the business rented out for the label
Carter also finds his stride recounting the rise of Roc-A-Fella Records, from the business rented out for the label to flying to the Caribbean to shoot his first major music video. The book also explains the lyrics for some of his songs. While some of the notations focus on how the Prom dresseslyrics flow with the beat on the track, others fall into comedic territory, such as a clarification from “Ignorant Shit” on “American Gangster,” that his self-description of being “the greatest writer of the 21st century” may be an “exaggeration.”
Explaining the song “Regrets” from his “Reasonable Doubt” album, Jay-Z ensures us that some racially-charged lyrics are “ignorant.” While the explanations aren’t necessarily ground-breaking, especially for readers of blogs such as RapGenius.com, they can sometimes shed light on his creative process.
One recommendation: Listen to the songs either before or while you’re reading the lyrics and descriptions.
Perhaps the most important section of the book falls toward the beginning, when Jay-Z describes the artistic impact of hip-hop.
Readers going into this book expecting a typical celebrity tell-all on Sean Carter may be disappointed. While he does reveal select parts of his personal life, those looking for juicy details on his marriage to singer Beyonce or rips on his professional rivals won’t find it here. However, fans of Jay-Z’s music or hip-hop in general may see this as an interesting read.
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