Monday, January 10, 2011

Book Review: Jay-Z - Decoded


Jay-Z is a lot of things - Rapper, Businessman and he's got the hottest chick in the game wearin' his chain.  If you take him at his word, and it's hard not to, he's also a hustler and an artist, and that's the point that this book sets out to prove.  He does so by using his own lyrics, which may surprise some who believe that rappers are a bunch of hypocrits who can't decide which side of the fence they sit on.

Decoded proves this to be a fallacy, but it also goes deeper.  Jays lyrics come from a real place.  Whether he's describing the hustler life or talking about his family, the words are like a diary to Jay, and he succinctly and enthusiastically breaks down each verse and relates the stories and events that inspired the ideas.

When he's not getting reminiscing on his own past or commenting on world events, Jay uses his own experiences to give us a history lesson in the art of rhyming.  It's refreshing to hear an artist such as Jay speaking at length and with so much clarity about MC'ing, in fact I can't recall a time that it's been done before this.

Those looking for some anecdotes about Chris Martin or Bono will get a few juicy morsels to chew on, but Jays recollections about his celebrity friends are mostly used here to illustrate bigger points, such as when he explains to Bono the art of beefing, a competition which is uniquely Hip-Hop and affects career in a way that isn't scene in the rock world.

If you're picking this up expecting to find out what cereal Beyonce eats for breakfast, you're going to disappointed.  This is strictly beats, rhymes and life from one of (if not the best) lyricist in the game.  There's a lot to be learned here, especially for fans of Hip-Hop, but I dare say even the most casual reader will get caught up in the tale of a street hustler made good.







 

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