Decoded co-author dream hampton talks to PBS Need to Know’s Jackeline Pou about her friendship with Jay-Z, hearing Jay talk about hip hop introspectively and analytically as he did for Decoded, the process making the book and her professional journey. ...
We were visiting New York last month covering the CMJ Festival when on Monday 18th October our very own Creative Director Eddie "Versetti" Smith randomly took himself on an Easter-egg hunt of sorts around Manhattan to find pages of Jay-Z's new book, Decoded.
Co-written by respected journalist [and former Source editor] Dream Hampton, Jay-Z's hardcover, illustrated book is set for release in the UK on November 18th, mixing first-person memoir with ‘detailed discussions of his most famous and provocative lyrics’.
Following lyric-based clues and virtual map navigation on bing.decodejay-z.com, launched that day to promote the book, Versetti found the first two pages of the book 'hidden' in full public view at locations around New York; specifically, in a Chelsea art gallery and on the side of a building at Lafayette and Bleecker St [freaking out their tech team in the process; they didn't anticipate nerdy tag-teams...].
The couple of hours spent locating Jigga's book pages in New York turned from geeky, indulgent time-wasting on a Monday afternoon to a pair of flights to Miami on Wednesday morning, to attend the Decoded media launch at the Delano hotel, meet the iconic emcee in-person - and to leave with the all-important "childrens education fund" securing signed-copy of the first pages. With a unexpected speech.
After a chat with Jay-Z about the book's co-author, Dream Hampton, music, business and the weather I followed them both, cam-in hand, as a speech ensued... [...not really the weather]
It turns out, Jay-Z doesn't like giving speeches. At all.
Hip Hop legend-in-action [and seemingly the modern blueprint for every other new emcee that emerges] Jay-Z has collaborated with respected journalist and former editor of The Source, Dream Hampton, on a new book titled Decoded - set for international release this November.
Throughout its 336 pages the hardcover, illustrated book mixes first-person memoir - tracing Jigga's life from Brooklyn's Marcy Projects his now legendary status in Hip Hop and music history - with 'detailed discussions of his most famous and provocative lyrics'.
Alongside interviews with his friends, family and the rapper himself, Decoded will also explore Jay-Z's creative process.