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Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Email Print Reprints Read Analysis: Europe is next test for weakened Obama 15 Nov 2010 Billions can be saved in defense budget: McCain 15 Nov 2010 Ukraine's topless group widens political role 15 Nov 2010 Special Report: Was a Houston energy trader a one-woman Enron? 15 Nov 2010 Four detained after Shanghai apartment fire kills 53 | 1:34am EST Discussed 333 Pilots and passengers rail at new airport patdowns 97 Analysis: German tempers fray as U.S. policy gulf widens 83 Amnesty: prosecute Bush for admitted waterboarding Watched Japanese Tourism Bra Wed, Nov 10 2010 Bejeweled bra exposed in NY Thu, Oct 21 2010 Robot actress steals the show Thu, Nov 11 2010 Jay-Z decodes life, hip-hop, songs in literary debut Tweet This Share on LinkedIn Share on Facebook By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) - From selling crack cocaine as a teenage hustler to becoming one of America's richest rappers, Jay-Z writes about his life, decodes his music and explains hip-hop culture in his literary debut "Decoded," set... Related News Camila and Juan Luis Guerra are top Latin Grammy winners Fri, Nov 12 2010 Taylor Swift pays tribute to fans for record sales Wed, Nov 3 2010 Billboard singles reviews: Black Eyed Peas, Toby Keith Fri, Oct 29 2010 Myanmar culture evolves despite junta's tight grip Tue, Oct 26 2010 Analysis & Opinion Four wheels and style to burn Related Topics Fashion » Entertainment » People » Zagat Power Lunches » Arts » Jay-Z performs at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California April 16, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK | Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:53pm EST NEW YORK (Reuters) - From selling crack cocaine as a teenage hustler to becoming one of America's richest rappers, Jay-Z writes about his life, decodes his music and explains hip-hop culture in his literary debut "Decoded," set for release on Tuesday. The New York City native writes in the sometimes coarse language of the Brooklyn streets where he grew up, explaining how hip-hop was his generation's way of telling the world what it was like to grow up in an urban "wartime." "I lost people I loved, was betrayed by people I trusted, felt the breeze of bullets flying by my head. I saw crack addiction destroy families -- it almost destroyed mine -- but I sold it, too," Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, writes in "Decoded." "Guns were easier to get in the 'hood than public assistance. There were times when the violence just seemed like background music," Jay-Z, who has won 10 Grammy Awards, said of growing up in the 1980s and early 1990s. The 40-year-old said he started rapping in 1978 when he was nine and saw an older child "rhyming" at the Marcy public housing complex in Brooklyn where he lived. "That night I started writing rhymes in my spiral notebook," he tells readers. Hip-hop music was born in New York's South Bronx in 1970s and has grown into an industry worth billions of dollars with mass appeal beyond its urban roots. Rappers not only make music, but also sell the hip-hop lifestyle. Jay-Z has released 11 studio albums -- 2009's "The Blueprint 3" produced No. 1 U.S. hit "Empire State of Mind" -- and also founded the Rocawear fashion label, which he sold in 2007 for $204 million. DREAM OF A HUSTLER He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and from 2005 to 2007, he was president and chief executive of Def Jam Recordings, which is owned by the Universal Music Group. Jay-Z signed acts including R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo to the label. The man Forbes magazine predicts will be one of the richest 400 Americans by 2015, said he was inspired by hip-hop pioneer and Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons, describing him as an "informal mentor." Jay-Z met Simmons when he was negotiating a Def Jam deal soon after the 1996 release of his debut album. "I was looking at Russell and thinking, I want to be this nigga, not his artist," writes Jay-Z, who is married to singer Beyonce. "He'd discovered a way to work in the legit world but to live the dream of a hustler: independence, wealth, and success outside of the mainstream's rules." In "Decoded" Jay-Z translates 36 of his songs and defends his regular use of "nigga," saying "it's just a word." "People give words power, so banning a word is futile, really," he wrote. "The key is to change the person. And we change people through conversation, not through censorship." He likens hip-hop to a mix of poetry and boxing with a competitive edge that is learned by many rappers growing up in tough neighborhoods across the United States. "That competitive spirit that we learned growing up in the streets was never just for play and theater. It was real. That desire to compete -- and to win -- was the engine of everything we did. And we learned how to compete the hard way," he said. "This is what the streets have done for us, for me: They've given us our drive; they've made us stronger," Jay-Z writes. "Through hip-hop we found a way to redeem those lessons, and use them to change the world." (Editing by Bob Tourtellotte) Fashion Entertainment People Zagat Power Lunches Arts Add a Comment *We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. 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