Reader Score
80%
80% of readers
recommend this book
"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)
"The rough-and-tumble world in which Shawn Carter grew up isn’t romanticized, but evoked with frank, insightful detail. Provocative and revelatory about the modern cultural world, Decoded is an exceptional read for a music lover."
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"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)