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 The line outside of The New York Public Library for “Jay-Z In Conversation With Dr. Cornel West and Paul Holdengraber” began to gather two hours before the event began. Inside, Jay-Z sat on stage between West and Holdengraber (director of public programs at the New York Public Library) to discuss the rapper’s brand new book, “Decoded.” The book, which comes out in stores today, is part memoir, part coffee-table art book, and part lyrical analysis of songs and verses from the rapper’s catalog. While the moderator stuck to questions about passages in the book, West peppered Jay-Z with questions beyond it.
For the die-hard Jay-Z fans, many things discussed during the conversation were familiar. For those who didn’t know much about the rapper and his music, the conversation served as a primer for the book, which was given out to all who purchased a ticket for the event.

Photo by: Jori Klien.

Here are five things we learned about Jay-Z from the event that you won’t find in his new book:


1) Last night wasn’t the first time Cornel West and Jay-Z had met: Early in the discussion, Jay-Z mentions he wrote “Decoded” in part because of a dinner he had with Dr. West and Harlem Children’s Zone founder, Geoffrey Canada. “We had this beautiful conversation about language…rap being more responsible for the things we say,” Jay-Z recalled. “I tried to explain it [in the book] as to why we say these things.”

2) If the Notorious B.I.G. is Socrates, Jay-Z is Plato: In “Decoded” Jay-Z talks about his relationship with the slain rapper Biggie Smalls, aka the Notorious B.I.G. One of the songs played at last night’s conversation was a duet between Jay-Z and Biggie entitled, “Brooklyn’s Finest” from Jay-Z’s 1996 debut album, “Reasonable Doubt.” West brought up the time he invited Jay-Z to Princeton University (where West is a professor) to discuss his music. West recalled, “I was talking about Plato and how Plato had decided to make the world safe for Socrates, so that people would remember the name Socrates forever. And you said, ‘Well I have been playing Plato to Biggie’s ‘Socrates.’ That hit all of us so hard.’”

3) Jay-Z owns a picture of Harry Belafonte: Among the famous faces in attendance last night was singer/actor/activist, Harry Belafonte. West acknowledged him from the stage, and Jay-Z followed up by talking about a picture he has of Belafonte standing beside Coretta Scott King. “[The picture] made me realize that musicians, movie stars, we have a greater responsibility to the world,” Jay-Z said.

4) There are outtakes of Jay-Z’s mother’s “December 4th” recording and we will never hear them: On Jay-Z’s “The Black Album” the first song, “December 4th” features an opening monologue from Jay-Z’s mother, Gloria Carter. Jay-Z discussed the recording session last night. “She told some stories we had to cut out,” Jay-Z said. Holdengraber then asked, “Do you remember one?” Jay-Z’s response: “Yeah…I took them off the record for a reason.”

5) Jay-Z Might Have Included “Run This Town” In “Decoded”: The first single from Jay-Z’s most recent album, “The Blueprint 3″ is not one of the tracks taken apart in “Decoded,” but maybe he will include it in another volume, should one ever come. Last night, Jay-Z mentioned “Run This Town” — featuring Rihanna and Kanye West — as a song he saw differently on paper. “It’s a hit record, I didn’t think it had any deep meaning,” the rapper said. After reciting the song’s opening lines — “Feel it comin’ in the air/and the screams from everywhere/I’m addicted to the thrill/it’s a dangerous love affair — Jay-Z said, “When you look at those words, it takes on a more profound meaning than what it really was.”

Written By: Jozen Cummings

 

From early rap to little guys with big guns, Jay-Z remembers growing up in the projects.

JayZ Bing Book Promotion: Decode Game From DECODED The Book
In an innovative new promotion the Godfather of Hip Hop, Jay Z is releasing the first 300 pages of his new book, DECODED, as part of an immersive online game leveraging Microsoft's Bing's Decision Engine.

• Decode Jay Z, with Bing

The interesting twist is that JayZ fans will be able discover every single page of DECODED .
before it is published on November 16th. The pages of DECODED are located in 15 physical locations connected to Jay Z's story.

Buju Free At Last  reggae artiste gets bail in immigration court. Lawyer says Buju thankful to fans for support
BY PAUL HENRY CRIME/COURT CO-ORDINATOR henryp@jamaicaobserver.com

JAMAICAN reggae artiste Buju Banton, after close to a year in a United States jail, yesterday walked out of the Pinellas County lock-up in Florida after he was granted bail in an immigration court.

Banton on bail, but will have to wear a tracking device.

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was offered bail with tough conditions following a hung jury in his gun and drugs trial.


David Oscar Markus — the entertainer's lead attorney — said Banton, was "tired" but "relieved" that he had been released to spend time with his family before the commencement of his second trial next February.

"Free at last," Markus told the Observer of his client's release. "We're thrilled that Buju will have some time to regroup before we try this case again." Banton, he said, was thankful to everyone for their support.

Attorney Marc Seitles, another member of Banton's legal team, said the artiste was overjoyed that he had gained some "measure of freedom".

"Buju can't wait to have a nice meal and sleep in his own bed," Seitle told the Observer yesterday.

Banton has been in jail since last year December when he was arrested by federal agents for conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine.

He was also charged with possession of a weapon. His arrest on December 8 followed that of his friends Ian Thomas and James Mack. Both men have since pleaded guilty and will be sentenced this month.

Banton was placed on trial in September but following a week on evidence a 12-member jury could not reach a unanimous decision about his innocence or guilt after three days of deliberation.

He was granted bail in the sum of US$300,000 in the federal court last month but an appeal of an aspect of his bail condition set by US magistrate Anthony Porcelli by the prosecution held up his release, along with his visa issue that resulted in him having to apply for bail in the immigration court to prevent his further detention.

Banton's entertainment visa was revoked following his arrest.

As part of his bail condition, Banton will have to wear a tracking device and will be under 24-hour surveillance from a security company. He has also signed an extradition waiver and will not be allowed to leave the Middle District of Southern District of Florida until his trial begins.

He will only be allowed to visit a doctor and his lawyer. He must also submit himself to urine tests to prove that he is not using banned substances.