“Compelling . . . provocative, evocative . . . Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author’s own work, Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics.”

— Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

“Shawn Carter’s most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z . . . The scenes he recounts along the way are fascinating.”

— Entertainment Weekly

“A riveting exploration of Jay-Z’s journey . . . So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism.”

— The Boston Globe

“Elegantly designed, incisively written . . . an impressive leap by a man who has never been known for small steps.”

— Los Angeles Times

“Hip-hop’s renaissance man drops a classic. . . . Heartfelt, passionate and slick.”

— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“One of a handful of books that just about any hip hop fan should own.”

— The New Yorker