“Question your reality and you might just discover your dreams along the way.” - ME
Shawn Corey Carter is one of the most successful businessmen of our generation.
However, the majority of our society recognizes him as his rap name alias, Jay- Z.
His long anticipated recent autobiography “Decoded” is literally the story of the American Dream and how a poverty stricken, confused young man from the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn defied all expectations and never gave up on his dream, even if it meant going through hell to reach his version of heaven.
“Decoded” is broken down into four different chapters revolving around his coming of age and leading up to current day issues.
In each chapter, he dissects several of his song’s lyrics so the reader can get a better understanding of the actual meaning of the song and his inspirations for recording it.
The epitome of the classic rags to riches story, Jay-Z is on another level and the small sample of his real life endeavors he reveals in “Decoded” is something one may think they’d only see in movies.
He has 11 number one albums, his own clothing line, a private jet, recently bought his wife Beyonce her own private island, has maintained one of the most successful independently funded record companies of all time, and played a major role in helping our country elect President Obama, whom he speaks with frequently and has already committed to playing an even larger role supporting Obama in the next presidential election.
Not bad for a poor young man from a single mother family, who felt heartbroken after his father walked out on his family and three other siblings when he was eleven years old.
After his father walked out on his family, Jay-Z was extremely upset and felt like if he his own father didn’t want him, who would?
But instead of allowing himself to give up, he followed the advice that he can faintly remember his father telling him at a young age, beware of all of your surroundings and question everything, even the obvious.
His style of rhyme writing is much like his tumultuous life in general, he jumps around from style to style, goes off on tangent on numerous occasions, and uses half rhymes to create what is arguably the most versatile and complex flow the industry has ever seen.
From chart topping singles like “Big Pimpin,” to social commentary dissecting the flaws in our society like “Meet the Parents,” Jay Z can ignite the club dance floor and make you contemplate life’s obstacles all without even breaking a sweat.
Initially, Jay Z didn’t want to be a legend, he just happened to become one.
From meeting Bono of U2, to hanging out with former President Bill Clinton, having a sit down meeting with Michael Jordan, and even proving Noel Gallagher of Oasis terribly wrong when he was quoted saying “No, I’m not having hip hop at Glastonbury,” and that Jay Z had “FUCKING no chance” of pulling off the performance.
Not only did Jay Z headline at the world renowned Glastonbury Festival, he entered the stage with a guitar draped over his shoulder and performed Oasis’ mega hit “Wonderwall.”
Although Jay singing isn’t quite the most appealing sound, the crowd went wild and the single for “Wonderwall” automatically started flying off charts after the performance, proving the fact that Jay had transcended the gap between hip hop and other genres of music.
He made Gallagher eat his words while proving that he’s way more than a rapper, but rather a visionary artist.
Oddly enough, Jay Z’s rap career officially began when he heard a young man named Slate freestylin’ on the street corner while hordes of people surrounded him as they bobbed their heads and danced to his rhythmic pattern of flows.
An observant young Shawn Carter felt his calling and as he states in “Decoded” when describing the life altering experience he thought to himself:
“All he had were his eyes, taking in everything, and the words inside him. I was dazzled. That’s some cool shit was the first thing I thought. Then I COULD DO THAT!”
From that night on Jay Z began jotting down rhymes whenever and wherever he could, eventually developing such a niche for rhyming that he eventually no longer had to write his music, it began flowing freely off his tongue whenever he heard a beat.
One thing I find phenomenally interesting about his fine piece of literary work is the fact that he’s completely honest to his readers and holds nothing back.
He takes credit for the incredible achievements he’s attained for himself, his family, friends, and our society in general.
However, the most commendable thing he does is pinpointing his many flaws, fessing up to dealing a ridiculous amount of crack cocaine in the late 80s and early 90s.
Those decisions are something that he’s not proud of, but he felt at the time were his only way out of poverty and into the music business that he desired to one day become extremely successful in.
He even confesses to the assault charge that was brought against him in 1999 stemming from an altercation with former friend and record executive Lance “Un” Rivera who had allegedly leaked Jay Z’s album “Volume 3…. Life and Times of S. Carter.”
When he addresses the situation in the book, he admits he lost control and regrets that his temper allowed him to disappoint his fans and supporters.
“I realized that I had a choice in life. There was no reason to put my life on the line, and the lives of everyone who depends on me, because of a momentary loss of control ….. I vowed to never allow myself to be in a situation like that again.”
“Decoded” is more than just the story of the evolution of an amazing artist and the growth of hip hop, it’s the story of a young man who’s become a mature adult and one of the most idolized musicians in the world.
The book is a must read for hip hop fans and entrepreneurs alike, nobody has embodied the American Dream more than Jay-Z during our generation.
As promised, my new years