"Shawn Carter was born December 4th... "
I picked up Jay's Decoded for the first time today and it got me a little amped. The book itself is beautiful-- hardcover with a golden Rorschach test looking cover, lots of great images placed within the pages, well-stylized highlighted lyrics... so basically, just like Muskit blog over here... But beyond just the look and feel, the text speaks with all of Jay-Z's signature flow and authority. The book opens with Jay talking about the emergence and development of rap in the early '80s and how it coincided with a young Shawn Carter, pen and paper in hand, also trying to find his voice on the concrete of Marcy Projects. The most striking impression the book has made on me so far is re-imagining the persona of Hova as a poet. Behind the legend, mogul, hustler, pimp, player, etc etc, is an artist, in the truest sense of the word, and a poet. And I think that can be easily forgotten when listening to hip-hop -- that while the rappers can wear many guises, many based in truth, beneath it all is the soul of a poet. An ability to incite with insight and capture a relatable reality in just a few bars.
Decoded ain't a memoir and anyone looking for a real introspective revealing narrative about Mr. Carter are going to have to wait a few years when he really does hang it all up, and has time to go back through it all. Decoded is a mix of lyrics explained, liner notes, and snippets of the life of the most interesting man on the planet. It's an ode to the poet inside.
Ask Santa to put it in your stocking or kvelt a little to Yentel, definitely a great addition for all.
"It just once in a blue moon when there's nothin to do and
The tension's too thick for my sober mind to cut through / I get to zonin'"
Enjoy the free Jay-Z classics.
Jay-Z - Cashmere Thoughts
Jay-Z - Feelin' It
Jay-Z - December 4th
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