Decoded - jay-z

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.

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 authors 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-Zs journey .

So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism.

-- The Boston Globe Shawn Carters 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-hops renaissance man drops a classic.

Heartfelt, passionate and slick.

-- Kirkus Reviews (starred review).