Decoded

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)