Description: One of the first singles from THE BLACK ALBUM, a famous Jay-Z record, rap What More Can I Say? But the real question is what more can this music legend do? From the platinum albums to the sold-out concerts to his Rocawear clothing brand, Jay-Z has done it all. He has sold some 50 million albums worldwide. He even has a sneaker named after him. From the Brooklyn projects to the corner office in Manhattan, Jay-Z made his own way, overcoming many obstacles. Author Jeff Burlingame explores the remarkably interesting life of this hip-hop icon.
Review Quotes: African-American Icons series. These biographies highlight contemporary African American singers and actors. The texts don't sugarcoat their subjects' lives (e.g., Jay-Z's drug dealing past is fair game, along with Oprah's criticism of his songs' use of the N-word). Many of the sound-bite-ish quotes come from pop-culture interviews ("According to People magazine.. . "; " .. .he later told Playboy magazine... "). Oddly, no photos or illustrations are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind., The Horn Book Guide Fall 2014