Rapper Jay-Z will embark on a small tour in November in support of his forthcoming “American Gangster” album.

Billboard.com reports that Jay-Z will hit the road on November 6, with a tour-opening concert at Los Angeles’ House of Blues. The five scheduled shows are in support of his upcoming Def Jam album “American Gangster,” inspired by the movie of the same name.

During the shows, Jay-Z will only perform material from the new album – due November 6, reports Billboard, which is inspired by the upcoming Ridley Scott-helmed film “American Gangster,” starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.

Jay-Z has said in interviews that certain scenes from the movie inspired certain tracks on what is his first “concept” album, reports HipHopDX.com. The rapper’s album will not be on the movie’s official soundtrack.

Jay-Z collaborated with Sean Diddy Combs for his album, among other, making this the first collaboration between the two in ten years, since Jay-Z’s 1997 “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.”

Billboard.com notes that the 37-year-old musician has made few live appearances in recent years, most recently during the Screamfest tour's New York stop. Last year, he held court at New York's Radio City Music Hall to celebrate the 10-year-anniversary of his debut album, the critically acclaimed “Reasonable Doubt.”

It was earlier this year, in August, that Forbes magazine issued its first ever ranking of the top earning hip-hop musicians, calling them “Hip Hop Cash Kings.” Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, was the very first, with a $34 million income in 2006 alone.

Forbes detailed his entrepreneurial skills as chief executive of Def Jam Recordings, co-founder of its ultra-successful Roc-A-Fella Records imprint, owner of the 40/40 clubhouse franchise and co-owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA Team. Forbes also notes that Jay-Z sold his Rocawear apparel label to Iconix for $204 million in March.

Jay-Z released his 11th studio album, “Kingdom Come,” in late 2006 – he had supposedly retired from singing with his 2003 farewell album “The Black Album.” “Kingdom Come” was warmly welcomed by fans and sold 2 million copies within months.

Billboard.com reports the following as Jay-Z's November tour dates:

Nov. 6: Los Angeles (House of Blues)

Nov. 7: Chicago (House of Blues)

Nov. 9: Baltimore (Ram's Head)

Nov. 11: New York (Hammerstein Ballroom)

Nov. 12: Philadelphia (Fillmore)