The album's theme is based around the gangster lifestyle, the American Dream, and Jay-Z's memories of growing up in Brooklyn, New York's Marcy.

They are credited with the second single, "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)...", "American Dreamin'" (where his other production partner Mario Winans assists), "No Hook", "Party Life", "Pray", and "Sweet".

Music journalist Angus Batey, American Gangster used "a selection of beats built from '70s soul and funk" to reflects "the period setting; lyrically, its primary theme is an investigation of the evolution of the gangsta archetype, looking at how the drug dealer became a semi-sympathetic outlaw figure, examining the contradictions inherent in those who chase the American Dream on the far side of legality, and ruminating on what this period of US history might yet come to mean".

[15] Reviewing the album for Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield deemed it a vast improvement over Jay-Z's previous record, Kingdom Come, adding that the rapper "sounds relaxed, no longer worried about impressing anyone.

"[23] In Entertainment Weekly, Neil Drumming said it was more than "a throwback album" and that Jay-Z adjusts his flow to each production while "emerging cockier than ever on the next track".

[18] Village Voice critic Amy Linden praised its live instrumentation, finding it lush, sexy, and "tailor-made for the '70s theme ... without being shamelessly retro".

Club called the record a "surprisingly strong return to form",[17] while Hot Press journalist Chris Wasser found its songs smooth and clever, "intelligent numbers that, instead of bombarding us with stale rhyming schemes and plastic beats, groove ever so effectively.

"[28] Greg Kot was impressed by the complexity of Jay-Z's metaphors about drug trafficking, making music, and relationships; he wrote in the Chicago Tribune that the rapper offers the kind of multidimensional lyrics that characterize classic hip hop.

Kelefa Sanneh wrote in The New York Times that Jay-Z's reluctance to indulge in the gangsta rap lyricism of his past resulted in wavering, equivocal songs such as "No Hook" and "Say Hello".

"[30] Louis Pattison of NME was more critical and called it a regression from the "slightly bloated" Kingdom Come, lamenting the shortage of "don't-give-a-fuck attitude" highlighted on "Success" in favor of less effective raps exploiting Jay-Z's entrepreneurial personage.

[20] In MSN Music, Robert Christgau cited "Say Hello" and "Blue Magic" as highlights while humorously using sampled film dialogue from the latter track to frame his lukewarm opinion of the album: "Jay-Z, that's a brand name, like Pepsi, that's a brand name – he stands behind it, he guarantees it, even if you don't know him any more than you know the chairman of Universal Music".

[36] In an interview with Jeff Johnson of cable network BET, 44th United States President Barack Obama said he was a fan of the album.

[41] Notes Samples and Additional Vocals Arrangers: Hector Delgado & Idris ElbaGuitar: Marty ReidAdditional strings: Timon AbuptahAdditional vocals: Angel WoodDialogue from the 2007 biographical crime film American Gangster, dialogue excerpts spoken by Denzel Washington Songwriters: S. Carter, S. Combs, D. Matthews, L. Coppin, and A. HawkshawSample: "New Earth" by Hank MarvinStrings & drums: Mario WinansBass clarinet & bass trombone: Aaron J. JohnsonBass & guitar: James LewisVocals: Adonis Shropshire, Carmen Cameron, Cheri Dennis, Leisa Johnson, Shannon Jones, Jayms Madison & A.J.

WalkerAdditional vocals: Beyoncé Knowles (uncredited) Songwriters: S. Carter, S. Combs, D. Matthews, L. Coppin, M. Gaye, A. Ross, L. WareSamples: "Soon I'll Be Loving You Again" by Marvin GayeBass, piano & strings: Arden "Keys" AltinoLive drums & strings: Mario WinansBackground vocals: Keon Bryce Jack Knight Songwriters: S. Carter, D. Carter, D. BakerSample: "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" (Section 5, "Hello Brooklyn") by the Beastie BoysAll instruments: Bigg D Songwriters: S. Carter, S. Combs, D. Matthews, L. Coppin, B. WhiteSample: "Love Serenade" by Barry WhitePercussion: Bashiri JohnsonBass & guitar: Ed "Wolverine" GoldsonStrings & drums: Mario WinansKeyboards, strings, Rhodes & piano: Arden "Keyz" AltinoVocals: Jayms Madison Songwriters: S. Carter, S. Combs, D. Matthews, L. Coppin, T. Brenneck, D. Guy, M. Deller, L. Michels, B. MannSample: "Make the Road by Walking" by Menahan Street BandArrangement & tenor saxophone: Kenneth "Scooter" WhalumTrumpet: Keyon Harrold & Cameron JohnsonTrombone: Saunders SermonBass & guitar: Ed "Wolverine" GoldsonPercussion: Bashiri JohnsonDrums: Mario WinansAddition vocals: Beyoncé Knowles, Cassie & Kanye West Songwriters: S. Carter, S. Combs, D. Matthews, L. Coppin, R. LoveSample: "Does Your Mama Know" by Rudy Love & The Love FamilyBass & guitar: Ed "Wolverine" GoldsonPercussion: Bashiri JohnsonAdditional vocals: Cassie, Carmen Cameron & A.J.

Walker Songwriters: S. Carter, P. WilliamsAdditional vocals: Pharrell Williams Songwriters: S. Carter, S. Combs, D. Matthews, L. Coppin, W. Hale, D. StoneSample: "Get into the Party Life" by Little BeaverBass & guitar: Ed "Wolverine" GoldsonPercussion: Bashiri JohnsonDrums: Mario WinansTrumpet: Keyon HarroldAdditional vocals: Shannon Jones Songwriters: S. Carter, J. Smith, D. Grant, R. Isley, O. Isley, R. Isley, M. Isley, E. Isley, C. JasperSample: "Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers Songwriters: S. Carter, A. Davis, T. BrockerSample: "The Love We Share Is The Greatest Of Them All" by Tom BrockProduction coordination: Keke & AmyBackground vocals: Rhonda Robinson Songwriters: S. Carter, E. Wilson, N. Jones, L. EllisSample: "Funky Thing (Part 1)" by Larry Ellis & The Black HammerBackground vocals: Juan "OG" PerezInterpolation: I'm Back By Eminem from the album The Marshall Mathers LPDialogue from the 2007 biographical crime film American Gangster, dialogue excerpts spoken by Armand Assante Songwriters: S. Carter, J. Dupri, T. HesterSample: "Fell for You" by The DramaticsBackground vocals: Bilal Songwriters: S. Carter, P. Williams, D. Foster, T. McElroy, T. Ellis, C. Herron, M. Jones, D. Robinson and B. KaunSample: "Hold On" by En VogueSample: "Main Title/Neighbor Burial" by Bernhard KaunAdditional vocals: Pharrell WilliamsDialogue from the 2007 biographical crime film American Gangster, dialogue excerpts spoken by Denzel WashingtonDialogue from the 1931 horror film Frankenstein Directed by James Whale Songwriters: S. Carter, J. Smith, C. MayfieldSample: "Short Eyes" by Curtis MayfieldLive drums: StillphilAdditional piano: Canei FinchAlto saxophone: Andy SnitzerTenor saxophone: Charles PillowTrombone: Mike DavidTrumpet: Jeff KievetViolins: Sandra Park, Sharon Yamada, Sarah Boyle, Jeanine Wynton, Lisa Kim, Minyoung Chang, Matt Lehmann, Liz LimViolas: Dawn Hannay & Sue PrayCellos: Eileen Moon & Jeanne LeBlancStrings contractor: Sandra Park