Now, I went for this book as I know remarkably little about Jay Z. I had hoped that the title of the book - The King of America - was a little ironic, and that this would be a critical look at what it took for Jay Z to rise out of the Projects, and the challenges and battles he had to get accepted, as well as his own personal battles with his past and his responsibilities. Sadly, that's not really what this book is. Instead, this is sycophantic with little insight into the real Jay Z.

The book seems largely cribbed from interviews Jay has given over the years, including to the author. All this information was, therefore, pretty much in the public domain anyway. This is a very superficial overview of Jay's life - from his early days selling drugs in the project and down the East Coast, before building on his obvious rap potential, moving into music and his various battles with former friends as well as the West Coast.
No insight is brought to bear, even when change is noted - for example, the author states that the friendship with the Obamas has cooled, but never explains why. Similarly, there is no insight into his relationship with Beyonce, and I don't mean the gossip. There is nothing here about how their partnership works, the challenges they've faced, what they bring out in each other.

Everything here just skims the surface, sadly.

Further, the author is clearly in thrall of Jay Z. He writes as if Jay was destined for greatness from the moment he was born, but that's ridiculous. We all benefit and lose out from opportunities and connections. But rather than analyse what put Jay in the right place and right time, even though his talent may have been clear, he prefers to write as if Jay's success was inevitable.

I'm afraid i didn't come out from this particularly illuminated.