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VH1 Storytellers Jay-Z: Life of an American Gangster RECAP!
Posted on November 9, 2007 8:30 AM
L'Chaim, fam!
Dressed simply in a black leather jacket, black tee, and black Yankees cap, Jay-Z tipped off the end of what could be known as "Jigga Week" with the airing of his VH1 Storytellers: Life of an American Gangster special. Backed by a 12 piece band at Steiner Studios, Jay broke down the basics of the album from his point of view, "from Genesis to the Rise to the Demise" of the young hustler. During the show, there were also pics of different iconic places in Brooklyn projected onto screens.
Aight, now that we got all of the specifics out of the way...
Did anyone actually catch this special? If you didn't, then you missed out.
(Photo Credit: Jason Kempin/FilmMagic/VH1)
You know what's funny? When I first learned that Jay was going to release American Gangster, I was totally against it. I set out to hate it. Then I got it.... and all that hate melted. I LOVE IT. Honestly, it's my 2nd favorite Jay-Z album, next to The Blueprint. And this is coming from someone who was feeling Kingdom Come. But that's neither here nor there...
This special just made me love AG even more. These songs sound DOPE live.
He opened the set with "Pray", and then proceeded to do a stirring rendition of "American Dreaming" and goes forth into other songs such as "I Know", "Sweet", "Blue Magic", "Party Life", "Fallin'", and "Roc Boys". In my opinion, the two best performances of the night were "American Dreamin'", and "Roc Boys" (which, like I thought, sounds FAN-F*CKING-TASTIC LIVE), and "Party Life" (one of my AG faves).
What's also interesting to note was that not only did Jigga put forth good performances, he put on a good show. The buzz surrounding this special before it airs was that he was joking the entire way through. He was, but the most funniest line of the night was when he introduced the 'addiction' song, "I Know".
Jay-Z: "Can I deal with this addiction? Can I get my Lindsay Lohan on? Oops, that was definitely too far... I gotta edit that out!"
Yeah, go 'head... I too said, "oh sh-t he didn't!" That was the best part of the entire show for me. He could've just ended it after that. Haha.
He also made a thing of repeating certain lyrics that we thought were so hot, we needed to hear them again... such as:
"Surviving droughts/I wish you well" -- from "American Dreamin'"
and
“I’m off the wall like Michael/these other brothers is Tito” -- from "Party Life"
He also self-deprecatingly joked, "Sometimes I can't stand myself!" which got a bunch of laughs.
I think this was a good look for Jay as far as promoting the album, and putting ANY naysayers to rest about it. The ROC BOY was definitely live and in the house last night.
For those of who who didn't catch it, you're in look. VH1 is not only airing clips of the certain performances, but the ENTIRE set here: VH1 Storytellers Jay-Z: Life of An American Gangster
If you have any thoughts/comments on the special, let me know. I'm out for the weekend-- holla @tcha girl!
** Also, don't forget to check out this week's episode of "The Yard". I don't know 'bout y'all, but I think the Spanish chick is trying to get into that butchy girl's stuff on the sly!
WHO LOVES YA, BABY?
-- Breezy
Comments
A gangster college series huh?
And yall wonder why black people are in the space we are right now. Just got to laugh at ignorance.
Tha Nigga Hov is Tha God emcee... J.Hova!!!!..... Tha performace was dope i really cant say shit except i told u so and that after this performace everybody gonna wanna cope tha album!!!!!........ It aint really nuffin 2 say!!!!.... This aint Kingdom come and he back on his d-boy shit that we known 2 love him by!!!!!..... Party life is so Swagalious!!!..... U gotta love it!!! Cooler than zero/ below/ fresh 1(one) blade/ No chemo..... Is u fuckin serious? Nigga is tha shit!!!!..... Fuck it!!!! Hov is Hov
does anyone kno when this comes on again? im so pissed that i missed this... american gangster is one of the best albums i heard this year...
I missed the VH1 show, but I'm going to record it when it comes on later tonight at 2AM. AG is a great album, but I just can't stand "Hello Brooklyn". Jay should have put Dead Presidents 3 in its place because the short snippet alone sounds crazy. I haven't seen much of "The Yard", but based on that clip, I can see the acting is unbearable. That Maria chick seems to be the only reason to watch the show.
L'chaim!
www.fiyahmuzik.blogspot.com
American Gangster is Jay-Z at his finest. This album takes me back to the Blueprint. "Fallin" is probabaly the best song of heard in years. Hov is still the truth. Haters Congratulate and pick up this album.
i saw the VH1 special and that shit was hot, and the songs he picked to play was all the old skool 70s joints, the band was cool 2.
jay isnt even a rapper he's a musician
-
LET THAT BITCH BREATHE
That new jigga album is classic material. I am NOT a jay-z fan I am dip set all day everyday but I can't front this cd is fire.
Sweeeet
Let that bitch breathe
or does that dumb ass salute
Be your own Man, start your own movement - Heavy D (1989)
Yeah, this was a good one. The thing, for me, about this album is that it's so beautifully written. It's like reading Chester Himes' A Rage in Harlem where he's describing Goldy's death: it's so beautifully written that you tend to forget that it's about drugs and all the awful shit that comes with drugs.....if you can't appreciate Hov for this, you really are a hater....
I TOLD U JAYA WAS THE BEST RAPPER ALIVE F*CK THAT HOMO THUG WAYNE KISSIN NI99a DAMN
Agree with all of the above, AG is pure classic. Its in his top 3 albums next to Blueprint and the untouchable "Reasonable Doubt", just put it on and let it ride.
I remember the time, place and the weather on the day you said hi to me, Hello Brooklyn!!!
Fresh beats + uncensored video of Lil Dap "Steady Frontin" produced by Zoober Slimm
and a special remix of King Kong.
http://www.myspace.com/zooberslimm
Well well well HIP HOP is back out of a coma with the rebirth of Jigga Man, Yes the people have finally awaken to a new day. I must say Ag is straight FIYA!!! One last thing the song Hello Brooklyn 2.0 is straight fiya, I'm no ttoo sure how many folks on here are familiar with Bk but in the lyrics when Jay was talkin about he different parts of brooklyn was amazing cause he used it in metaphors. Just go back and listen to his lyrics.
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Baby I'm as cold as Ice, like i'm from Brownsville, but my best in da stuy, though while I flatin your bush, to we smoke a C.I. what up to the boy B.I. ....
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basically he just brought up like 4 parts of brooklyn in that one lil line and that cold as Ice reference was a big up to M.O.P. they from Brownsville, the you already know he fron the Bed Stuy and he threw that lil line in there, then you have the flatin your bush , which he is talkin about flatbush and then the C.I. line was the craziest that was for the Coney Island peeps. And at the end of that he gave his boy BIG a shout out.
nobody gives a mother fuck. the bk line wasn't even dat hot. come on common sense u can say all dat shit. damn u new york niggas be suckin dick like hell. grow da fuck up. u lil bitches
listen to his flow on "fallin"...crazy! American gangster is dope, hope to see him on tour nxt yr.
Preme you a hater
preme u a fuckin hater, im from the south and this shit bangs! ill bang this shit over gucci mayne or lil wayne any fuckin day. its one of the best albums i heard this year, hova killin the game with this shit!
Yes, hip hop is back. I say that because Jay-Z basically is hip hop. It sucks with a few exceptions until he releases another album. It's the best album I heard since Common's Finding Forever.
As for the best album since The Blueprint... nah. Black Album was classic. You can't beat songs like Encore and Allure.
American Gangster is in the same vein as Reasonable Doubt. Great music but the masses will not appreciate a lack of singles. But real hiphop heads will appreciate it.
PEACE
jay-z is not a ganksta, he didnt sell heavy weigh on the block, ask calvin klein, jay was a petty soldier!
jay fooled all yall, especially dame "bonk's adventure head" dash!
1thug says...
jay-z is not a ganksta, he didnt sell heavy weigh on the block, ask calvin klein, jay was a petty soldier!
jay fooled all yall, especially dame "bonk's adventure head" dash!
November 9, 2007 1:02 PM
So what he wasn't a Boss, if he was thenwe would have ever never got the chance to see or hear perfection at it's greatest. Everrybody can't be a Boss on a team, everybody plays there position til tehy can make a come, go to jail or end up dead somewhere.
Jay -Z is one of the greatest rappers ever but I dont think he ever was a gangster. He doesnt convince me. He was a lilttle hustler on the block which is way different than a gangster, the gangster is the one who applies pressure to his foes by force ( Suge Knight, Pablo Escobar, The Ochoa Bros., Fat Cat Nichols) and so on. Jigga your a great rapper and business man, thats were it ends.
he need to re-release the cd with the live band..it sounds much better...also he shoulda brought Nas out and performed success..all in all the performance was hot...Jay funny as hell too..
yes, yes, yes Jay is at it again. i cought the story teller special and i have to say...he's already the G.O.A.T, next stop is the...
he opened up the show with true style and grace. these other rappers should take notes. " i'm more Frank Lucas than Ludicris," Jay-z, "No Hook." a true statment indeed. but why? how? has anyone really come to understand the similarities between the two. i have, and if you don't mind i'd like to take some of you on a trip back in time. remember, "Reasonable Doubt?" well before braking into the industry, Jay was an underdog. no lable would touch him. he, Dame, and Bigg started that sh*t from the ground up. ya'll know that, i know, but that's not why he's held in such high regards today, it's more so just part of the process. keep in mind that while accepting his underdog status, Jay never wore it. he carried himself as the champ from the very begining; "The poeples champ." "spread love, it's The Brooklyn way." indeed he did, and everyso often he let the poeple know that the line in the sand was drawn and should be crossed. true street ettiquet, but applied to the music biz, not the drug game. the point was still taken the same without bloodshed, or risk of incarseration. seemingly effortless he captured the hearts of both you and I, while still respecting his place in the game. fast forward to Biggie & Tupac. Jay took sides as the media perpetuated a coastal beef, but he never entered that war. Tupac (my favorite rapper) drug Jay's name into the drama, but still Jay watched from the sidline; tossing out a lil something somethin to keep New York feeling good, and important. Biggie was his man, and if need be the beef would be shared between them, but it needed to to be, and besides Jay had no qualms with Tupac. had it not been for the company he kept, he wouldn't have bee a thought. Biggie dealt with the situation the best way he saw fit, and before anyone could blink, Pac was gunned down in Vegas. a hole was instantly ripped into the heart of Hip-Hop, and as everyone started the healing process the overwhelming thought was, this ain't right, however, before we could put our black suits away Biggie gets gunned down in L.A. what the Fu*k are we gona do now? i'm pretty sure everyone asked that question, but it seems that one man had an answer. how do you fill an enourmous void and satisfy the people of entire country, maybe even the entire world of Hip-Hop? "i'm more Frank Lucas that Ludicris," remember? at that point in time, somebody had to step up, but if you're going to do it, do it big. destroy the competion (not literally) and stand alone. Jay enters the ring and invites Nas. i'm a truth telling bortha, so you know what happened next. "Ether, that sh*t that makes your soul burn slow."-Nas. Jay lost the battle, but as it turns out, Nas didn't want the responsiblity of carrying a generation, if he did he wasn't acting like it. he walks away from the throne and leaves Jay to do what he does. this is where it get's good. rember back in highschool, you always wanted the two most pouplar dudes to go at it, right? but it doesn't always happend becuase the loser was most likely to lose alot, and if that can be avoided it was. not in the case of Jay vs Nas. jay lost in front of everyone, but he now has a huge responsability to live up to, so rather than run and hide from embarrasment. he rose to the occasion. that double cd het put out, "Blue print, the gift and the curse." price tag $18.99. i was farley broke at the time, and had that album been regularly priced at $24.99, i wouldn't have bought it. i know what you're thinking, but when you don't have it, 24.99 is alot. who can afford the put out the good sh*t at half the price? Jay could and he did. the album sold well, but for some reason i don't think he made a turck load of money off of it, which doesn't matter. he's done someting now. he's proven that not only does he care about the quality of music we comsume, but he also cares about our ability to pay those steep prices. don't forget, he grew up in the same ghetto most of us have grown up in, so it means alot to the poeple when you care about thier well being, or not wanting to force even the most ignorant of us to have to choose between buying some pampers for our newborn child, or bumping that new Jay-Z Sh*t. i know, far fecthed, but how many of you know an ignorant muthaFu*ka who always got the flyest anything, but their kids got sh*t! point proven. let's contiue shall we? he's solidfied his place in the game, and wrote his name on the wall, "Jay-z was here!" album after album goes by, and he still sits atop the throne unmatched, and unchallenged for the most part. he looks out into his court and cathes glimpse' of younger Mc's that want what he has. he knows that every now and then someone will test him; he's prepared. "i'm about a dollar, what the fuck it fiffy cent?" he doesn't respond to every one, but he acknowledged 50cent. could he have felt comfortable vacating the throne so that a newbreed may take charge? perhaps, and at the rise fo a new star, Jay announced his retirement. 50 grabbed the wheel almost prematurely, and because to the permanet chip on his shoulder he mashed down on the gas pedal and drove everyone to the nearest gun dealer for those new sigs with the rubber gripps. "what up gansta?" "paper, now handle your business and get yours!" over the course of a few years the rap game ain't the same. too much drama, we all know what happend when there's too much drama, but Jay is smart, he watches how it will play out. it's not playing well and we al know it. we watch as things seem to get out of hand, and we silently pray that no one gets killed. somebody has to take charge again. "spread love, it's Thr Brooklyn way!" ( i'm from the South Bronx, Paterson Projects) anyway, Jay preapres for another ride, but this time it's different. alot of things have changed, he himslef included. he can't run and gun like these young cats, he has even more to lose. so no he won't force anyone away from the throne, he won't slap anyones Jacob the jewler made crown onto the ground, and he won't piss inot anyone's so called pimp cup. instead, he let's you decide "What more can i say?" we all know there's not much more to say, but we're happy hearing him say the same thing over again, so we cheer, "Hova, Hova, Hova!" lest these words fall on deaf ears. we place him on our shoulders and carry him back to the throne. there are a few poeple scrambling for that seat, but see the poeple have chosen. they step aside. a few younger cats don't know how to take the news, becuase while he was gone they've been busting Ass, become in thier own right just as great. but Jay hold sentimental value to all of us, even to the young cat Wayne who can't handle it. he was clearly hurt, rather than angry. you said you were out of the game, and who ever wanted the crown could have it. i want it, and i deserve it, so you gotta move. Jay doesn't budge, nor does he lash out at the young great. he understands Wayne's position, but Wayne needs to understand Jay's. mean while some cats from across the river decided to take some serious isusses with Jay. at first Jay does nothing. but he's smart, he realizes that although he has the peoples approval, these cats from across the river hold the attention of a younger generation, a genration that within a few years will have the desicion power to decide who ocupys the throne, and more importantly won't reconized the contributions and sacrifices he's made on behalf of thier predessesors. it's time to destroy again, but it won't be like Jay and Nas. he takes off the blazer, losens up the tie, and steps inside the booth, superman's alive. lyrically those guys from across the bridge can't touch Jay. they're better off pooling thier money together and hiring a hitman. but Jay ain't a paperback gansta. "I''m praying that it spills outside of the booth."- Jay-z. he then goes on to explain what kind of ganster he is. " i'll be sitting under palm trees, calmy listening to R&B, when we get the call, he's no longer with us, fire your babysitters." do you think he got the kind of cash to make that happen? ok then, so we continue. the leader of the boys across the river seemed to have bit off more than he could chew, not once, not twice, but three times. 50cent couldn't have said it better. " I think he's delusional."-50 cent. with that being said, let's fast forward to right now. American Ganster, has anyone listend to the words. Jay is telling a story about the rise a fall of those who play the drug game, but it's deeper than that. it's the story of life. anyone who has ever set out to do anything expeirenced hunger and desire to achieve and be successful. and once you start to climd that ladder you start to go through different things. as you climb higher, you feel more confident about yourself; it's natural. but along with your sense of confidence you realize, and see that there are plenty of people who will go way out of there way to destory the feeling you have. if they succeed, they'' feel even better about themelves. it really is a viscous cycle. when you reach the top you realize that making it there wasn't as hard as staying there. then everything you do has to be just as calculated as any diffucult math problem. you put that decimal in the wrong place and your falling, ain't gravity a bit*h? but know that we know American Ganster is just a life story, how does it apply to Jay-z's life. he could verywell be nearing the end of his run, but he will definatley land on a pile of money. i'll conclude now by saying and you can quote me, "American Gangster is perhaps the gratest album he's put out to date." it acuratley tell the story of life, not just his but anyone's. hope that arm candy you left your chick for comes in handy. -peace Nickels
@ Nickels... you ever heard of makin a long story short????
@ nickels .
I can dig it, except the part he lost to Nas, but that's me.
Nickels i fuckz wit u on this shit but my nigga!!!! u gotta make it a lil shorter!!! lol!!! .... But whoever sint feelin Hello Brooklyn then ur just not real hip hop!!! damm near every song Ho comw out wit has double meanin or is a metaphor!!!!!! Example. I kno?........... Hello Brookyln is a bout a young hustler enterin tha crack game and realizin this is a gold mind!!!!!...... O shit!!! Hello brooklyn!!! Tha city brought n so much good he will name is daughter Brookyln Carter!!!!... And only hug her roads wit Lexus!!! .......And he carryin razor blades n his mouth!!!.... Do u c how she got him behavin?..... hello Brookyln!!! damm near evry hustler remember tha time tha place and tha wheather when they first hit tha game!! ... tha nigga Hov is amazin!!!! lol!!!! ... truely tha God emcee!!!.... ( i just wish Biggie waz alive 2 compete wit him like they did on Brooklyn Finest!!! 0
jay z is our living breathing manhood he is the best we have to offer to the world 50 cent has it but hes not as talented diddy has it but hes too distracted with women nyc breeds men who know how to adapt and overcome if i could give you examples look at jay z black album concert and what more can i say look at his face hes showing us how to handle ourselves in this world today black folks have always faced crisis drugs slavery unemployment
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