Empire State of Mind

How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office

By: Zack O'Malley Greenburg

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

"I'm not a businessman. I'm a business, man."
—Jay-Z

Some people think Jay-Z is just another rapper. Others see him as just another celebrity/mega-star. The reality is, no matter what you think Jay-Z is, he is first and foremost a business. And as much as Martha Stewart or Oprah, he has turned himself into a lifestyle. You can wake up to the local radio station playing Jay-Z's latest hit, spritz yourself with his 9IX cologne, slip on a pair of his Rocawear jeans, lace up your Reebok S. Carter sneakers, catch a Nets basketball game in the afternoon, and grab dinner at The Spotted Pig before heading to an evening performance of the Jay-Z-backed Broadway musical Fela! and a nightcap at his 40/40 Club. He'll profit at every turn of your day.

But despite Jay-Z's success, there are still many Americans whose impressions of him are foggy, outdated, or downright incorrect. Surprisingly to many, he honed his business philosophy not at a fancy B school but on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, and beyond as a drug dealer in the 1980s.

Empire State of Mind tells the story behind Jay-Z's rise to the top as told by the people who lived it with him. This audiobook explains just how Jay-Z propelled himself from the bleak streets of Brooklyn to the heights of the business world. He also includes new information on Jay-Z's various business dealings, such as:

• The feature movie about Jay-Z and his first basketball team that was filmed by Fab 5 Freddy in 2003 but never released
• The Jay-Z branded Jeep that was scrapped just before going into production
• The real story behind his association with Armand de Brignac champagne
• The financial ramifications of his marriage to Beyonce

Jay-Z's tale is compelling, not just because of his celebrity, but because it embodies the rags-to-riches American dream and is a model for any entrepreneur looking to build a commercial empire.

©2011 Zack O'Malley Greenburg (P)2011 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

"[A] fascinating, well-done biography of one of the most extraordinary entrepreneurs of our era." (Steve Forbes)

Must read to gain critical perspective

If you want to peek into the life of the greatest rap artist/ business.man in history you need to read this book.

Good Book...But....!!!

This book was a good read, but it was also a little underwhelming and slightly disappointing to me. I learned a great deal, but it wasn’t nearly enough information or insight into Jay-Z. Merely, I wanted more and more information.

Great listen

Great audiobook to listen to on the go. Greenburg is a great story teller and really breaks down the rags to riches story of Jay. He did a great job including content from people close to Jay Z but it’s unclear if he spoke to Jay Z himself. I would have liked to hear a final chapter directly from the business..mannnnnn

Good listen overall

The book was well-researched and written. I'll likely look into some of the other books by the author.

The narrator had a clear voice that was easy to follow along with, although it's clear he wasn't familiar with the subject matter. He mispronounced several names of people and brands, which disrupts the flow for listeners who are familiar.

Interesting Story About My Favorite Businessman

If you could sum up Empire State of Mind in three words, what would they be?

A push to really be a great business woman.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Empire State of Mind?

Hearing about what exactly happened to the Jay-Z jeep.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Sean Pratt?

No, thank you. He messed up several names and words, and it would throw me off each and every time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Learning about how he was able to score so many business ventures, including one I didn't know about (his street basketball team).

It was on point.

I loved it. I often find myself considering Jay-Z's perspective, before proceeding with any of my own business ventures. I learned a lot about business, and also it unveiled a lot of truth about the music industry. It's definitely going on my bookshelf.

This Was A Great Listen

Really motivated as listening to this title and have a better understanding of Jay Z

snap shot

the book gave a good insight into Jay-Z's like. I would recommend this book to anyone.

A deep look into the businessman Jayz

This book helps you truly understand what Jay-Z is trying to do and how likely he is to do it sooner than later.

great book

I've bought this book three times now. Jay-z is such a fascinating figure and his story is amazing, I just wish this we're an auto biography.