Jay-Z Relives Past On American Gangster

Entrepreneurial rapper Jay-Z has found time to release his second album in less than a year, as American Gangster is due on Nov. 6 from Def Jam.

The LP was inspired by the upcoming Ridley Scott film of the same name, which uses an older Jay-Z track called "Heart Of The City" in its trailer.

American Gangster's first single, "Blue Magic," was produced by Jay-Z pal Pharrell. Jay-Z also received production help on six of the album's 11 tracks from Diddy, as well as studio assistance from Just Blaze and Jermaine Dupri. In addition to the stellar production team, Kanye West guests on "Vietnam War," Nas lends his rhymes to "The Return," and T.I (who also acts in the film) helps out on "American Gangsta."

"Ignorant Shit," featuring Beanie Sigel, was left off Jay-Z's The Black Album in 2003, but resurrected because he felt that it fit on American Gangster.

The film tells the story of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin who ruled the streets of New York City's Harlem area in the '70s. Actor Denzel Washington, who stars in the film, suggested Jay-Z for the soundtrack early on during filming. Producer Brian Grazer told the New York Times that they declined because they wanted to maintain the movie's authentic '70s feel, but that they liked the idea of Jay-Z simultaneously releasing a concept album based on the film.

"It ignited all these memories of his childhood and how he grew up and the experiences he had," Grazer said of Jay-Z and American Gangster. "And the moral crossroads he had constantly in his life that were so parallel to Frank Lucas'."

Here are the songs from American Gangster:

"Amen"
"Blue Magic"
"Untitled"
"Alright, Alright"
"You Don't Know"
"And The Winner Is"
"American Gangsta"
"Welcome"
"Ignorant Shit"
"The Demise"
"I Get Money (Remix)"

Def Jam will also release the film's official soundtrack on Nov. 6. Here's the track list:

Anthony Hamilton — "Do You Feel Me"
Lowell Fulson — "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?"
John Lee Hooker — "No Shoes"
Bobby Womack — "Across 110th Street"
Anthony Hamilton — "Stone Cold"
Sam & Dave — "Hold On I'm Comin'"
The Staple Singers — "I'll Take You There"
Public Enemy — "Can't Truss It"
Hank Shocklee — "Checkin' Up On My Baby"
Hank Shocklee — "Club Jam"
Hank Shocklee — "Railroad"
Hank Shocklee — "Nicky Barnes"
Marc Streitenfeld — "Hundred Percent Pure"
Marc Streitenfeld — "Frank Lucas"