On this day 15 Years ago, Jay Z released American Gangster

[HollywoodP]

I never understand this take...it's literally the same fukking song but with no Beanie feature and an unfinished third Hov verse

and yet...its a general consensus that that take is right. The Pain In Da Ass intro...the alt chorus...the bridge...the 3rd verse. The people who remember when it first came out know.

 

[Insensitive]

Seriously great album, it's like Jay-Z just took "Reasonable Doubt" and moved it to a new era of production.
Phenomenal sample choices, great use of additional audio, samples, every feature serves a purpose and the lyrics
are great.

One of my favorite albums from Jay-Z and a "modern" classic in my opinion, easily the equal of Blueprint/Black Album.

 

[HipHopStan]

Jay's last great album IMO. That was actually the last album that I went to a store and bought for over decade (the next time I'd spend some cash on a CD would be in 2018 - shout out the Black Panther and Into the Spider-verse soundtracks.) Idk where I'd rank it. Definitely top 5, but idk about top 3. The Blueprint will always be my number 1 and I love the hell out of The Black Album too. I'm terrible at ranking things though.

 

[Easy-E]

Feels like this was the last universally lauded Hov album.

Even 4;44 had mix reviews that trended towards positive.

EDIT: Wait, did I just read 15 years?! How?!

Nevermind, Jay had to do a Streets Is Watching after Kingdom Come came out the year before

15 years, but, only 3 albums ago

 

[Busby]

Hov’s top 5 album. Kinda wish THIS was his comeback album and not “Kingdom Come.”

 

[Complexion]

I never understand this take...it's literally the same fukking song but with no Beanie feature and an unfinished third Hov verse

Nah, mayne. There is a difference for sure. You can even spot it on the LQ youtube rips but its much more obvious on CD:





Play one then the other from the cue. The vocal mix is real shrill and bass-less on retail, drums don't fit the sample as well, there is a persistent pad/synth in the bootleg thats missing in the final mix that really filled the sound out and the bootleg has a much fuller, warmer mix overall. Totally changed the character of the song and made it feel hollow.

Not the first time thats happened either as there were a few pre-releases/leaks/DJ cuts back in the days that were higher quality on retail but ruined by a wack mix. If Just reads this leak the OG, breh.

One of, if not the, best flip of this sample but the retail removes what made it what it was and I'm allergic to yelping DJs.

 

[JustCKing]

Hov’s top 5 album. Kinda wish THIS was his comeback album and not “Kingdom Come.”

I wished "The Prelude" was the intro song on American Gangster. Kingdom Come wasn't deserving of that heat.

 

[Cloud McFly]

 

[Rhyme 4 Rhyme]

Yeah, the Puffy involvement is pretty funny with this. Apparently, he had most of the unused Hitman beats sitting around just playing in his house randomly and Jay overheard them and asked for them. Also, if I remember right, Jermain Durpi is involved with the album as well. Doesn't he do the title track?

 

[TheHonorableOmarSharif]

Yeah, the Puffy involvement is pretty funny with this. Apparently, he had most of the unused Hitman beats sitting around just playing in his house randomly and Jay overheard them and asked for them. Also, if I remember right, Jermain Durpi is involved with the album as well. Doesn't he do the title track?

He did Fallin if memory serves...

 

[Rhyme 4 Rhyme]

He did Fallin if memory serves...

Ah right. Best track on the album.

 

[FunkDoc1112]

He did Fallin if memory serves...

Co-produced Success with No ID too I think

 

[WaveGang]

They say I’m a menace, that’s the picture they paint

They say a lot about me lemme tell you what I ain’t

 

[Chip Skylark]

Over time this has became my second favorite Hov album.

Having Diddy help with production and direction was the best move and outside of hello
Brooklyn it was immaculate. Hov was rapping on here

 

[Ziggiy]

Yeah, the Puffy involvement is pretty funny with this. Apparently, he had most of the unused Hitman beats sitting around just playing in his house randomly and Jay overheard them and asked for them. Also, if I remember right, Jermain Durpi is involved with the album as well. Doesn't he do the title track?

JD co-produced Success with No ID