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. JamesH.
    Jan 11, 2008
    10
    Perfection.
  2. 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
  3. Fufa
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    this cd Is crazy I guess everybody is a jay fan again right ? Damn that's crazy.
  4. SashaR.
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    I dont usually like jay, but this is a master piece right here.
  5. [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.
  6. leyod.
    Nov 8, 2007
    10
    jigga back dis rite here iz fire
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. ricky
    Nov 10, 2007
    10
    this album is just great. all-round.
  10. Blake
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    A Brilliant Masterpiece!!! You Go Hova!!!
  11. 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.
  12. HarveyW.
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    Crazy
  13. GangstaD
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    One of Jiggas best albums. Best album since The Blueprint and in some cases better. Period.
  14. 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!!
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. TranquilD.
    Nov 7, 2007
    10
    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!!
  18. Anthony
    Nov 8, 2007
    10
    This Album real dread y'll and coming from the Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago).
  19. JordanB.
    Nov 9, 2007
    10
    "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.
  20. Landong.
    Nov 9, 2007
    10
    best album since the blueprint.
  21. Ryu
    Dec 1, 2007
    10
    Quite good. Hip hop(rap) is still dying though.
  22. BobF.
    Dec 2, 2007
    10
    Stop hating! This is a great album.
  23. kd
    Dec 9, 2007
    10
    A hip-hop masterpeice. Every song hits its mark.
  24. 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.
  25. ADub
    Nov 10, 2007
    10
    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.
  26. AC
    Nov 19, 2007
    10
    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 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
  27. DevarG.
    Nov 5, 2007
    10
    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.
  28. Cat
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    Just as good as the Blueprint and Reasonable Doubt!! Best rap album of the year, by far. I highly recommend!!
  29. DamienD
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    The coolest album of the year, nuff said.
  30. Ric
    Nov 6, 2007
    10
    This album is the ish.
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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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