Jay-Z released the album “American Gangster” in 2007. It arrived on November 6, 2007, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings as his tenth studio album.
The record was conceived as a concept album inspired by Ridley Scott’s 2007 crime film American Gangster. Jay-Z said the film influenced the project, and many songs reflect scenes, characters and themes connected with the movie. The album also draws on his memories of growing up in Brooklyn, especially the tension between the American Dream and the realities of street life.
“American Gangster” followed Kingdom Come, released in 2006, and was widely viewed by critics as a return to form. Its production used a rich 1970s-inspired palette of soul and funk, with contributions from producers including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Just Blaze and The Neptunes.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling roughly 425,000 copies in its first week. The year can be confused with 2006 because that was the release year of Kingdom Come, Jay-Z’s preceding studio album; 2008 refers to the album’s later chart activity and certification period.