JAY-Z

About this product

Jay-Z was inspired to make American Gangster by the Oscar-nominated 2007 movie of the same name, Ridley Scott's portrait of drug-riddled, corruption-addled 1970s New York. American Gangster the record struck platinum for Jay-Z, entering the US charts at number one with first week sales close to half a million, and was the subject of widespread critical acclaim.

American Gangster is a concept album, written and created in the studio with the movie that provided the narrative framework and the title playing on permanent loop in the background. Each track is based on a specific scene or sequence in the film, with the screen-based events and characters providing a fictional back-story to the songs. As a piece of autobiographical commentary on the high-risk criminal lifestyle Jay Z exchanged for musical superstardom, American Gangster makes for essential listening for new and long-term fans alike.