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)
