Simply amazing. Dyson does a great job of dissecting Jay Z the artist, as well as Jay Z, the man . How he built his billions empire by his constant hustle and business savvy. A quick and great read by the most prolific scholar with his excellent subject.

I thought this was going to be a book about Jay Z, but it's a book about the state of African Americans and he uses Jay Z's book to give his point of view, which is not new and is in a lot of his other books. This not is a book on Jay Z, it's just another book on African American.

A really interesting book about Jay-Z: an examination of his career, lyrics, and the topics about which he writes/raps the most.

While I'm not overly familiar with Jay-Z's music, I nevertheless found this a very interesting read. Dyson writes very well, and it's an engaging read.

Recommended for anyone with an interest in music, rap, and the intersection of politics and music/entertainment. And, of course, fans of Jay-Z.

OK read on Jay-Z. I have read this author before and while this was an ok read, it is not one of his best. I anticipated more from this talented author about this talented man. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

It's likely I am not the right audience for this read. I'm a fan of Jay Z, but I'm not a die hard. The book lost my interest pretty quickly.

As a huge fan of Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z, I was super excited to read this book. It was not entirely what I was expecting. I went into it expecting a biography of sorts. This just was not the case. With that being said, I can’t deny that I enjoyed certain aspects of this book. I loved the breakdown of the lyrics as well as the tie-in to social and political issues going on in America.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The good people at NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press provided me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I’ve always had respect for Jay-Z. I haven’t been a listener since the beginning, but I started tuning in about 15 years ago. Anyone who can get to the top of the charts and stay there for DECADES is certainly doing something right.

What this book did was show me the side of the story I wasn’t paying attention to. The personal side of Jay-Z. The political side. The entrepreneur. The freedom fighter. The movement leader.

It was so interesting to read about who influenced him and who he’s influenced since. It also talked a little about the beefs he’s had and dug into what rivalries are all about in general. They aren’t nearly as personal as they might seem (not all of them, anyway.)

My absolute favourite aspect of this book was a breakdown and a deciphering of many of his lyrics.

Truthfully, the meaning in his songs wasn’t buried as deep as I make it seem. I was just terrible at understanding them on my own. If I was a little more curious, I might have looked up things like blight hustle vs bright hustle, but I never did.

The references get for more impressive when reading about the reasoning behind them. Any musician can drop Andy Warhol’s name because they heard someone talking about him and knew he was an artist. It’s completely different when you read about Jay-Z’s interest and ownership in fine art. It’s not just a name drop for him. When he says Warhol, it’s a calculated reference.

While this isn’t an official biography by any means, it’s such an interesting read for anyone who’s interested in Jay-Z, rap culture, or the music industry as a whole.

This is an exploration of hip hop culture - and Jay-Z's life in particular - that strikes a terrific balance of accessibility for both laypeople and academics. Michael Eric Dyson has done this well in the past, and does it again here. He makes a number of connections that were new for me and I appreciate his commitment to elevating the conversation about hip hop to one about artistry and creation.

Although I'm not a rap fan, nor can I name the title of a song by Jay-Z, I thought this was a very well written and interesting book about Mr. Carter. It's very informative about his life, as well as some other's in the rap community. I surprisingly really enjoyed reading this book.

I really wanted to love this book. I like Jay Z, I like Micheal Eric Dyson. Unfortunately, this book didn't resonate with me. It's taking me a while too finish. A great book this size I can read in a day. An okay book this size would maybe take a week. It's been weeks and I'm a quarter of the way through.

Since I probably won't finish this book I've decided to not post an online review.

A good biography of rapper Jay z fully of interesting information and little known facts about his life

Jay-Z Made in America by Michael Eric Dyson is a great read for lovers of pop culture, or US culture in general - and even if you're not familiar with all of Jay-Z's works, this book will definitely make you a fan! The author & Professor of Sociology has been teaching the works of Jay-Z in his Georgetown University classes (Go Hoyas!) and with this book, I feel like I am sitting in his lecture hall...learning about one of the great poets of our nation. Jay-Z's prose has been compared to Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, and other greats but I have never studied his works or his lyrics to this degree. It is a great book that studies the parallel between US politics and Jay-Z's lyrics and helps us to understand the dynamics that affect his songwriting. Dyson dives into all of the lyrical references to politics, satire, blackness in America through Jay-Z's backlist of discography.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Michael Eric Dyson is a master wordsmith, brilliant scholar and provocative cultural critic. Being a longtime fan of both Dyson's work and Jay-Z, picking up this book was a no-brainer. That said, I expected a lot more from this book. Nothing here felt particularly new or groundbreaking, it almost felt like something that could've been condensed and published in an online essay. I will say that I've read and learned a lot about Jay-Z over the years, so maybe this book wasn't intended for me. Also, I've read some of Dyson's writing's on other public figures like Marvin Gaye, Tupac and Martin Luther King were I found his analysis fresh and his critiques bold and new. Much of this book felt like an overview of things I already knew and lyrics I already analyzed. I think it would have been more engaging to see Dyson dive deeper and talk a bit more perhaps be a bit more critical of Jay Z. However, I think a conflict of interests exists because unlike, Tupac, Marvin Gaye and MLK, Dyson actually has a relationship with Jay Z, and I'd argue that it makes him a bit softer in his critiques. Overall, it wasn't a bad book, Dyson's analyses are on point, his social commentary is well-informed, it's just that this book felt more like an echo of things we've learned about Jay throughout his career.

"The Michael Corleone of the microphone | The Michaelangelo of flow, I paint pictures with poems."
- Jay-Z

"Jay can protect the complex and coded conversations he has in his music, for instance, with folk who are still hustling or with those whose racial struggles tie them to him. And then, at his discretion, he can, as the title of his memoir suggests, decode his work, both for those who are new to his lyrics and for those who wonder just what he may have had in mind as they pour over his secular scriptures."
-Michael Eric Dyson, Jay-Z: Made in America

I am a fan of both Michael Eric Dyson and Jay-Z, so it's no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to read this book as soon as possible. And I'm glad that I did. Jay-Z: Made in America is an in-depth look at the rapper's definition of the hustle, with images of his life and lyrics to reflect that. Not only does Dyson share well-researched facts to support his claims, he also dissects Jay's lyrics bar-for-bar to mirror them. An ode to the artist, or as Dyson often refers to as "poet," this book illuminates the way Jay's music paints pictures in a way that the streets feel acknowledged and the rest of society gets a bird's eye view of a lifestyle far removed from them. Parallels to the lives of basketball star Lebron James and late great musician Nipsey Hustle are also surprisingly noted here. Jay-Z: Made in America gives readers a glimpse of Jay's transition from street hustler to high-profile celebrity by way of his rhymes in a way I could appreciate.

However, if you are a big fan of Jay-Z or have listened to his albums over the last 20+ years, you may not find anything new in this book. While this is no biography on Jay, I did expect to see more of his life experiences and how they were reflected in his music noted. But since Jay's hustle and lyricism was the main subject matter, I will give that a pass. Seeing Jay for the poet that he is and going back to listen to his catalog with a renewed perspective makes up for it. I encourage anyone who appreciates the art of Jay-Z's hustle to check out this book, for sure! 3.5 Stars

Special thank you to Dyson, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the ARC of Jay-Z: Made in America in exchange for an honest review.

Your fave could never be labeled one of the best poets ever. Your fave would not publicly apologize to his wife via a whole album. Your fave is not the fifth black billionaire. Surely your fave could not stay relevant for so long. Your fave just cannot. Periodt.

From rap to boardroom to his own lane, JAY-Z is deeper than just a former street hustler turned rapper. He beat the odds! So when I got the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of JAY-Z: Made in America, being the superfan that I am, imagine my glee!

Writer Michael Eric Dyson delves into the biggest themes of JAY-Z's career, from hustling to rapping to boardroom to art collector and more. His music mirrors his life. However, Dyson takes it a step further. He examines the role that JAY-Z plays in our society today while relating the music to themes such as politics, race, criminal justice, black wealth and social injustice. Dyson also highlights the many accomplishments and business ventures. With a Foreword by Pharrell, this nonfiction read will feel like a master class on one of the greatest artists of our time.

Let me break down this recommendation. For general music or memoir fans, this book will give perspective on lyrics as it relates to JAY-Z's life over the years—both personally and professionally. For fans, you may get insight into the meaning behind some of JAY-Z's bars.

For Hov stans, like myself, you will devour this book. You will start reading from the very beginning word until the very last, follow along with playing the corresponding tracks, digest the interpreted lyrics, enjoy the hip-hop references and admire JAY-Z's brilliance. All along thanking Dyson for bringing a few things to your attention.

I cannot imagine the amount of research that went into the publication of JAY-Z: Made in America. But it is quite evident that Dyson left no stone unturned in his analysis study. In fact, I suggest it as prerequisite reading before listening, at length, to classic albums like The Blueprint, 4:44 and Reasonable Doubt. This book will help music listeners know and understand what they're listening to (without skimming through it) and provide reason as to why JAY-Z is influential in America. Minus the few tangents of hip-hop history or politics, Dyson could not have written this any better!

Happy Pub Day, Michael Eric Dyson! JAY-Z: Made in America is now available.

LiteraryMarie

Thank you for the opportunity to review Jay-Z by Michael Eric Dyson. I'm a fan of Dyson's writing and interested in his areas of expertise, broadly. I'm also a music fan (I mean, really... who isn't?) and was interested to learn what Dyson had to add to an already abundant amount of work that's been published about the artist.
So... here's the thing. The writing is accessible and pleasurable to read. The subject of the work is an interesting human. But *because* there's already so much out there, I think we've hit saturation. Just not a lot new in this one. Perhaps it is my fault- I've stayed largely up to date on contemporary political and social justice issues and while Dyson weaves the artist with the times, it just doesn't add much for me. That said, it's well written and of interest. Four stars.

Humans have always been resourceful – they find ways to increase power and status, even when it means inventing and convincing others of the validity of something. For example – at a time when France’s relative power and strength was troubled, Louis XIV basically invented “luxury” lifestyle and merchandise – fabrics, clothing, perfumes and furniture – in the 16th century, and his ambassadors became marketing managers, selling an idea that possessions of a certain quality meant something and inspiring the earliest fear of missing out that we see in modern marketing.

Michael Eric Dyson dives into the “art of hustle” in the first chapter – describing the ways that people, particularly African Americans in poor neighborhoods, have sought to find such niches to improve their circumstances and achieve financial and social success. He talks about facets of types of hustle based on poverty and opportunity of location as integral to the black experience in the US.

Dyson’s writing works on many levels, skillfully interweaving biographical information about Jay-Z, biographical portraits of other artists, politicians and historical figures, social history, and literary analysis of the lyrics of Jay-Z and other artists.

Throughout, there are references to conversations that Jay-Z and other artists have through the lyrics of their music – some are serious and some are light-hearted play acting or “dues.”

Dyson also does a deep dive into masculinity and blackness – analyzing the Hegelian dynamics of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s musical conversations around the complexities of relationships between women and men.

As a former language major – I really enjoyed Dyson’s analysis of Jay-Z’s lyrics in literary terms, summarized as an “extremely sophisticated romp on poetry’s playground of metaphor and metonymy, simile and synecdoche.” Dyson dives into all the references to philosophy, history, politics and satire and summarizes as “Jay’s lyrical cleverness masks his deeper intellectual reflections on the world and on black culture itself.”

“Jay’s openness to a variety of art forms and his understanding that common themes of existential struggle unite disparate genres of music. Thus one of his most successful songs, at a critical point in his career, features a sample from a Broadway musical that highlights the plight of poor, socially invisible children.”

Jay-Z is a poet, a philosopher and has a strong political voice – which does not lessen as his popularity and success continue. He’s the first rap artist to become a billionaire, and throughout his career – one where he never writes down his lyrics -- “Jay has also mastered a sneak-and-speak approach to political commentary, He laces his lyrics with pieces of social and political insight, from entire blocs of songs through extended metaphor to just a word or two.”

Our author is passionate and enthusiastic in his contextualization and analysis of Jay-Z’s music, achievements and life. He provides a fantastic annotated discography at the end of this lovely synthesis of popular culture, history, capitalism and social class. Or, as my friend Andre says – “Just listen to the music.”

Dyson has presented to me a Jay -Z, I didn’t know. I have been a fan of hip for a long time, but I have never delved deep into the lives of these celebrities. I really enjoyed his research and how he spoke about Nipsey. this was a great read and I can’t wait to read more from this author

Thank you, Netgalley & St. Martins for gifting me this copy. I am forever grateful.

An in depth look at one of the most enduring poets of our time. The history of hip hop is a big part of this story.
Entertaining, enjoyable and fascinating.
I loved it.

The grit, flow, and style of Jay Z will captivate you. This book is like a text book of Jay Z’s life, from hustle to businessman. If you are not a fan, this book will make you a forever fan.