''Decoded'' is the autobiography and memoir of rapper
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
, published by
Random House
Random House is an American book publisher and the largest general-interest paperback publisher in the world. The company has several independently managed subsidiaries around the world. It is part of Penguin Random House, which is owned by Germ ...
and released November 16, 2010 on hardcover and November 1, 2011 on paperback.
The book combines lyrics, their explanations, anecdotes, reflections, and autobiographical information. Jay-Z explains the three reasons why he wanted to write the book being a case for hip-hop lyrics as poetry, to tell a generational story turned into powerful experiences and revolved as a story everyone can relate to.
Summary
Narrative
The book follows very rough chronological order, while switching from current stories to
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
's story of growing up in the
Marcy Projects. The autobiographical portion focuses on growing up in poverty which led to him to drug dealing during the
crack epidemic
The crack epidemic was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the United States throughout the entirety of the 1980s and the early 1990s. This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in Ameri ...
, fights, and a need to share the hustlers story during the beginnings in rap. His reflections on those harsh times shaped who he is and how artists are shaped by such experiences.
Celebrity life
Jay-Z explains the stresses of the rap industry and the celebrity life, while also trying to put it in perspective. He illustrates this point by explaining that when he and
Puff Daddy
Puff may refer to:
Science and technology
* Puff, a small quantity of gas or smoke in the air
** Puff, a light gust of wind
** Exhalation
** Inhalation
* Puff model, volcanic ash tracking model developed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
* PUF ...
were being charged with assault there were hundreds of cameras outside the courthouse of Puff Daddy's trial and the courthouse where the perpetrator of the
World Trade Center bombing
The 1993 World Trade Center bombing was a Terrorism, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (1973–2001), World Trade Center in New York City, U.S., carried out on February 26, 1993, when a van bomb detonated below the List of tenants in 1 ...
was being tried was empty.
Opinions and reflections
Along with the narrative, there is also a substantial portion of the book dedicated to Jay-Z's opinions and reflections, which are often illustrated with stories. Jay-Z expounds on his relationship with
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
and his involvement in politics, as well as his thoughts on the
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
.
Jay-Z reflects on his life and especially his beginnings. He explains that he still considers himself a hustler, despite being a corporate billionaire now as founder of
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records was an American hip hop record label and music management company founded by record executives and entrepreneurs Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke in 1994.
History
1994–2000: Formation ...
. He continues and describes the comparisons between drug dealing, rapping, and boxing and how his life in the streets has molded who he is and no matter how he lives now, he still acknowledges his roots.
Lyrics
The book contains lyrics to thirty-six songs with some songs having only part of the song.
Along with the lyrics, there are annotations and footnotes that Jay-Z writes to explain the lyrics to the reader. The explanations range from just explaining what a "brick" is to in depth analysis and explanation of lines that underscore the points that Jay-Z makes in his writing.
Critical response
Most of the criticism is that the book is not personal enough and does not provide enough detail of
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
's life. Simon Vozick-Levinson writes in ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' "Despite the career he has made out of rapping in the first person, Jay-Z is known for prizing privacy. His new book 'Decoded' may not erase that reputation." Although Vozick Levinson expands and reveals "it is nonetheless Shawn Carter's most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z," while giving the book a grade of A−.
Adam Bradley of
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble Booksellers is an American bookseller. It is a Fortune 1000 company and the bookseller with the largest number of retail outlets in the United States. As of July 7, 2020, the company operates 614 retail stores across all 50 U. ...
criticizes the structure of the book because it is not organized by chronological order, but by subject as well as criticizes its lack of depth in some areas by explaining "At times, these subject-driven sections leave one dissatisfied with the level of revelation and reflection, such as in his cursory treatment of race relations."
Plagiarism claims
On June 13, 2012 a lawsuit was filed in the
accusing
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
and coauthor
Dream Hampton
Dream Hampton (stylized as dream hampton) is an American filmmaker, producer, and writer. Her work includes the 2019 Lifetime documentary series '' Surviving R. Kelly'', which she executive produced, and the 2012 ''An Oversimplification of Her B ...
of copyright infringement and invasion of privacy for ''Decoded.'' The lawsuit, filed by Patrick White also names
Random House
Random House is an American book publisher and the largest general-interest paperback publisher in the world. The company has several independently managed subsidiaries around the world. It is part of Penguin Random House, which is owned by Germ ...
, the company that published ''Decoded.'' White alleges "In 2009, my personal computer was compromised, resulting in my personal work to be used in Jay-Z's book ''Decoded'' which was released in 2010."
White is claiming that he was working on a book on his personal computer when it was compromised and when reading ''Decoded'', he noticed a resemblance in "expressions/color/phrases, which correlates to my work."
In the handwritten lawsuit, White alleges that he sought out Jay-Z and Dream Hampton, but they were unresponsive to his contact.
References
{{reflist
2010 non-fiction books
Jay-Z
American autobiographies
Music autobiographies
Books involved in plagiarism controversies
Books with cover art by Rodrigo Corral
Nonlinear narrative literature