Decoded is the autobiography and memoir of rapper Jay-Z, published by Random House and released November 16th, 2010 on Hardcover and November 1st, 2011 on Paperback. The book combines lyrics, their explanations, anecdotes, reflections, and autobiographical information. Jay-Z explains in the book that the three reasons he wanted to write the book were to make a case for hip-hop lyrics as poetry, to tell a story of his generation, and to show how hip-hop is a story that everyone can relate to.