Jay-Z has announced hes releasing a new album, just a year after his last Kingdom Come.

The rapper decided to make the record after seeing American Gangster and has now cut an unofficial soundtrack to the flick.

Jays move comes as a surprise as hes busy being CEO of Def Jam and guiding artists like Kanye West and Rihanna.

He told the 'New York Times' the new Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe film inspired his concept album:

It immediately clicked with me I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a backstory to the story, said Hova.

Jay-Z- whose real name is Sean Carter- has already recorded nine tracks inspired by particular scenes in the movie.

T.I, Common and RZA have small parts in American Gangster.

'Tom Thorogood'