As mentioned, we love American Gangster (the album) and so we had fun watching Jay-Z ease into storyteller mode on Charlie Rose. Instead of talking about a recession, Jigga brings up the good times with (and Cuban cigars for) Biggie, returning to the game, Diddy approaching him to executive produce American Gangster. He also gives a sock-dancing Diddy cred for providing some of those rich retro samples.
Jay’s wordplay and flow are so great on AG, but it’s that backdrop that makes the album evoke the late ’60s/early ’70s (and create “black superhero music”) even when Jay’s rapping about the ’80s. Tricky. We love the horns in “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is),” for instance — an immediate hook. Check ‘em out in their original context, the Menahan Street Band’s “Make The Road By Walking,” at Dunham Records’s MySpace.
We decide to provide access to some other source material, when we could find proper links, etc. (Figure you already know “Hello Brooklyn”‘s Beastie Boy clip.) A couple few after the jump.
Marvin Gaye’s “Soon I’ll Be Loving You Again” sampled in “American Dreamin’”
Barry White’s “Love Serenade” sampled in “No Hook”
the Isley Brothers’s “Between The Sheets” sampled in “Ignorant Shit”
the Dramatics’s “Fell For You” sampled in “Fallin”
Those are some favorites. Actually, we really dig Mayfield’s “Short Eyes” in the title track, but couldn’t find a quick link on-line. If you’ve got more sample-to-source Gangster fun, let’s hear it.
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Larry Ellis & The Black Hammer – “Funky Thing (Part 1)” sampled in “Success”
http://hypem.com/track/415623
I love how Carlie Rose is all pimped-out in that navy blue pinstriped suit while Jay-Z’s dressed casual ….. business casual that is, and Charlie saying “Diddy”? …… awkward.
Nice work ‘Gum on the nabbing some of the source material! I’m impressed — maybe you guys can cover hip-hop…
why do indie hipster sites attempt to have their opinion heard on rap albums…this jay z album is awful…fool’s been donezo since the black album
aint nothing like being told you dont have soul by someone who uses the word ‘donezo’.
I always thought it was funny how the only hip-hop this blog covers is Kanye and Jay-Z, two of the most visible, mainstream stars in that genre. That’s like a hip-hop blog occasionally doing stories on the killers and foo fighters (which would never happen anyway)
i like both kanye and jay-z for the record
No, it’s not. Jay-Z is considered the greatest ever in the genre and Kanye West is a crossover artist. There are alot of mainstream acts who are not considered to be their equals by people in hip-hop. Hip-hop’s favorite rock act seems to be Coldplay.
>>That’s like a hip-hop blog occasionally doing stories on the killers and foo fighters (which would never happen anyway)
The only band I can see on the okayplayer homepage is Dave Matthews.
i can agree with both big brother and joel. HEY i use the word “donezo”. As in
“hey is the bong still going ’round?”
“nope. its DONEZO”