I chose it because i love music and a memoir written by a hip hop artist seemed to draw my attention. So when jigga dropped his decoded book in 2010, the pro era rapper says he put reading it on his todo list. Part modern day notes on the waste land, and part memoir, jay provides page upon page of. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Dyson is usually far more insightful that this, and readers should turn to julius baileys jayz. Decoded, cowritten with dream hampton, looks at his life and the. Then, at the very last minute, bing and droga5 decided that one lucky person whod decoded all 200 clues using bing maps would get the jayz lifetime pass, a golden ticket of sorts, good for. Told through lyrics, images and personal narrative, decoded shares the story of jayzs life through the 10 codes that define him, giving insight into his background, influences and the artistic process that shapes his work. By placing all the pages of text of his book on the locations where it took. Suddenly, cristal didnt just signify the good life, but the good life laced with hiphops values. Lyricist, producer, business mogul and selfproclaimed hustler jayz has all but dominated the rap scene since his 1996 debut, reasonable doubt. Decoded advertising campaign of jayzs book with bing maps. Mar 25, 2011 this month, forbes zack omalley greenburg released his book empire state of mind.
Jayz will also discuss decoded on november 15, the day before the book is released, at the new york public library. Jay z will also discuss decoded on november 15, the day before the book is released, at the new york public library. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Jayz explains the three reasons why he wanted to write the book being a case for hiphop lyrics as poetry, to tell a generational. The paperback edition of jayzs decoded hits shelves on november 1, but today, rr got an exclusive excerpt of him explaining which songs he chose to decipher let me go back to the beginning. Jayzs decoded is a 300page tome thats filled with lush. More than 30 of his songs, parsed and footnoted, frame the chapters on everything from his peers, including notorious b. The content of the book is divided between chapters of autobiography and sections of jayz song lyrics, annotated by carter himself. This is a firstperson chronicle of the life and work of jay z, born shawn carter in brooklyns notorious marcy projects. Bing and jayzs publisher partnered for a advertising campaign to market both the book decoded and search engine bing. Essays on hip hops philosopher king or jayzs own book, decoded, a masterpiece of music memoir.
Although coleridge and wordsworth never needed to pen books annotating and explaining their cerebral rhymes, rapper jayz is all set to deconstruct his verses into chapters. Expanded paperback edition of the acclaimed new york times bestseller features 16 pages of new material, including 3 new songs decoded. Nov 16, 2010 on tuesday november 16, jayz released his book decoded, explaining the history behind some of his most infamous lines. Decoded advertising campaign of jayzs book with bing. Since decoded was completed several years ago, it remains unclear whether the book will feature additional chapters detailing jayzs last few years, including the blueprint 3, his 360 deal with. However, for readers familiar with jayzs music or role in popular culture, this brief book has little to offer. In particular interest to me were the chapters regarding his breakout crossover hit, hard knock life, and how jayz had the realization that. It was a quality, premium, luxury brand known to connoisseurs. Jiggaman has reportedly inked a deal to write a book called decoded, wherein he delves into his own inexhaustible arsenal of wit and wordplay. The fullyillustrated book decodes 36 songs from jayzs extensive catalog, offering an intimate, firsthand account of the rappers most famous raps. Aug 06, 2010 since decoded was completed several years ago, it remains unclear whether the book will feature additional chapters detailing jayzs last few years, including the blueprint 3, his 360 deal with. Dec 02, 2010 in decoded a classily produced mashup of memoir, lyrical analysis and coffeetable art book the smalltime drug dealer turned multimillionaire rapper and entrepreneur jayz breaks down. The biography of shawn carter looks at jays personal.
Through the early chapters of decoded, i was dogged by a sense of dissonance. Decoded was the perfect title and conveys multiple meanings. Decoded chinese tv series, a 2016 tv series based on the novel. With music, clothing, advertising and other ventures already under his belt, rapper jay z is about to release his first book. Greetings everyone from the fourth row of the new york public library where, in just 30 minutes, jay z will be discussing his upcoming book, decoded, with cornel west. Jayz explains the three reasons why he wanted to write the book being a case for hiphop lyrics as poetry, to tell a generational story turned into powerful. Mtv news took a peek at the collection and selected a few topics and. Jayz author of decoded meet your next favorite book. I will not lose whats the basic motivation for a hustler.
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. Its mix of stories, lyrical analysis, and art that makes a case for the cultural importance of hiphop. This is a firstperson chronicle of the life and work of jayz, born shawn carter in brooklyns notorious marcy projects. Oct 21, 2010 jay z and launch their team effort contest for jay z s new book, decoded. Jayz has just released his own book decoded which is a narrative of the famous lyrics and overall life of the multiplatinum rapper. The book combines lyrics, their explanations, anecdotes, reflections, and autobiographical information. During the last decadeplus, his singles have not only owned the urban airwaves, but. Ardent jayz followers may be disappointed by the lack of gossiptheres no mention of his infamous battle with fellow new york rapper nas. With music, clothing, advertising and other ventures already under his belt, rapper jayz is about to release his first book. Jayz discusses decoded at the new york public library. Brad meltzers decoded, a 201012 american tv series. Told through lyrics, images and personal narrative, decoded shares the story of jay z s life through the 10 codes that define him, giving insight into his background, influences and the artistic process that shapes his work. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read decoded. Could someone please give me a detailed summary of decoded by.
Jayz and launch their team effort contest for jayzs new book, decoded. This episode isnt retold in decoded, which is not an autobiography but rather a scrappy memoir, containing much of. Apart from the lyrical transcripts, the voice of jayz, the persona, scarcely appeared. An exclusive excerpt from jayzs book decoded complex. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Through the early chapters of decoded, i was dogged by a sense of. Jayzs decoded is part biography, part commentary on american events and issues from the 1980s to the present, part poetry anthology, part history of rap and hiphop music. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I was surprised that jay z wrote a memoir considering he is a singer but i guess he is a man of many talents. Jayz tells all in decoded massachusetts daily collegian. The rose that grew from concrete by tupac shakur decoded by jayz book of rhymes. But more than just decoding his song lyrics, jayz decoded many more issues for. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.
Nov 16, 2009 jay z s decoded is part biography, part commentary on american events and issues from the 1980s to the present, part poetry anthology, part history of rap and hiphop music, and part sociology textbook. Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the authors own work, decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds jayz navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics. Shawn corey carter, better known by his stage name jay z, is an american rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. Shawn corey carter, better known by his stage name jayz, is an american rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. Jay z explains the three reasons why he wanted to write the book being a case. The lyrics are seen in corresponding chapters with an extensive footnote section where he explains why he wrote some of the more cryptic lines. In particular interest to me were the chapters regarding his breakout crossover hit, hard knock life. Jayzs decoded is a 300page tome thats filled with lush photographs, autobiographical musings and lyrical analysis, roughly in equal measure. Released in 2010, decoded is jay zs explicit and thorough presentation of his lyrics as poetry. Nov 26, 2019 however, for readers familiar with jayzs music or role in popular culture, this brief book has little to offer. I hit the streets for the same reason a lot of other kids do. Decodeds autobiographical sections read much more like theyre authentically in jayzs voice, and as a result, theyre the best part of the book. This month, forbes zack omalley greenburg released his book empire state of mind. Everyone around the world is encouraged to look for page clues.
On tuesday november 16, jayz released his book decoded, explaining the history behind some of his most infamous lines. Cristal, before hiphop, had a nice story attached to it. I was very curious to look into this book because of that reason. Jul 17, 2009 an exclusive excerpt from jay z s book decoded. Decoded is the autobiography and memoir of rapper jay z, published by random house and released november 16, 2010 on hardcover and november 1, 2011 on paperback. Nov 25, 2012 the book i chose for this assignment was decoded by jay z. Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the authors own work, decoded gives the. Like any celebrity biography, decoded gets selfaggrandizing at times, but its written with a tone that suggests restless intelligence and no small degree of selfexamination, as well as a sometimes pugnacious tone that combines the. The chapters are disorganized and consist largely of riffs that have often tangential connections to his life or work. Jayz books list of books by author jayz thriftbooks. The publication coincides with the rappers 50th birthday, and it reads as if it was rushed to make the date. Greetings everyone from the fourth row of the new york public library where, in just 30 minutes, jayz will be discussing his. Could someone please give me a detailed summary of decoded. At the end of each chapter, decodeds footnoted explication of jay zs lyrics.
Decoded is the autobiography and memoir of rapper jayz, published by random house and released november 16, 2010 on hardcover and november 1, 2011 on paperback. Oct 19, 2011 the paperback edition of jayzs decoded hits shelves on november 1, but today, rr got an exclusive excerpt of him explaining which songs he chose to decipher let me go back to the beginning. Mtv news took a peek at the collection and selected a. I sat in my studio one night at the start of the process of writing this book, trying to decide which songs to include.
You can then scroll through the list and click on the chapter. Nov 18, 2010 cristal, before hiphop, had a nice story attached to it. Decoded, as jay z boldly asserts in the books epilogue, is not just a guide to. The book i chose for this assignment was decoded by jayz. Jun 24, 2011 bing and jay z s publisher partnered for a advertising campaign to market both the book decoded and search engine bing. I was surprised that jayz wrote a memoir considering he is a singer but i guess he is a man of many talents.
970 815 1040 1484 1478 1277 1284 571 1025 515 1264 751 78 402 232 71 202 864 1361 214 288 547 659 555 657 1266 126 1000 307 1177 492 125 67