Jay-Z to Release new album : American Gangster in November

Less than a year after Jay-z’s “comeback” album Kingdom Come, the rap superstar as quietly returned to the studio to record an album of new songs inspired by the forthcoming movie “American Gangster,” his first “concept” album and second CD in less than a year.

The album, which his label plans to release in early November, came together over the past few weeks after Jay-Z was shown the film, directed by Ridley Scott, in which Denzel Washington portrays Frank Lucas, a early 1970s Harlem heroin kingpin.

In a recent interview with The New York Times Jay-z revealed that the film sparked his creative side ; leading to nine recorded tracks, in which almost everyone was impelled by specific scenes in the movie. “It was like I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a back story to the story,” he said.

The movie, set for a Nov. 2 release, depicts the Lucas character as an underworld Horatio Alger and an innovator who, despite keeping a low public profile, rose to such power that he was able to defy the Mafia bosses who had traditionally dominated the New York drug trade before being brought down by a special narcotics task force. (Its leader is played by Russell Crowe.)

Jay-Z said he thought his fans would be struck by the image of a black man reaching such heights of success, even on the wrong side of the law, much like such ruthlessly efficient Al Pacino antiheroes as Tony Montana and Michael Corleone.

“It immediately clicked with me,” said Jay-Z, who has made passing references to gangster movies in previous recordings but has never delved so deeply into the genre. “Like ‘Scarface,’ or any one of those films, you take the good out of it, and you can see it as an inspiring film.”

Throughout the interview Jay was said to be elated about his creative process while repeatedly interrupting himself to mouth lyrics like the following, from a track entitled No Hook…

“Poor me, dad was gone, finally got my dad back/ liver bad, he wouldn’t live long, it snatched my dad back”

Check out the first single of Jay’s new album, entitled Blue Magic produced by Pharrell in Hip Hop Galaxy Audio Section !!

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by Ntozake Szinga [2008-08-01 22:38:28]

I am so sorry mcphly but Gods advocate is correct .. why does the white establishment push these gangsters who sold drugs to people wholooked like themselves and who destroyed Black communities on us as "heroes" ? And we fall for this dumb shit everytime.. Why can’t Denzel star in a love story with one of our Great Black Actresses like Angela Basset ? Cause these JEWS who are intent on destroying us are killing Black love in the media and serving up this garbage where our "role models" are Black men who kill each other hate Black women are half -fags( most hip-hop artists) and would sell out their race for some bling.. Jay-Z is an illuminati stooge who can meet with heads of stateand the Merovingians that run this planet, why ? Because he has embraced their agendas as his own and first and foremost on their "to do list"is the destruction of the Black race.

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by steven [2007-12-31 21:04:26]

Ok time for you all to do some homework. What is Jay telling you when he holds up his diamond sign and looks thru it with his left eye ? What is he talking about when he says "I’m so enlighted I may glow in the dark.

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by Jordan Rashada [2007-11-14 09:47:46]

Yall niggas obviously dont know music Jay-z spit some real thought provoking shit the fact is that throughout Jay’s cd progression has occured. There isnt an artist in any Genre of Music that the same can be said for. Tupac never was this consistent he couldnt even go platinum everytime he released an album when he rapped in an age before bootlegging.

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by RUDEBOY [2007-10-12 10:51:41]

WASN’T This guy suppose to RETIRE ???

BOMBACLOT

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by mcphly [2007-10-01 14:32:47]

Gods advocate. Anytime an artist takes time to rap about a particular issue, ignorant cats like yourself do not listen. Minority Report ? Does that song ring a bell ? I am not a big jay fan, but "kingdom come" was some grown folk talk. He really tried to show youngsters how to build their credit and persue their dreams (30 something). I guess we will never stop hating on people and their music. Lauryn Hill spoke of cats like you in ’96. "I throw a Mutherf*&%# in there so ignorant ni**$% hear me"

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by mess [2007-09-30 03:33:16]

Jay-z Ain’t Got no Street Credibilty, so for him to make this album just shows how much he lives in the fantasy world of gangsta life, I’ve heard jay-z rap way back when he was rapping with Camron n shit, Even Big L dissed him. I don’t have no kind of respect for him...and these are the words of a true street soldier

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by Sauced Up [2007-09-30 03:24:16]

yea Fuck Jay-z

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by DOLLA MIKE [2007-09-30 03:22:43]

Jay-z’s a Lame...I on even know why people even bother to hear this Sucka

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by SNARE [2007-09-30 03:20:10]

WEN IS 2PACS NEW ALBUM COMIN OUT, I’M TIRED OF THIS GAY-Z BULLSHIT, HE’S A FAKE, HOW HE GON RAP ABOUT A MOVIE THAT DEPICTS A DRUG DEALER...NEGRO PLEASE...ANY SQUARE FROM DA BURBS COULD DO DAT SHIT. GAY-Z NEEDS TO RAP ABOUT DA REAL PROBLEMS IN SOCIETY, I AINT EVEN GON COP THIS ALBUM, I’M TIRED OF HIS BULLSHIT ASS SONGS DAT AIN’T EVEN REAL, HE OUT THERE SPENDIN CASH AND EATIN OFF US DUDES THAT REALLY BE STRUGGLIN EVERYDAY, HE TALK ABOUT US AND HOW WE LIVE OUR LIFE HERE IN THE STREETS, BUT HE AIN’T DOIN NONE OF DAT, HE NEED TO ATLEAST KEEP IT REAL N RAP ABOUT HIS TRIPS WIT HIS BITCH N HOW HE CUPCAKIN DA BITCH...HE SHOULDA JUST STAYED RETIRED. FUCK JAY-Z

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by Black M.O.B [2007-09-28 07:24:10]

I’m kinda with God’s Advocate. I think his album will sound similar to the stuff he already has out there. I mean Jay-Z does spit some real game in his albums, but damn how much different are you gonna sound with inspiration from another drug dealer gangsta movie, even if Denzel is starring in it. I’m waiting on that new Lupe Fiasco. Now that album is gonna be hot and it’ll have some real substance in it. Oh yeah, big ups to Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Nas, Kanye West and all the other true to life hip hop heros that are puttin’ it down. It’s not a coinsidence that they’ve released albums around the same time. Hip Hop is about to make a comeback. GET READY !!

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by MISTAH SLICK [2007-09-27 20:08:41]

JAY-Z IS ONE OF THE GREATEST RAPPERS OF OUR TIME AND I THINK THAT SOME OF HIS LYRICS ARE TOO COMMERCIAL AND SOMETIMES HE CAN SAY SOME STUFF THAT IS CRAZY BUT HE CREATED SUCCESS FOR HIMSELF FROM BEING POOR TRANSFORM THAT INTO A MULTIMILLION DOLLA BUSINESSMAN PLUS HE’S BLACK YOU CANT KNOCK HIM FOR DAT HE WAS HUSTLIN TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY NOW LOOK AT HIM BET A MILLION MEN LIE WOMEN LIE NUMBERS DONT REAL TALK

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by RUSKY [2007-09-26 09:38:54]

jay-z is here to remain and now he’s proving his steps,with the beef aside he’s the rocker. irusky@yahoo.com

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by [2007-09-24 17:17:07]

I agree with God’s Advocate. Folks are afraid of the real truth which is the reality of racism, poverty, violence, global warming, etc. Jay-Z does have a whole lotta money and has the free will to do whatever he wants, but I feel it would be more beneficial and uplifting if he addressed the issues that are plaguing our communities and do away with the fantasy persona gangsta mafia image because whether we like it or not Hip Hop is the most impressionable culture to our youth today.

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by [2007-09-22 15:55:36]

see, that’s what is wrong with our people is scared, faithless punks who would criticize his fellow brother for doin his thing. who is the illuminati, and who cares, that’s life. you’re probably also for some rival cult as well tryin to brainwash your own people to follow what you believe is the truth.

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by [2007-09-22 15:51:24]

who is this guy hatin. what are you doin with yourself ? are you a ceo of 3 different corporations, did you go to all of africa to help our people, it’s a rap album, you really took it to heart man. you complain more than an 80yrold woman who hasn’t gotten it in over 40 yrs.

Jay-Z new album American Gangster, by GOD’S ADVOCATE [2007-09-21 16:58:39]

FUCK THIS MOVIE AND FUCK LAY-Z’S NEW ALBUM. THIS MAFIOSO SHIT IS PLAYED OUT. HE TALKS ABOUT HOW HE’S ALL OF A SUDDEN GOT A BURST OF CREATIVITY AFTER WATCHING THIS MOVIE...NIGGA PLEASE ! WE GOT ALL KINDS OF ISSUES GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES SUCH AS THE JENA 6, A BLACK WOMAN BEING RAPED AND TORTURED IN WEST VIRGINIA, WAR, RACISM, HURRICANES, CENCORSHIP, DRUGS, POVERTY, AND ALL HE WANTS TO RAP ABOUT IS BEING A DRUG DEALER ?! FUCK THIS CORPORATE-SPONSORED BULLSHIT ! IT’S JUST EXPLOITATION AGAIN. THERE AIN’T NOTHIN’ POSITIVE ABOUT THIS MOVIE OR UPCOMING ALBUM. ALSO, WHAT’S UP WITH LAY-Z AND ALL THE ILLUMINATI-SATANIST SYMBOLISM HE PUTS IN HIS CLOTHING LINE ? ALSO WHAT’S UP WITH THE ILLUMINATI-SATANIST HANDSHAKES AND HAND SIGNS ?! THAT SHIT AIN’T TO BE PLAYED AROUND WITH. DON’T GET IT TWISTED, I DO LIKE SOME OF JAY-Z’S MUSIC, BUT OVERALL HE’S JUST ANOTHA’ PUPPET FOR THE WHITE MAN (MASSA) TO CONTROL. BIG-UP TO THE REAL HIP-HOPPAS WORLDWIDE : WISE INTELLEGENT, PUBLIC ENEMY, PARIS AND GUERRILLA FUNK, NYOIL, KRS-ONE, MELLE MEL, AFRIKA BAMBAATAA, AND DAVEY D WHO’S REALLY BRINGIN’ TRUTH TO POWER !