By Chris Yuscavage
Have you read the good news yet? Probably not if you're like most rap fans out there with their heads still stuck in Jay-Z's new book, "Decoded."
The book came in at no. 3 on the New York Times Best Sellers list for hardcover, non-fiction books — right behind George W. Bush's memoir, "Decision Points." Not a bad look for Hov, whose decision to talk to everyone from Howard Stern to Hot 97 when his book dropped clearly paid off in a big way.
And just like just about everything Jay does, expect this to start a trend. Last week Chicago rapper Common announced that he will also be releasing a memoir, "One Day It'll All Make Sense," sometime next spring. The Roots drummer Questlove is reportedly working on a book set to drop in 2011 called "Mommy, What's A Questlove?" And another book about Jay-Z's life, "Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office," is already slated to hit stores next March.
But here at RapFix, we'd like to point out that, if you just finished reading "Decoded," there are also plenty of other rap memoirs that are also worth your time. If you loved Hov's book, try throwing one of these selections onto your Christmas list. You won't be disappointed.
The Book: "The Way I Am"
The Author: Eminem (with Sacha Jenkins)
Why You'll Love It: There's plenty of stories to read here, but there's also a handful of things in Slim Shady's book that make it more of a coffee table book than a memoir. From the never-before-seen flicks to the rap lyric sheets to a collection of personal drawings, "The Way I Am" showcases the way one of hip-hop's favorite MCs really is: complicated. Read More...
Tags decoded, DMX, Eminem, Jay-Z, Trick Daddy
