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
“Compelling . . . provocative, evocative . . . Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author’s own work,
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)