As mentioned, we love American Gangster (the album) and so we had fun watching Jay-Z ease into storyteller mode on Charlie Rose. Instead of talking about a recession, Jigga brings up the good times with (and Cuban cigars for) Biggie, returning to the game, Diddy approaching him to executive produce American Gangster. He also gives a sock-dancing Diddy cred for providing some of those rich retro samples.
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Jay's wordplay and flow are so great on AG, but it's that backdrop that makes the album evoke the late '60s/early '70s (and create "black superhero music") even when Jay's rapping about the '80s. Tricky. We love the horns in "Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)," for instance -- an immediate hook. Check 'em out in their original context, the Menahan Street Band's "Make The Road By Walking," at Dunham Records's MySpace.
We decide to provide access to some other source material, when we could find proper links, etc. (Figure you already know "Hello Brooklyn"'s Beastie Boy clip.) A couple few after the jump.
Marvin Gaye's "Soon I'll Be Loving You Again" sampled in "American Dreamin'"
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Barry White's "Love Serenade" sampled in "No Hook"
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the Isley Brothers's "Between The Sheets" sampled in "Ignorant Shit"
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the Dramatics's "Fell For You" sampled in "Fallin"
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Those are some favorites. Actually, we really dig Mayfield's "Short Eyes" in the title track, but couldn't find a quick link on-line. If you've got more sample-to-source Gangster fun, let's hear it.
