Thursday, August 26, 2010

NYPL & HOV Get Decoded



31 August 2009 - New York, NY - Shawn JAY-Z Carter. Recording artist Shawn JAY-Z Carter speaks at a press conference for the Answer The Call charity concert at Madison Square Gardens. Photo Credit: Paul Zimmerman/AdMedia



Looks like Jay is ready to release his first book Decoded.  Decoded is a book which takes an intimate look at Jay's songwriting, song making and album process.  Back in the mid 1990s Jay let the world in on the fact that he didn't write down rhymes.  This was due to his "long hours" away from the house, so he was forced to memorize his rhymes.  This became an exercise which he later rapped about on, his original Blue Print, Lyrical Exercise.

Decoded will be a look into Jay's process in the studio and a deeper look at the stories behind a lot of his songs. Those wanting to figure out how the Legend was able to do it all these years.  What makes him pick a track.  How he attacks it.  His rhyme & flow.  Basically what moves him in the studio.  Then this is the book for you.  It is a look into the art of the Artist.

The book is a joint collaboration with Dream Hampton and is set to hit stores on November 16, 2010.  The reading at the New York Public Library, is the day before on November 15, 2010.  Here's what Dream had to say about the book via her Twitter:

  • Collaborated with Jay-Z on Decoded, in stores this November. Not an autobio, book abt his process, his lyrics, stories behind them.

According to Rolling Stone the book is 336 pages and will trace Jay's life from childhood in Marcy Projects, from his years as a "drug dealer" to his rise to the top of Hip Hop.  In the book he'll show how his own experiences have lead to his album works and his many hit songs.

Here's what Jay told Rolling Stone about the book in their June cover story:
Jay-Z also admitted he was most affected by parts of Decoded that concerned his father, who abandoned the family when Jay-Z was 11. "It was still wrong, at the end of the day, but he did stick around at a time where it wasn't particularly cool or popular," Jay-Z said. "He married my mom at a time when guys were just leaving, and you'd never even meet your dad. So it made me ease up a little bit in how I felt about him."

I'm sure more details about the book will be forthcoming in the next couple of months.

Jay's Lyrical Exercise: Klassik


--Princess Carter
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