American Gangster

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Honest look at thug life has drugs, some violence.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that despite its title, this album isn't connected with the movie -- and contains much less violence than it could have. Other than in the song "Ignorant S--t," where Jay-Z talks about shooting someone, and a mention of a gun here and there, the CD really doesn't glorify the violence in thug life. It does, however, talk about working the streets selling drugs, and celebrates making money through the drug trade, but covers the consequences. There's plenty of swearing (f--k, bitch, s--t, ass) and the "N" word.

  • Jay-Z talks about being a gangster and working the streets selling drugs. A few songs celebrate this life, while others reject its glory ("We ain't doing crime for the sake of doing crime/We movin' dimes cause we ain't doin' fine/One out of three of us is locked up doing time/You know what that type of s--t can do to a N---- mind?").
  • The most violent thing on the album is the angry "Ignorant S--t" --"And with that said, I will kill N----- dead/Cut N----- short, give you wheels for legs/I'm a K-I-double-L-E-R, see y'all in Hell/Shoot N----- straight through the E.R." The intro has gunshots and some of the tracks talk about owning a gun. Most of the violence has a consequence ("bullet wounds'll stop your buffoonery/thanks to the pastor rapping at your eulogy").
  • "I grind slower than out in time" is the worst it gets. A couple of "bitches" here and there.
  • Jay-Z is loose with the language; most songs have at least one swear word (f--k, bitch, s--t, ass). He also uses the "N" word freely. "Ignorant S--t" is one long list of profanity.
  • Lexus, Timberland, Pepsi, Rolls Royce, Porsche, and more.
  • "Party Life" compares lust to heroin ("she want those heroin tracks/that Sugar Hill, she call me her sweet thing/That Black Rain that take away your pain"). Some other drug references: "table full of powder," "head to the heights where big coke is processed," and "dope needles on the ground."

What's the story?

Jay-Z credits the movie American Gangster (about a 1970s heroin kingpin) as inspiration for getting back to his roots. On his AMERICAN GANGSTER CD, Jay-Z joins forces with girlfriend Beyonce and some of the big guns in hip-hop -- Diddy, Lil' Wayne, Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams -- to deliver songs about life on the streets, trying to escape that life, selling drugs, and growing up without a father.


Is it any good?

 

One album removed from his much-hyped "comeback" from retirement, rapper-mogul Jay-Z returns to form with an album that shows him reclaiming his title as one of the best rappers alive. He tackles his subjects with honesty and strength, and even though there's a fair share of drug references, swearing, and gun touting, teens and parents can appreciate Jay-Z's MCing talent -- and the life he's lived.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the image of hip-hop artists. Why do they use tough, real-life experiences such as selling dope on the streets as material for songwriting? Do you think singing about it glorifies it? Why or why not?


This review was written by Heidi Kotansky
Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
best cd ever!!!!!!!!!
if you have ever heard jay-z you haven't heard him like this before it is the best cd i have ever heard the violence has a message their is almost no sex in it their are a little bit of language i mean every song at least has a fu*k or a sh*t also some b*tches here and there and if you are offended by n*gger then this is not for you but it does in the end have a really good message to it anyway in all it is defiantly the best cd you could buy at this time

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
LOved it !!
jay z is an old school rapper with knowlege about everything. I really liked this cd, and the vidio's that he came out with were hott! only jay z could get all the top rappers in one room and just chill and party like that. this cd is not for kids but for true lovers of hip hop.

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Adult
February 19, 2009
 
I nominate it for album of the year
This is a amazing album and apropriate for most ages. Sex:4 Not to bad just a few references. Violence: 5 In ignorant sh*t it has a few violence. Language:7 15 F-words, 20 uses of sh*t, 3 asses, 30 N-words and a few faggots.

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Teen, 16 years old
October 12, 2009
 
Lyrically a masterpiece on some tracks
Nothing your kids haven't heard in a middle school lunchroom. Great production, and Hov chooses his guest artists very wisely. Most will not understand the gravity of the lyrics Jigga is saying, about growing up in the streets, about the his father abandoning. Some tracks are also just club hits. Not for anyone younger than 13.

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Parent of 14 year old
October 24, 2009
 
loaded with f-bobms

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This review was written by Heidi Kotansky
Artist:Jay-Z
Release date:November 6, 2007
Label:Roc-A-Fella
Genre:Hip-hop
Parental advisory:Yes
Edited version available:Yes

This review was written by Heidi Kotansky
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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