Decoded :: Jay-Z

Title: Decoded [non-fiction #1]

Author: Jay-Z

Read: NYC

Format: Hardcover

I love Oprah and I love Jay-Z, so when the former picked the latter's new book as one of her final "Favorite Things" I knew I had to read it.

Decoded is a not exactly a memoir and not exactly a music text, but rather a little bit of both - blended perfectly into a stylish, fascinating, compulsive read. The title itself refers to the 20+ Jay-Z songs that the rapper demystifies. Decoded presents the lyrics of each song footnoted with Jay-Z's commentary about meaning, meter, references, allusions, etc. It was enlightening experience to queue up these songs and listen while reading.

Between all the explanations, Jay-Z tells stories from his life. He tracks his evolution as an artist, his life as a drug dealer, and the pivotal point in his life when he chose to focus on music rather than the street. In telling these stories, Jay-Z doesn't glorify/demonize his rise to fame or his crack-dealing. There are no lessons, it's just context. And it's riveting.

For the last few years, Jay-Z's public image has been all Beyonce and Maybachs and St. Barth's and the elite world of the TriBeCa mega-celebrity. But the reality is that less than 20 years ago, the now near-billionaire was living The Wire. I kept thinking to myself, it must be really weird to have the realities of your history and current life be so wildly different. But the reality is no less real. Great wealth and success can't erase memories, especially when those memories are as intense as those of a CRACK DEALER. I kept wondering how often intrusive thoughts of what Jay has seen creep into his mind as he lounges on a catamaran or buckles up on a private jet. How do you make sense of a life that has seen your hands handle crack rocks and shake two presidents' hands? To clarify, these emo musings are mine, not Jay's. The rapper never seeks pity or praise for his life (praise for his craft is a different thing; and arguably very deserved).

I read Decoded in one day, unable to put it down. Granted, I'm a long-time Jay-Z fan and probably was going to like it whether it was great or not. But it was better, even, than I expected. Thoughtful, personal, unsentimental, and at times nearly-academic (!), Decoded is a must-read for all hip-hop - no all MUSIC - lovers. Oh, also it's really cool-looking.

Read and enjoy this as soon as possible.

5 out of 5 stars