You’re supposed to hate on 2007 Jay, and maybe the much-discussed “return to gangsta” on his forthcoming album is a bit rich from a guy who’s spent the last few years comparing deck furniture with his country club friends. But American Gangster’s second single, “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)”, has just enough of that pre-Black Album black magic (old-school soul beat, shit talking) to keep things funky. (Love the interplay between the organ and the Earth Wind And Fire brass.) It’s hardly as Blueprint-worthy as the listening party hype might have you believing, but at least he’s not rapping about trips to Crate and Barrel with B on the weekends so they can pick up some pumpkin-scented candles and those Bodum “Bistro” coffee mugs she likes so much.

Jay-Z – “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)” [Fader]