Decoded

Decoded
ISBN: 9781400068920
Publication Date: 16 November 2010

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)