Genre
Autobiography
Setting and Context
The Marcy Projects, in New York during the late 1900s
Narrator and Point of View
Jay-Z narrates the book in the first-person.
Tone and Mood
The tone is shocking, yet the mood is reflective.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Jay-Z is the protagonist; drug dealing is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the book occurs when Jay-Z begins to describe how his tough childhood experiences influenced his music.
Climax
The climax of the book is reached when it is revealed that it was Jay-Z's poverty that led him to start dealing drugs.
Foreshadowing
The success that Jay-Z found later in life was foreshadowed by the hard work he put in as well as his inspirational role models.
Understatement
The importance of determination is understated throughout the book.
Allusions
The book alludes to Jay-Z's involvement in politics, as well as his connections with Barack Obama.
Imagery
The imagery of growing up and overcoming barriers is present in the book.
Paradox
The fact that Jay-Z is a billionaire, despite coming from a poor family, is an example of paradox in the book.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Jay-Z's own life and the story that is described in the book.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
