2008 Woodie Awards
Jay-Z is still hustlin' on American Gangster
Meg Keefe
Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Entertainment
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12/05/07 - The self-proclaimed "best rapper alive" Jay-Z has done it again. Inspired by the film "American Gangster," Jay-Z compiled 13 tracks on his album that take the listener through the life of drug mogul Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington. As the New York rapper's first concept album, he blends his childhood growing up in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects with the plot of the film.
The 38-year-old rapper knows all too well the life of drugs and hustling. Recording this album brought back Jay's hustling days in Brooklyn, but although the rapper and Frank Lucas went through many of the same experiences, the most important thing is that they did not have the same ending.
As part of a concept album the tracks are designed to tell a story and a damn good story it was. Jigga Man begins with the track "Pray" as an introduction to the story that will continue throughout the album. "This is the tale of the lost innocence as the incense burns and the turn tables turn and that Al Green plays," Jay raps. Jay describes the feelings of jumping into the hustling game with nothing to lose, and not looking back.
In "ROC Boys" featuring Kanye West, Jay is officially considered a success, and is living up the life he made for himself. "The ROC boys in the building tonight / oh what a feeling I'm feeling life / you don't even have to bring your paper out / we the dope boys of the year drinks is on us." Written in the pinnacle of his career, Jay-Z goes on to describe the baller status he has worked hard to achieve.
And where there is a beginning and middle, there is an end. With the tracks "Say Hello" and "Fallin" everything seems to be getting out of hand for the drug lord. In "Say Hello" he doubts his chosen life as a hustler: "Only God can judge him /only he without sin / can tell me if my means can justify my ends / till then I'm just gunna fly in the Benz." In "Fallin" the dealer is caught by the FBI, and knows his life of everything bling is over. "I know I shouldn't have did that / I know its gunna come right back / I know its gunna destroy everything I made / It's probably gunna get your boy sent away."
While Frank Lucas did get locked up, let's thank Brooklyn's finest for dropping out of the game when he did. Because who else could have written the track "I Know" from the persona of heroin, maybe a crack head, but I don't think we would have heard it.
The 38-year-old rapper knows all too well the life of drugs and hustling. Recording this album brought back Jay's hustling days in Brooklyn, but although the rapper and Frank Lucas went through many of the same experiences, the most important thing is that they did not have the same ending.
As part of a concept album the tracks are designed to tell a story and a damn good story it was. Jigga Man begins with the track "Pray" as an introduction to the story that will continue throughout the album. "This is the tale of the lost innocence as the incense burns and the turn tables turn and that Al Green plays," Jay raps. Jay describes the feelings of jumping into the hustling game with nothing to lose, and not looking back.
In "ROC Boys" featuring Kanye West, Jay is officially considered a success, and is living up the life he made for himself. "The ROC boys in the building tonight / oh what a feeling I'm feeling life / you don't even have to bring your paper out / we the dope boys of the year drinks is on us." Written in the pinnacle of his career, Jay-Z goes on to describe the baller status he has worked hard to achieve.
And where there is a beginning and middle, there is an end. With the tracks "Say Hello" and "Fallin" everything seems to be getting out of hand for the drug lord. In "Say Hello" he doubts his chosen life as a hustler: "Only God can judge him /only he without sin / can tell me if my means can justify my ends / till then I'm just gunna fly in the Benz." In "Fallin" the dealer is caught by the FBI, and knows his life of everything bling is over. "I know I shouldn't have did that / I know its gunna come right back / I know its gunna destroy everything I made / It's probably gunna get your boy sent away."
While Frank Lucas did get locked up, let's thank Brooklyn's finest for dropping out of the game when he did. Because who else could have written the track "I Know" from the persona of heroin, maybe a crack head, but I don't think we would have heard it.