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On November 6, Jay-Z will release the new album 'American Gangster.'
In announcing the project Def Jam brass were specific in noting that the opus is separate from the official motion picture soundtrack and is a collection of all-new original material inspired by the Denzel Washington/Russell Crowe film.
"A musical journey and lyrical interpretation of snapshots from the [movie]" is how it was summed up by a label rep.
"It was like I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a back story to the story," the near 40-year-old rap veteran said about the project which traces the rise and fall of Frank Lucas, one of New York City's most renowned drug lords of the 1970s.
The Ridley Scott-directed flick will arrive in theaters on Nov. 2, and was filmed in New York City last fall.
The recording aspect of the project came together over the last few weeks, after Jay-Z (legally known as Shawn Carter) felt inspired after seeing the gritty and grainy film. "It immediately clicked with me," he told The New York Times. "Like 'Scarface,' or any one of those films, you take the good out of it, and you can see it as an inspiring film."
Jay-Z's last album, 'Kingdom Come,' was released less than a year ago. It sold 1.5 million copies and was considered (by some) a commercial disappointment.
Comments: (58)
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By: toocool t on 9/26/2007 10:52PM
whats with this to old sh** who said theres a age limit to saying what u got to say.thats the problem with the game today they rap like kids thats why they put a age limit on it.back in the days they talked about real topics now its like jump rope superman spiderman ITS TIME TO BRING THE REAL BACK thease young bucks anite talking bout SH**! thats my word toocool out
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By: envythis26 on 9/27/2007 12:16AM
THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE 2 SAY IS; DON'T SAY THAT U R GOING 2 STOP DOING A CERTAIN THING WHEN U ALREADY KNEW THAT U HAD FALSE INTENTIONS & WAS GONNA DO IT ANYWAY! FACT:JAY-Z HAS PUBLICLY BROADCASTED THAT HE WAS RETIRING, BUT YET, ALBUMS KEEP POPPING UP! I'M NOT HATING ON THE MAN, HE CAN MAKE ALL THE MUSIC HE WANTS, JUST DON'T LIE ABOUT IT!!!! AFTER HE ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT, IN LESS THAN A YEAR ANOTHER ALBUM POPPED UP. FACT:50 CENT STATED THAT IF KANYE WEST ALBUM OUT SELLS HIS ALBUM IN THE FIRST WEEK THAT HE WOULD RETIRE FROM RECORDING SOLO ALBUMS. WELL, IT HAPPENED. KANYE OUT SOLD HIS BY MORE THAN $250,000. EVERYBODY KNOWS DAMN WELL THAT 50 IS NOT RETIRING FROM ANYTHING. THERE'S ALREADY TALK ABOUT ANOTHER ALBUM RELEASE IN A FEW MORE MONTHS. AGIAN, I AM NOT HATING ON ANYBODY. IF THESE GUYS WANT TO MAKE MUSIC UNTIL THEY TURN SIXTY THEN SO BE IT. BUT NOBODY WANTS 2 CONTINUE ON HEARING LIES ABOUT THEM STOPPING WHAT THEY DO BEST & THAT'S MAKING MUSIC. LIKE THE NIKE COMMERCIAL SAYS,"JUST DO IT"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: MarksMan on 9/27/2007 12:16AM
Even if jay-z put out some weak shit...that weak shit be better than 90% of all these other rappers.
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By: mamma kiki on 9/27/2007 1:45AM
jay is the man first of all! second of all i heard the first single off the new cd that shit is fire. itss like old school meets the streets.so for all of yall saying that he is too old stop hatin. and this is coming from a grown ass woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: The-Omnipotent on 9/27/2007 2:58AM
Do you thang J! I don't care is he's 45 and bustin rhymes, he still sounds %100 better than the BS that's
out now. "If the man wants to continue to make music don't hate!!!!"
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By: real-iz on 9/27/2007 3:23AM
Now as I sit and read I want to propose a question to all those who were so vocal against J's latest project. Had you been offered the oppourtunity to drop an album for the movie and you were nearing 40, or even 50, would you turn it down due to age or get that paper?
secondly to critique J's lyrics to make a statement..lol how many of you are doing the superman, the spongebob, danced to chicken noodle soup, or any other nursery rhyme based song played on the air? I thought so...
Or could it be that you have not been inspired to be greater than a hater..Now in closing taken from the Movie "Bambi" "If you can't say nothing nice, don't say anything at all"
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By: Brian on 9/27/2007 3:37AM
I believe Jay-Z is the hottest rapper out there. For anyone who likes lyics know that he do not just rap about bling, and hoes who ever thing that do not listen to his lyrics. 2 me he is the hottest next 2 biggie and pac.
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By: yamajasti on 10/12/2007 12:38AM
Q... class and etiquette? Naw, how about knowledge and skills? and the application of both... ? Dummy
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