User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

American Gangster
by
American Gangster Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 201 Ratings

  • Summary: Jay-Z's 10th studio album features Beyonce, Lil Wayne, Kayne West, Beanie Sigel, Nas, Bilal, and Pharrell Williams.

Top Track

Roc Boys
And the winner is Hov My man, speech First of all I wanna thank my Connect The most important person with all due respect Thanks to the duffel bag,... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. RapReviews.com
    100
    It is, really and truly, an experience.
  2. cokemachineglow
    87
    This is the best music Jay-Z can make as a human--at least by my (his) definitions of what he (we) can do.
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    80
    Jay-Z has rebounded to make one of the year's most interesting and engaging rap records with a sense of immediacy and wordplay that no Denzel Washington film could match.
  4. Prefix Magazine
    80
    The beat selection, personal insight, wit, and overall coherence surpasses that of "Kingdom Come" and fulfills many of the expectations that the latter album failed to meet.
  5. PopMatters
    80
    The more you listen to it, the more powerful it becomes.
  6. 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.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    You leave American Gangster longing for more of this don't-give-a-fuck attitude, but the feeling that presides is Jay-Z patting his wallet.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 80
  3. Negative: 7 out of 80
  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. briann.
    Nov 7, 2007
    10
    jay gets his swagger back on this one, fresh drop. cop it quick.
  4. 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 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
  5. 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 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.… Expand
  6. GiovanniR.
    Nov 27, 2007
    9
    First impressions: The content did not pull me out of my seat with any immediacy--though, the production was refreshing compared to the 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
  7. 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.
  8. whathuh
    Nov 5, 2007
    0
    I thought this guy retired...

See all 80 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
All Current Music »