is by far the best track in the whole entire album but don't get me wrong, all the songs are solid and catchy. All in all, this is in my Top 3 favorite of the year, right up there with Interpol's "Our Love To Admire" and Arcade Fire's "Neaon Bible". A must buy for any true music fan.… Expand

Great album. 10/10. Its good to see Jay release a solid album. I'll give it a few months before declaring that its a classic though.

Just as good as the Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt!! Best rap album of the year, by far. I highly recommend!!

The coolest album of the year, nuff said.

This album is the ish.

A great bounce back effort after Kingdom Come.

jay gets his swagger back on this one, fresh drop. cop it quick.

A strong contender for album of the year! Truly brilliant stuff here!

Just as good as "The Blueprint" and "Reasonable Doubt". One of the best all around records of 07.

Anyone who thinks Jay is "coasting" on this record, obviously doesn't (truly) listen to lyrics. Even without breaking a whole lot of new ground, as far as lyrical content goes, American Gangster is still light years beyond what most rap artists are content to put their name on these days (lyrically or otherwise). Even more refreshing is how sonically bold the tracks are. Rock Star, indeed. While some long for an album where Jay sits down and writes his lyrics while pain-stakingly constructing an album over a 2 to 3-year period, American Gangster makes it clear that musical inspiration and spontaneity are as much a part of his genius as lyrical ability.… Expand

This album is excellent. Every tracks is on the topic of being an "American gangster" it sounded more like classic Jay Z then "kingdom come" Jay Z. This album proves why Jay Z is one of the best rappers of all time.

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.

A Classic when judged against todays music

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.

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.… Expand

This CD is really good, i'm glad he could recover from his last couple of cds. I like the feel of this album...

Fantastic album; his best since "The Blueprint".

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.

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.

You can't help but feel like he's got a swagger again. Not like he ever lost that, but its back to a "Imaginary Players" and "Dead Presidents" level of being versatile and cool as hell at the same time. Not like it was bad, but Kingdom Come and American Gangster are like night and day. KC feeling like it was just thrown together with A-List musicians added in, and American Gangster has a flow to it, something that adds to it. It's a sick album, and although it isn't on a "classic" level, it's new Jay, and that alone deserves a purchase in a time where most out there don't.… Expand

Amazing. Jay is back on top form after a disappointment with Kingdom Come.

I luv dis artist!

First impressions: The content did not pull me out of my seat with any immediacy--though, the production was refreshing compared to the trendy beats that are often scantily thrown about on radio stations and clubs. I enjoyed the gritty feel of the entire album--generally, the work was consistent. The beginning of the album begins slowly, urging the listeners to actually listen. This album is meant to tell a story about an American Gangster and Jay-Z succeeds in telling the stories of two of them: himself and Frank Lucas. Context of this album is very important in order to fully appreciate it. As the album is a soundtrack of sorts to the movie, the listening value increases much more when the scenes of American Gangster the movie parallel the Jay-Z's lyrics in American Gangster the album. The album struck me as just another coked out album about hustle, ego, and hard-earned success with at least satisfactory production initially. But, watching American Gangster the film helped to add more dimensions to appreciate when listening to the ruggedly freestyled verses of Jay-Z. American Gangster may not be worth its entire price outright, but after the expectations have gone and genuine listening takes over, American Gangster gradually repays your initial investment on those late night drives by your lonesome.… Expand

Another classic from the god mc.

Epic album.

He's back...perfectly sequenced and a great fit to his collection of 'classics'

People need to shut up about Lupe, Jay has nothing on him! losers! This Album is superb, This got me into Rap and Jay-z! His Verses and flow is sick! The beats are soulful and compliment the lyrics. It tells a story, not just hate music! I would recommend it any rap fan!