The opening track for the movie has to be the rapper’s “100$ Bill,” setting the tone for the rest of the soundtrack which also includes Beyoncé and Andre 3000.
But the unusual pairing is very appropriate, as Shawn Carter shares a lot of the same characteristics of the main character, Jay Gatsby, who grew up poor and made himself a millionaire by pursuing his American dream.
Jay, a product of Marcy projects in Brooklyn, also lived the life of a struggling man, slanging drugs on the streets.
His fictional counterpart made his money selling bootleg liquor during Prohibition.
Philly.com says, narrator Nick Carraway, played by Tobey Maguire, finds Gatsby admirable despite his flaws, particularly his “extraordinary gift for hope.” Jay-Z sees himself as similarly inspirational. Last year, he told The Inquirer that the idea behind the Budweiser Made in America festival, which he curates (and which will take place, for the second time, on Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia) is “the hope that America is built on. That you can make it here. . . So many people identify with me because of the place that I come from.”
The similarities become quite obvious as you go down the list and the remarkable thing is they grew up nearly worlds apart, but managed to end up in the same lap of luxury.
As far as the soundtrack is concerned, it’s going to be amazing, with some great collaborations, featured original songs, and of course you’ve got Jay Z taking full reign of the project. Minds will be blown.
The “Great Gatsby” will be in theaters this Friday.
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