Decoded is a book like no other: a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time. Praise for Decoded “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 “One of a handful of books that just about any hip hop fan should own.”—The New Yorker “Elegantly designed, incisively written . . . an impressive leap by a man who has never been known for small steps.”—Los Angeles Times “A riveting exploration of Jay-Z’s journey . . . So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism.”—The Boston Globe “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 “Hip-hop’s renaissance man drops a classic. . . . Heartfelt, passionate and slick.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
In a revealing memoir, hip-hop artist Jay-Z shares his reminscences and reflections on his mysterious past, the difficult choices he has been forced to make, growing up in New York's Marcy Projects, and his successful musical career. 75,000 first printing.
Eighteen-year-old white-boy suburbanite Jay Charles receives a crash course on culture in the New Jersey jail system that high school didn't prepare him for. Jay's fast money and notoriety land him in the hands of the police, opening up to him a world that starkly contrasts the difference between the urban and suburban, the good and the bad, and the black and the white. With no way out Jay has to quickly figure out who to associate with and how to survive and defend himself in a world so different than the affluent suburbs he hailed from. Drawing from his trials and tribulations, unique interactions, and a near-death experience, Jay's stripping of the soul testament helps explain the reasons we treat each other the way we do, the misconceptions of the urban youth, and why he believes the suburbs display an emptiness of spirit that supports conformity, control, and a fear of reality, a fear that pillars the unspoken race war still going on today.
Lavishly illustrated with over 400 sketches, concept renderings and photographs, this book features Pharrell William's prolific body of work in his unique graphic language, including apparel from his Ice Cream/Billionaire Boys Club clothing Line (which he developed with *A Bathing Ape® founder NIGO®), his jewellery and accessories designs for Louis Vuitton, his furniture designs for Domeau & Pérès, as well as other product design, limited-edition toys; graphic designs, skate graphics and collaborations with Moncler, Marc Jacobs, the artist KAWS, and with architects Zaha Hadid and Masamichi Katayama/Wonderwall. This comprehensive book also explores Pharrell William's musical career in depth, from his role as producer for the Neptunes to the band N.E.R.D, and his collaborations with friends Kanye West, Jay-Z, Snoop Dog and other hip-hop royalty. One of the few artists to successfully weave together his varying talents and interests, Pharrell's unique body of work uses elements of music, fashion, street art and product design to create an industry, with one segment both supporting and inspiring the others. Critical essays lend context and position Pharrell's work within contemporary visual and material culture. With sections examining his design work, his music career, his collaborations and his inspirations, this volume gives readers insight into the synergetic process which has brought the artist such success.
Clinical psychologist and author of The Defining Decade, Meg Jay takes us into the world of the supernormal: those who soar to unexpected heights after childhood adversity. Whether it is the loss of a parent to death or divorce; bullying; alcoholism or drug abuse in the home; mental illness in a parent or a sibling; neglect; emotional, physical or sexual abuse; having a parent in jail; or growing up alongside domestic violence, nearly 75% of us experience adversity by the age of 20. But these experiences are often kept secret, as are our courageous battles to overcome them. Drawing on nearly two decades of work with clients and students, Jay tells the tale of ordinary people made extraordinary by these all-too-common experiences, everyday superheroes who have made a life out of dodging bullets and leaping over obstacles, even as they hide in plain sight as doctors, artists, entrepreneurs, lawyers, parents, activists, teachers, students and readers. She gives a voice to the supernormals among us as they reveal not only "How do they do it?" but also "How does it feel?" These powerful stories, and those of public figures from Andre Agassi to Jay Z, will show supernormals they are not alone but are, in fact, in good company. Marvelously researched and compassionately written, this exceptional book narrates the continuing saga that is resilience as it challenges us to consider whether -- and how -- the good wins out in the end.
Until the mid-1970s in all the old sections of the cities of Spain there was a man who walked the streets at night from 10 PM to 6 AM with a ring around his neck on which there were a large number of keys. When a resident came home ar that hour he was without the key to his portal and the portera was off duty. He would clap twice and the man with the keys would appear, open the door for him, get a few pesetas and disappear into the night. He was called the Seréno. This is the story of his life, going back in time over 60 years, with an authentic historical background of strife, epidemic, civil war, and dictatorship.
How the creative abundance of today's media culture was made possible by the decline of elitism in the arts and the rise of digital media. Media culture today encompasses a universe of forms—websites, video games, blogs, books, films, television and radio programs, magazines, and more—and a multitude of practices that include making, remixing, sharing, and critiquing. This multiplicity is so vast that it cannot be comprehended as a whole. In this book, Jay David Bolter traces the roots of our media multiverse to two developments in the second half of the twentieth century: the decline of elite art and the rise of digital media. Bolter explains that we no longer have a collective belief in “Culture with a capital C.” The hierarchies that ranked, for example, classical music as more important than pop, literary novels as more worthy than comic books, and television and movies as unserious have broken down. The art formerly known as high takes its place in the media plenitude. The elite culture of the twentieth century has left its mark on our current media landscape in the form of what Bolter calls “popular modernism.” Meanwhile, new forms of digital media have emerged and magnified these changes, offering new platforms for communication and expression. Bolter outlines a series of dichotomies that characterize our current media culture: catharsis and flow, the continuous rhythm of digital experience; remix (fueled by the internet's vast resources for sampling and mixing) and originality; history (not replayable) and simulation (endlessly replayable); and social media and coherent politics.
This book aims to help people understand that many people face periods of anxiety and depression and to help them get past that. I want to show people how I found my purpose in life and how I am currently working toward fulfilling that, while staying true to my own morals and principles. I am exploring my personal journey from fear and self-doubt to confidence and faith in myself and my life. This book guides you on how to become aware of your anxiety and depression and how to overcome them. We talk about meditative practices, including exercise, to help you stay refreshed and connect with your inner self, allowing you to fill yourself with love and joy so you can spread it all around you. We then further delve into finding your purpose, your principles and morals, and your personal routines.
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