album tenth studio album american rapper jay-z released november records concept album inspired film album features production blaze guest appearances include jay-z released cappella version album date 38th birthday december album released commercial success despite pulled itunes_store jay-z request time initial release debuted number billboard chart selling copies week tying elvis_presley second number albums release received general acclaim music critics rolling_stone named best album album certified platinum recording_industry_association_of_america shipments excess million copies united_states background november jay-z appeared charlie rose discuss album asked film gave life album stated new_york_city true story know soon movie came like familiar things pop seen seen know different things like things seen growing way story mean happens know way turns know movies champion bad guy bad guy know don like bad guy good guy mean good guys bad know complex complexity human beings thing amazing loved complexity human beings recording jay-z film playing monitors recording booth inspired interview mtv producer said jay beats record send fill far making records having live horns live strings live percussion coming bottles bottles shit went brought musicians bring jay probably heard sample drums got vocals brought extra candy featured guest spots album appears new version ignorant shit joins jay-z boys sampling hello brooklyn jay returned favor carter fellow new_york_city rapper rival featured track success neo soul singer sings hook officially credited composition lyrics allmusic says common complaint album case jay-z jay-z albeit different presentation know verse kingdom come sound like dealing variation worn themes exact thoughts emotions older tracks past drug dealer rise arrogance fall stages yahoo music writer angus viewed thematic concept context ideal stating selection beats built 70s soul funk reflects period setting lyrically primary theme investigation evolution looking drug dealer semi sympathetic outlaw figure examining contradictions inherent chase far legality period history come mean pitchfork_media reviewer noted hook complicated rhyme patterns jay tried years jay-z says inspired movie touches topics censorship controversy production provide production twice album single blue magic fourteenth track eighth track know producers known production team responsible tracks album credited second single boys winner american production partner assists hook party life pray finally sweet delivers track album blaze credited bonus track ignorant shit kanye_west mentor gives tracks produces vice versa finally lesser known producers lend hand intro credited production produces boys sampling assisted track hello brooklyn release promotion removal itunes jay-z pulled popular itunes store jay-z stated movies sold scene scene collection sold individual singles album available digital download entirety subsequently released itunes_store tour october jay-z announced american gangster live tour promote album jay-z stated perform material tour consisted smaller sized venues starting november ending november philadelphia according statement website city club tour sold seconds cappella remixes like jay-z album black album jay-z released cappella version released december cappella version caused string remix mash albums fans professional producers alike remix mash albums reached public notoriety grey album versions way mainstream notable albums listed american godfather samples godfather godfather brooklyn soul samples american gangster music borders merchant samples reception commercial performance debuted number billboard hip hop albums charts selling records united_states week jay-z tenth number album officially tying elvis_presley second highest number number albums beatles december album certified platinum sales recording_industry_association_of_america shipments million copies united_states singles released blue magic released september peaking billboard hot billboard hot rap tracks track reference kind heroin sold movie came package similar heroin came second single boys winner released october reached billboard hot billboard hot rap tracks critical response received universal acclaim contemporary music critics metacritic assigns normalized rating reviews mainstream critics album received average score based reviews indicates universal acclaim rolling_stone commented album definitely doesn like beach chair jay sounds relaxed longer worried instead follows story king ambition american big crash entertainment_weekly wrote jay-z ambitious leap trying write lucas point view use film story period vibe color elaborate legend american sample provides backdrop jay-z recounts early days dealer allmusic writer andy_kellman found good jay-z album critic commented jay-z finds inspiration scott film lush atmosphere 70s soul uncut complimented comfortable cruising altitude jay-z delivery called album effective reminder success leaving village_voice lauded retro musical references stated expect best hip hop killer new_york_times writer commended jay-z stating packs unexpected syllables clever allusions unpredictable rhymes schemes probably close new jay-z come sounding like old jay-z popmatters editor perceived narrative thread viewed consistent praised jay-z performance stating truly gives jay-z superhero music supremacy questioned superhero music insists showing hero immense power described pot pure uncut crack music writing ambition jay drug game like passing knowledge new jack despite finding conceptual style flawed observer praised jay-z reflections fame capitalism proving hip hop legacy adding jay-z triumph reflecting appetite sputnikmusic commented lyrically album jay released mixed review nme ambivalent low key style stated leave american gangster longing don fuck attitude feeling jay-z consumer guide robert_christgau gave album star honorable mention indicating worthy effort consumers aesthetic individual vision like cited blue magic hello highlights jay brand like brand stands guarantees don know know chairman accolades ranked music publications end year lists including number spin number rolling_stone_magazine number rolling_stone named album second single boys winner best single interview cable network bet president barack_obama stated fan album track listing producer personnel charts weekly charts year end charts certifications chart procession succession
American Gangster (album)