# American Gangster (album)
**American Gangster** is the tenth studio album by the American rapper Jay-Z, released on November 6, 2007, through [Roc-A-Fella Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/roc-a-fella-records). It is his first concept album: every song was written after he was shown the then-unreleased [Ridley Scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/ridley-scott) film *American Gangster*, in which [Denzel Washington](https://www.edgepedia.org/denzel-washington) portrays Frank Lucas, an early-1970s Harlem heroin kingpin, and nearly every track was prompted by a specific scene in it.[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20jayz.html) The album arrived less than a year after his previous release and was recorded in a matter of weeks in September 2007.[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20jayz.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | November 6, 2007, Roc-A-Fella Records; Jay-Z's tenth studio album[2](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-gangster/jay-z/critic-reviews) |
| Concept | First Jay-Z concept album, written scene by scene against the 2007 Ridley Scott film[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20jayz.html) |
| Producers | Puff Daddy's Hitmen, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, No I.D. & Jermaine Dupri, DJ Toomp, among others[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary) |
| Guests | Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Nas, Bilal, and Pharrell Williams[2](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-gangster/jay-z/critic-reviews) |
| Sound | About two-thirds of the songs built on samples from 1970s soul tracks[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary) |
| Critical score | Metacritic 83 ("universal acclaim"), 23 positive and 2 mixed of 25 reviews[2](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-gangster/jay-z/critic-reviews) |
| Versions | A cappella editions on Roc-A-Fella in 2007; later reissues on Universal and A&M/Roc Nation[4](https://www.allmusic.com/album/-gamley-mw0000486673) |
## Background and conception
The album began in September 2007, when Jay-Z was shown the forthcoming film and decided to record new music against it. Within weeks he had nine tracks, almost every one prompted by a specific scene, with release planned for early November.[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20jayz.html) Def Jam announced the record as all-new original material inspired by the film, his second album within a year.[5](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/jay-z-goes-gangster-next-150646/)
Jay-Z explained the appeal directly: the film tells a rags-to-riches story in which the hero is a criminal audiences can root for, and "it immediately clicked with me," given his long history of rapping about his own early days as a drug dealer.[6](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jay-z-returns-to-his-roots-for-american-gangster-inspired-new-album-102976/) He described his method as watching the film, pausing it, and giving a backstory to the story.[6](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jay-z-returns-to-his-roots-for-american-gangster-inspired-new-album-102976/) In the label's German-language materials he said the film awakened countless memories of his childhood in Brooklyn, and that he takes the listener on a journey into Lucas's story and his own.[7](https://www.universal-music.de/jayz/musik/american-gangster-101494)
The connection between rapper and film predated the album: the movie's trailer already used his older song "Heart of the City."[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20jayz.html)
## Recording and production
The production roster reunited much of Jay-Z's past. Puff Daddy oversaw five tracks with his reassembled Hitmen production squad, giving the album the Seventies vibe of *The Blueprint* era; one track pairs a [Marvin Gaye](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvin-gaye) chorus with live drums played by [Mario Winans](https://www.edgepedia.org/mario-winans).[8](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/american-gangster-2-188617/) The wider roster included [The Neptunes](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-neptunes), Just Blaze, No I.D. & Jermaine Dupri, and DJ Toomp, among others.[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary) Universal Music's German label page credits production to P. Diddy and Pharrell Williams, among others.[7](https://www.universal-music.de/jayz/musik/american-gangster-101494)
Critics noted that what united the collection was not a single sound but a narrative arc loosely paralleling Lucas's rise and decline, with sparse programmed beats from the Neptunes and lesser-known producers like [No I.D.](https://www.edgepedia.org/no-i-d)[2](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-gangster/jay-z/critic-reviews)
## Music and lyrics
The album's central device is a composite character. Jay-Z mixes bits of his own life with pieces of [Frank Lucas](https://www.edgepedia.org/frank-lucas)'s upbringing to create a composite view of himself.[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary) Apple Music's editorial describes the record as his exploration of how his life might have gone had he never left the streets.[9](https://music.apple.com/us/album/american-gangster/1440835945)
**Themes.** The hustle is framed as a metaphor for the Black American predicament: no less stressful than straight work ("Success"), no easier to come by ("American Dreamin'"), and never enough to offset the guilt of selling yourself, and your community, out to get ahead.[9](https://music.apple.com/us/album/american-gangster/1440835945) Rolling Stone's contemporary review noted that having a fictional character to play pulled Jay-Z out of his post-retirement rut.[8](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/american-gangster-2-188617/) The German label text states that, without glorifying Frank Lucas, the album depicts both the positive sides and the temptations of gangster life.[7](https://www.universal-music.de/jayz/musik/american-gangster-101494)
**Key tracks.** About two-thirds of the songs are built around samples from 1970s soul tracks, or songs that sound like 1970s soul, evoking the era in which the film takes place.[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary)
**Guests.** The credited guests include Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Nas, Bilal, and [Pharrell Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/pharrell-williams).[2](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-gangster/jay-z/critic-reviews)
## Release and versions
The album was released in the United States on November 6, 2007,[2](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-gangster/jay-z/critic-reviews) and in Germany on November 9 on Roc-A-Fella.[7](https://www.universal-music.de/jayz/musik/american-gangster-101494)
**Separation from the soundtrack.** Jay-Z offered to make his own album and release it in conjunction with the movie, while Def Jam separately issued the film's official soundtrack, featuring songs by [Bobby Womack](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-womack), the Staple Singers, and [Sam & Dave](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-and-dave).[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20jayz.html) That official soundtrack, a distinct release, came out on Island Def Jam the same day, November 6, 2007, and features artists including [John Lee Hooker](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-lee-hooker) and Public Enemy.[10](https://filmmusic.com/album/american-gangster/)
**Consumption as a whole.** Jay-Z pulled the album from iTunes before release, arguing that he wanted it enjoyed as a whole rather than purchased as separate tracks, a move considered risky at the time.[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary)
**Editions.** AllMusic catalogs an a cappella CD (catalog 001052202) and a cappella LP (DEFB 001052201) on Roc-A-Fella in 2007. Later editions include a 2008 CD on Universal and a 2011 digital release credited to A&M / [Roc Nation](https://www.edgepedia.org/roc-nation) / Roc-A-Fella.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/album/-gamley-mw0000486673)
**Track count.** Apple Music lists 15 songs with a total runtime of 58 minutes,[9](https://music.apple.com/us/album/american-gangster/1440835945) while the anniversary retrospective counts 16 tracks, with the final two songs treated by Jay-Z as bonus cuts existing outside the album's overall narrative.[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary)
## Critical reception and legacy
At release the album was met with broad approval. Metacritic assigned it a score of 83, categorized as universal acclaim, based on 25 critic reviews: 23 positive, 2 mixed, and 0 negative.[2](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-gangster/jay-z/critic-reviews) Rolling Stone described it as Jay-Z turning the film's inspiration into his own superfly Seventies crime epic, casting himself as the lead.[8](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/american-gangster-2-188617/)
Retrospective judgment has been stronger still. A 15th-anniversary retrospective called it the best post-retirement Jay-Z album and probably among the top three or four he has ever recorded.[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary) The same piece situates the album against [Kanye West](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanye-west)'s *[Graduation](https://www.edgepedia.org/graduation-album)*, released on Def Jam shortly before and basking in massive success.[3](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary)
## International editions
Discogs lists 2007 Roc-A-Fella pressings including Japan (UICD-9045) and a Chinese edition on EMI 百代 (XR-2411), plus a 2013 US reissue (602537401246).[11](https://www.discogs.com/master/47134-Jay-Z-American-Gangster)
## References
1. [For Jay-Z, Inspiration Arrives in a Movie, The New York Times (September 20, 2007)](https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20jayz.html)
2. [American Gangster Critic Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/music/american-gangster/jay-z/critic-reviews)
3. [Rediscover Jay-Z's 'American Gangster' (2007), Albumism (2022 anniversary retrospective)](https://albumism.com/features/jay-z-american-gangster-album-anniversary)
4. [JAŸ-Z: American Gangster Tracks & Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/-gamley-mw0000486673)
5. [Jay-Z goes 'Gangster' for next album, The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/jay-z-goes-gangster-next-150646/)
6. [Jay-Z Returns to His Roots For "American Gangster" Album, Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jay-z-returns-to-his-roots-for-american-gangster-inspired-new-album-102976/)
7. [Jay-Z | Musik | American Gangster, Universal Music Germany](https://www.universal-music.de/jayz/musik/american-gangster-101494)
8. [American Gangster, Rolling Stone album review](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/american-gangster-2-188617/)
9. [American Gangster, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/american-gangster/1440835945)
10. [American Gangster Soundtrack (2007), Filmmusic.com](https://filmmusic.com/album/american-gangster/)
11. [Jay-Z – American Gangster, Discogs master release](https://www.discogs.com/master/47134-Jay-Z-American-Gangster)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Hip hop scenes worldwide › Landmark works: Hip hop scenes worldwide*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license