Decoded
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Book Overview
Decoded is a book like no other: a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time. Praise for Decoded "Compelling . . . provocative, evocative . . . Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author's own work, Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics." --Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "One of a handful of books that just about any hip hop fan should own." -- The New Yorker "Elegantly designed, incisively written . . . an impressive leap by a man who has never been known for small steps." -- Los Angeles Times "A riveting exploration of Jay-Z's journey . . . So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism." -- The Boston Globe "Shawn Carter's most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z . . . The scenes he recounts along the way are fascinating." -- Entertainment Weekly "Hip-hop's renaissance man drops a classic. . . . Heartfelt, passionate and slick." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:1400068924
ISBN13:9781400068920
Release Date:November 2010
Publisher:One World
Length:352 Pages
Weight:2.39 lbs.
Dimensions:1.1" x 7.6" x 9.4"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Worth your time
Published by Ez , 1 year ago
Hov is introspective and engaging throughout “Decoded”. The lyric breakdowns are insightful. Highly recommend the book.
Hov doesn’t miss
Published by Sir Austin , 3 years ago
This was a great time to read. Not only did it provide another level of understanding to his genius lyrics, but it gave alot context to the times and events that inspired such ideas.
The book underscored how the art imitated life and vice versa. Listening to the songs as I read the lyrics translations was a beautiful experience and I’m a smarter individual on the other side of the pages.
What I've been looking for!
Published by MrWashATL , 4 years ago
I am not finished this book yet, but this is the 3rd book I've read on Jay Z. What I like about this book is: the words you are reading are coming from Jay Z himself. It's not coming from someone that has interviewed Jay Z or someone close to Jay Z or even someone that has critiqued Jay Z's work and the way he operates. This book is definitely for Jay Z fans!
Decoded Mentions in Our Blog
BET Awards 2021
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • June 21, 2021
The theme for this year’s BET Awards is The Year of the Black Woman. Hosted by Taraji P. Henson, the show airs this Sunday, June 27. The show celebrates Black entertainers, including musical artists, actors, athletes, and more.
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