An album that I perhaps underrated early on. However, after many attempts to listen to it, due to the love it has received, I still think, like many Jay-Z albums, that it is overrated. It really has four weak tunes meaning that it's far from being a classic or anything too noteworthy.
1 Intro N/A
2 Pray ★★★★☆
Easily the best production on the album. The New Earth sample is great along with Beyonce as well.
3 American Dreamin' ★★★☆
Not bad but I always get a bit bored with this.
4 Hello Brooklyn 2.0 (feat. Lil Wayne) ★☆
Mediocre beat with an ill-fitting Lil Wayne featured. What was Jay thinking? Wayne is popular at the moment, so I better get him on the album no matter what...
5 No Hook ★★★☆
I don't dislike this, but it isn't something I'd ever play without playing the album from start to finish.
6 Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)... ★★★★
That trumpet is dope. Good production.
7 Sweet ★★
I've never liked this song. I'm over it pretty quickly.
8 I Know ★★☆
An average Neptune produced chick pop rap tune.
9 Party Life ★★
Pretty boring
10 Ignorant Shit (feat. Beanie Sigel) ★★★★
Gotta love the Between the Sheets sample. Good rapping from Jay.
11 Say Hello ★★★☆
12 Success (feat. Nas) ★★★
I'm a big Nas fan but I've never dug the production on this one.
13 Fallin' ★★★★
Like 'Ignorant Shit', the sample really helps carry this. This time it's 'Fell for You' by the great Dramatics.
14 Blue Magic ★★☆
Quite a minimalist beat and the first single from this album. Ehh.
15 American Gangster ★★★
Best Tracks: Pray, Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..., Ignorant Shit, Fallin'
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