Jay-Z recently revealed more details to Power 105.1’s DJ Clue about his upcoming conceptual album, American Gangster, for which he says he’s going back to his street roots. American Gangster is inspired by the upcoming flick of the same name, which stars Oscar Award winner Denzel Washington.

“My name is Jigga right now,” Hov explained. “I just stripped it
back down and took it all the way back to the basics, four sounds, you
know, the running man and all that…. It’s a conceptually themed
album.”

When asked how many songs will be on the album, Jigga replied, “I’m
at 12 [songs] now but I’m in such a zone I might go 14. I wanna keep it
short and sweet and try to keep the story line.”

American Gangster, the film, is based on the true story of 1970’s drug kingpin Frank Lucas (played
by Washington) who brought heroin into Harlem by sneaking it into the
coffins of American soldiers coming home from Vietnam.

Hov revealed to The New York Times last week that the movie mirrored his drug dealing past and that the songs he crafted for the album were inspired by specific scenes from the flick. Giving fans a sample of the street oriented rhymes on the new
project, Jay rapped a few lines from a track called “No Hook,” to The Times writer.

“Please don’t compare me to other rappers / Compare me to trappers,”Jay spit. “I’m more Frank Lucas than Ludacris.
And Lude is my dude, I ain’t trying to dis / Just like Frank Lucas is
cool, but I ain’t tryin’ to snitch / I’m-a follow the rules, no matter
how much time I’m-a get / I’m-a live and die with the decisions that
I’m-a pick.”

American Gangster, the movie, will open in theatres on November 2 while Jigga’s project of the same name drops on November 6.

In related news, Jay-Z’s clothing line Rocawear is one of three
suitors vying for naming rights for The Continental Arena an in New
Jersey. Hov is facing stiff competion from South Pole and Izod.

The arena, which is home to the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, where Jay-Z owns a minor share, could have a new name by October 4.