American As Apple Pie

The odd thing to me, as an unflinching Jay-Z fan, is how much of a household name Jigga has become. I distinctly remember listening to Reasonable Doubt, or even Hard Knock Life, Vol. II, and being inspired by his revolutionary spirit. Jay has always been the epitome of counterculture - everything had to be his way, and even though audiences didn't automatically understand where he was coming from (cough Blueprint 2.0 cough), he never failed to deliver messages that - ten years plus after his debut - not only resonate sonically with an impeccable flow, but emotionally as well.

Perhaps this is why his latest album, titled American Gangster, appears to be the most apt of all. Jay's no dummy, and as his last album Kingdom Come showed, he's fully aware that he's no longer in the same place that he was when he wrote D'evils. Shawn Carter, boyfriend to a global, superstar diva and President of the illustrious Def Jam Records, has officially become a household name. Soccer moms, CEO's, the English-speaking and the non are all familiar with the rap game of Hov. These days, it doesn't get more American than Mr. Carter himself, but true to his nature, he still wants to keep it gangster.