Loyal Agenda readers will recall that when we recommended the movie American Gangster last week, we acknowledged that the album it inspired, just out, was probably the best thing about it. (The movie’s worth seeing because it’s one of the few widely shared cinema experiences of the season—a key communo-cultural event.) So here it is: Jay-Z’s Frank Lucas–inspired glance back at the crack-as-opposed-to-salad days, wherein the resurgent master artfully skirts tearful regret, unchecked braggadocio, and, on “Success,†musings on the soul-crushing emptiness of his commercial triumphs. Plus: Great beats!
American Gangster
Jay-Z
Def Jam
$13.98