"Pray" opens with what has to be Beyoncé blessing the song with a prayer that sounds heaven sent for street soldiers. Jay-Z laces the track with gems of how American icons like Sinatra to dynasties like the Kennedys dabbled in the underworld. "American Dreamin'" features one of the best samples of Marvin
Gaye's work since Mary J. Blige's "My Life" album.

All of Jay-Z's songs are reported to be inspired from scenes in the film. If so, one should check out the movie just to see what could have brought about the haunting "No Hook", where Jay-Z appears to fall back into the hard rationalizations of his days of "servin' fiends" in the Marcy Projects. "Roc Boys" lightens the mood momentarily with a celebratory loop feels like pay day. "Sweet" gives woofers the business under witty reflections on the hustler's life. "I Know" proves highly effective as Jay-Z raps as though he is heroin itself calling for those addicted. "Fallin'" flips the perspective back to dealers incarcerated and full of regrets. Jay-Z brings the full spectrum of the game with an album that may very well stand as a classic, the perfect companion to a movie touted to be of the same depth and quality.