Jay-Z - Decoded
Scott
420 Posts
Anyone check this book out yet? The Amazon review is pretty positive, but that writer's "real rapp" credentials are not known, so I'm not sure whether to believe it.
Comments
I'll probably stick it on a christmas list.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/11/live_jay-z_talk.php
Jay-Z, talking about what kind music he listens to: "Everything from Thom Yorke to Ol' Dirty Bastard."
Holdengr??ber, staring blankly at Jay-Z: "You will lose me at times."
[Minutes pass]
Holdengr??ber, on his own, very different background: "I grew up listening to various versions of The Magic Flute."
Jay-Z, staring blankly at Paul Holdengr??ber: "You will lose me at times."
I'd much rather have Jay-Z acting as the cultural steward/ambassador compared to most of the people writing words on paper about rap music with the intent of legitimizing it to my parents' generation.
Not saying he shouldn't do it; just not sure how much a person who is into rap and really knows his music is going to get from it. The table of contents suggests that it relies heavily upon his post-"retirement" work, which provides some indication as to who the intended audience is.
^^^CONFESSES TO BEING UNABLE TO FALL ASLEEP WITHOUT HIS MUCH DOG-EARED COPY OF BORN TO USE MICS: READING NAS'S ILLMATIC TUCKED UNDER HIS PILLOW
What can I say? Its scent of Blue Nile mixed with Sandalwood puts me in a special place.
You're not the only one. I get the feeling he's being volunteered for the job, rather than actually volunteering for it himself, though.
And faux, to all intents and purposes, he is the face of rap to most of those people. Last time I saw Jay in London, half the audience looked like stockbrokers and futures analysts. That said, I doubt too many of them will be at that Keith Murray show in Brixton next week.
Again: if he's no longer capable of making interesting music, I suppose being a cultural ambassador is as good a use of his time as any (although I don't think that it's something rap particularly needs). But I doubt that most people who actually do listen to rap have much to gain from his ambassadorial works.
I actually think that I do disagree with this point, though--not much in that guy's life happens by accident. He's obviously brilliant, fully capable of willing his desires into existence, and not easily distracted by other people's agendas.
That's a good point - perhaps it was hobnobbing with said society folks that inspired him to want to legitimize rap music in the eyes of old white people
Yeah, maybe I should have put it another way - perhaps he figures that, if there absolutely has to be someone performing a function like that, it may as well be him as anyone else.
I got love for Terry but she needs to leave rap alone. She has a habit for asking some shockingly ridiculous questions of rap artists.
WOW
Paycheck's 2010 Christmas List:
Jay-Z Book
Gerbil
What else am I missing?
Cue "A Million and One Questions"
Terry: So Sean, do you really have a domicile as you suggested on your song "Friend and Foe"? And...if so, what part of town was it located in?
PULL NPR FUNDING NOW
I don't know, it seemed to fit in pretty well with the rest of what she was saying... I listen to the show regularly, but this was like all time Top 5 worst Terry Gross material for sure.
Actually, I finally heard it in context and it was actually pretty decent; she dropped her "Scarface" knowledge!
But the opening, "so is Izzo like your nickname?" was PAINFUL.
But then, on the show, the extended part about 'Annie' came up, including tape from the songwriter, and the whole backstory from JayZ. Sigh. Another Fresh Air about Broadway musicals.
And the Annie part was indeed one of the LESS cringe-worthy parts of the interview! Yeesh Terry.
He rather gauchely suggested that I get him this:
http://www.amazon.com/Years-Atmosphere-Rhymesayers-Dan-Monick/dp/1584233087/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1290024549&sr=1-1
HARD(EST) COVER EDITION.
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