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• Born: 4 December 1969
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
• Best Known As: Rapper of "Hard Knock Life"

Name at birth: Shawn Carter

Jay-Z was one of East Coast rap's top acts as the 21st century began, known for his street-hustler background and for creating his own label, Roc-A-Fella Records. Jay-Z released his debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996. His breakthrough 1998 album Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life included the huge hits "Can I Get A..." and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)," the latter featuring a chorus sampled from the Broadway show Annie. The album won a Grammy for best rap album, and Jay-Z's Hard Knock Life Tour cemented his stardom. He has collaborated with DMX, Foxy Brown, Memphis Bleek and others; his later albums include Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter (1999) and The Blueprint (2001, with producer Kanye West). In 2004 he announced his retirement from recording, and in 2005 he was made the chief executive officer of Def Jam Records. His performing retirement was short-lived: an EP he released with rockers Linkin Park produced the hit song "Numb/Encore," a 2006 Grammy winner. He released a full-length "comeback" album, Kingdom Come, in 2006.

Jay-Z's name is a shortened version of an early nickname, "Jazzy"... Another popular nickname for Jay-Z is "Jiggy"... In 2005 he announced he wanted to be known by his real name, Shawn Carter... He married the singer Beyoncé on 4 April 2008, according to reports in People magazine.

• Birth Name: Shawn Carter
• Genre: Rap
• Active: '90s, 2000s
• Instrument: Vocals

Biography

To the admiration of a generation, Jay-Z led an incredibly storied career in the rap industry, pulling himself up by his bootstraps as a youth to one day become the reigning rapper of New York City and then a major-label executive following his retirement from music-making. More than anyone, Jay-Z embodied the ultimate rags-to-riches rap dream, advancing from poverty to power, largely on behalf of his lyrical talent coupled with incredible dedication (while his industry smarts later propelled him to presidential status). Following the Brooklyn-born rapper-turned-president's 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt, his albums sold millions, and his endless parade of hits made him omnipresent on urban radio and video television. He retained a strongly devoted fan base -- not only the suburban MTV market but also the more fickle urban one as well -- and challenged whatever rivals attempted to oust him from atop the rap game, most notably Nas. As a result of his unchecked power, Jay-Z and his associates greatly influenced the industry and established many of the trends that pervaded during the late '90s and early 2000s. He worked with only the hottest producers of the moment (Clark Kent, DJ Premier, Teddy Riley, Trackmasters, Erick Sermon, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz) and if they weren't hot at the time, they surely would be afterward (the Neptunes, Kanye West, Just Blaze). He similarly collaborated with the hottest rappers in the industry, everyone from East Coast rappers like the Notorious B.I.G. ("Brooklyn's Finest") and DMX ("Cash, Money, Hoes"), to the best rappers from the Dirty South (Ludacris, Missy Elliott) and the West Coast (Snoop Dogg, Too Short). Following his self-stated retirement from rapping, he assumed the presidency of the seminal rap label Def Jam and embarked on another phase in his illustrious career, that of an industry executive.

Born and raised in the rough Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, NY, Jay-Z underwent some tough times after his father left his mother before the young rapper was even a teen. Without a man in the house, he became a self-supportive youth, turning to the streets, where he soon made a name for himself as a fledging rapper. Known as "Jazzy" in his neighborhood, he soon shortened his nickname to Jay-Z and did all he could to break into the rap game. Of course, as he vividly discusses in his lyrics, Jay-Z also became a street hustler at this time, doing what needed to be done to make money. For a while, he ran around with Jaz-O, aka Big Jaz, a small-time New York rapper with a record deal but few sales. From Jaz he learned how to navigate through the rap industry and what moves to make. He also participated in a forgotten group called Original Flavor for a short time. Jay-Z subsequently decided to make an untraditional decision and start his own label rather than sign with an established label like Jaz had done. Together with friends Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, he created Roc-a-Fella Records, a risky strategy for cutting out the middleman and making money for himself. Of course, he needed a quality distributor, and when he scored a deal with Priority Records (and then later Def Jam), Jay-Z finally had everything in place, including a debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996).

Though Reasonable Doubt only reached number 23 on Billboard's album chart, Jay-Z's debut eventually became recognized as an undisputed classic among fans, many of whom consider it his crowning achievement. Led by the hit single "Ain't No Nigga," a duet featuring Foxy Brown, Reasonable Doubt slowly spread through New York; some listeners were drawn in because of big names like DJ Premier and the Notorious B.I.G., others by the gangsta motifs very much in style at the time. By the end of its steady run, Reasonable Doubt generated three more charting singles -- "Can't Knock the Hustle," which featured Mary J. Blige on the hook; "Dead Presidents"; and "Feelin' It" -- and set the stage for Jay-Z's follow-up, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997).

Much more commercially successful than its predecessor, In My Lifetime peaked at number three on the Billboard album chart, a substantial improvement commercially over Reasonable Doubt. The album boasted numerous marketable contributors such as Puff Daddy and Teddy Riley, which no doubt helped sales, yet Jay-Z's decision to move in a more accessible direction for much of the album, trading gangsta rap for pop-rap, increased his audience twofold. Singles such as "Sunshine" and "The City Is Mine" confirmed this move toward pop-rap, both songs featuring radio-ready pop hooks and less of the grim introspection that had characterized Reasonable Doubt. In My Lifetime still had some dramatic moments, such as "Streets Is Watching" and "Rap Game/Crack Game," yet these moments were few and greatly eclipsed by the pop-rap.

Jay-Z's next album, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (1998), released a year after In My Lifetime, furthered the shift from gangsta rap to pop-rap. Though Jay-Z himself showed few signs of lightening up, particularly on brash songs like "Cash, Money, Hoes," his producers crafted infectious hooks and trend-setting beats. Songs like "Can I Get A..." and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" sounded both distinct and unforgettable, garnering enormous amounts of airplay. Again, as he had done on In My Lifetime, Jay-Z exchanged the autobiographical slant of his debut for a sampler platter of radio-ready singles, and again, he reached more listeners than ever, topping the album chart and generating a remarkable six singles: the three aforementioned songs as well as "Jigga What?," "It's Alright," and "Money Ain't a Thang."

Like clockwork, Jay-Z returned a year later with another album, Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter (1999), which sold a staggering number of units and generated multiple singles. Here Jay-Z collaborated with yet more big names (nearly one guest vocalist/rapper on every song, not to mention the roll call of in-demand producers) and his most overblown work yet resulted. Jay-Z scaled back a bit for Dynasty Roc la Familia (2000), his fifth album in as many years. The album showcased mostly Roc-a-Fella's in-house rappers: Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Amil. Jay-Z also began working with several new producers: the Neptunes, Kanye West, and Just Blaze. The Neptunes-produced "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" became a particularly huge hit single this go-round.

Jay-Z's next album, The Blueprint (2001), solidified his position atop the New York rap scene upon its release in September. Prior to the album's release, the rapper had caused a stir in New York following his headlining performance at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2001, where he debuted the song "Takeover." The song features a harsh verse ridiculing Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Jay-Z accentuated his verbal assault (including the lines "You's a ballerina/I seen ya") by showcasing gigantic photos of an adolescent Prodigy in a dance outfit. The version of "Takeover" that later appeared on The Blueprint also included a verse dissing Nas as well as Prodigy. As expected, the song ignited a sparring match with Nas, who responded with "Ether." Jay-Z accordingly returned with a comeback, "Super Ugly," where he rapped over the beats to Nas' "Get Ur Self A" on the first verse and Dr. Dre's "Bad Intentions" on the second. The back-and-forth bout created massive publicity for both Jay-Z and Nas. In addition to "Takeover," The Blueprint also featured "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," one of the year's biggest hit songs, and the album topped many year-end best-of charts.

Jay-Z capitalized on the album's runaway success with a number of follow-up projects. For instance, he collaborated with the Roots for the Unplugged album (2001) and with R. Kelly for Best of Both Worlds (2002). He then went on to record, over the course of the year, 40 or so new tracks, 25 of which appeared on his next record, the double album The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse (2002). Though billed as a sequel, The Blueprint² was remarkably different from its predecessor. Where the first volume had been personal, considered, and focused, the second instead offered an unapologetically sprawling double-disc extravaganza showcasing remarkable scope. As usual, it spawned a stream of singles, led by his 2Pac cover "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (featuring his glamorous girlfriend, Beyoncé Knowles from Destiny's Child). Furthermore, he guested on Beyoncé's summer 2003 classic "Crazy in Love," as well as the Neptunes' video hit "Frontin'."

It was then that Jay-Z announced his imminent retirement after the release of one more album. That LP, The Black Album (2003), was rush-released by Def Jam and soared to the top spot in the album charts at the end of the year. As always, it spawned a couple big hits -- "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "99 Problems" -- and, more curiously, also spawned a popular mash-up bootleg, The Grey Album, courtesy of Danger Mouse. The subsequent year, 2004, was a whirlwind for the retiring rapper. He embarked on a farewell tour that was topped off by an extravagant Madison Square Garden performance documented on the Fade to Black DVD, and he also embarked on an ill-fated arena tour with the embattled R. Kelly that resulted in an exchange of ugly multi-million-dollar lawsuits.

With his final album behind him and his reputation never more regarded, Jay-Z next accepted an offer to assume the role of president at Def Jam Records. The seminal rap label was struggling and needed someone to guide it through a rocky transitional phase. Jay-Z accepted the challenge and took over the company began by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin roughly 20 years earlier. (As part of its deal with Jay-Z, Def Jam's parent company, Universal, bought Roc-a-Fella, which resulted in some bitterness among certain associates upset by the buyout.) Considerable fanfare met the presidential inauguration, as Jay-Z became one of the few African-American major-label executives in the business, and he also became one of the few rappers to transition into that side of the business. Numerous rappers owned or operated their own boutique labels, granted, but none had ever risen to such major-label heights. And the rapper-turned-president didn't take his job lightly, either, at least judging by his initial year in office. Within months of assuming his position, he fostered a string of newfound talents -- Young Jeezy, Teairra Marí, Rihanna, and Bobby Valentino, all of whom enjoyed considerable commercial success -- and only had a few setbacks (disappointing returns on albums by Memphis Bleek and Young Gunz, most notably).

In 2005 he came out of retirement for the I Declare War concert in New York City. The ambitious show featured a parade of high-profile guest stars including Diddy, T.I., Kanye West, and in a peacemaking move, Nas. With this longstanding beef squashed, Jay-Z announced he was coming out of retirement. He made it official when Kingdom Come hit the shelves in late 2006. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

Reasonable Doubt [Germany] Buy this CD	Kingdom Come [Bonus DVD Clean] Buy this CD	Kingdom Come [LP] Buy this CD	Kingdom Come [Clean] Buy this CD	Kingdom Come [Bonus DVD] Buy this CD
Kingdom Come Buy this CD	Collision Course [DVD] [Bonus CD] Buy this CD	Collision Course [CD/DVD] Buy this CD	The Black Album [Acappella] Buy this CD	The Blueprint 2.1 [Clean] Buy this CD

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rap musician

Personal Information

Born Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1970, in Brooklyn, NY; son of Gloria Carter and Adnis Reeves.

Career

Rap artist, performing pop-rap, crossover rap, hardcore rap, East Coast rap, urban, hip-hop for Def Jam, Priority, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, BMG International labels; released debut album, Reasonable Doubt, Freeze/Roc-A-Fella, 1996; In My Lifetime, Vol. I, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, 1997; released Vol.2: Hard Knock Life, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, 1998; released Vol. 3: The Life and Times of Shawn Carter, Def Jam, 1999; released The Dynasty: Roc la Familia, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, 2000; released The Blueprint, 2001; released The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse, 2002; opened the 40/40 club in New York City, 2003; released The Blueprint 2.1, 2003; released The Black Album, 2003; feature film Fade to Black released in theaters, 2004; appointed president of Universal Music Group's Def Jam Recordings label, 2004.

Life's Work

Jay-Z is all too familiar with the hard knock life. In his hit single "Hard Knock Life," Jay-Z samples the musical Annie's signature song of the same name. "These kids sing about the hard knock life, things everyone in the ghetto feels coming up,"Jay-Z says of the orphans in Annie in People Weekly. "That's the ghetto anthem." The rap star grew up in a single-parent household in the projects of Brooklyn, New York. Known for his honesty, Jay-Z has admitted in both his autobiographical lyrics and interviews that he sold drugs as a teenager. For Jay-Z, rap was his way out of the hard knock life. First, the money that came with a successful rap career would take him out of the Brooklyn projects. Second, rap music was a means to express his feelings about knocks and blows he has taken.

The way, however, was not easy and Jay-Z encountered more hard knocks along the road. When he could not get a record deal, Jay-Z, along with two friends, formed his own record label. The timing of Jay-Z's arrest in early December of 1999 for the stabbing of record executive Lance "Un" Rivera at a Times Square nightclub could not have been worse. His much-awaited album, Volume 3: The Life & Times of S. Carter, was due to be released right after Christmas and it was uncertain whether the negative publicity from this latest incident would hurt sales. However, for a man who grew up on the mean streets of Brooklyn this was just another one of the hard knocks that has formed his voice in rap.

Jay-Z was born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest of four children. He grew up in the well-known Marcy Projects, where the J and Z subway trains run. His mother, Gloria Carter, worked as a clerk in an investment company. Jay-Z's father left when he was 12. "To me, that was basically the end of our relationship," Jay-Z told Vibe "That was when the hurt and then the healing began for me, from that day right there." In his teens, Jay-Z was a cocaine dealer before he joined the world of rap.

When Jay-Z was first starting out in the rap world, he was introduced to Darien Dash, who, by the time he was 19, had already gotten record deals for two acts. Dash soon became Jay-Z's manager and Dash's childhood friend, Kareem "Biggs" Burke, was then hired as Jay-Z's road manager. For two years, the three worked unsuccessfully to obtain a record deal. The trio then decided to form their own record company, Roc-A-Fella Records, in which they would all serve as partners. Jay-Z's role was that of marquee artist, Dash ran the company's day-to-day operations, and Burke, according to Vibe, served as "a barometer of the streets." After Roc-A-Fella secured a deal with Priority Records for the distribution of their albums, Jay-Z was ready to release his first record, Reasonable Doubt.

Controversial Hit Single

Jay-Z rose to fame with his 1996 gold-certified single,"Ain't No N-G-A" (Like the One I Got), a duet with Foxy Brown. The controversy started immediately. The single's title was not the language that even the most daring disc jockeys wanted to play. According to Janine McAdams of Billboard in June of 1996, "For now, 'Ain't No N-G-A' has radio production rooms working overtime. None of the stations contacted for this story advocate the use of the n-word over the air, but their solutions are varied: Some edit the word out; others substitute 'brother' or 'player.'" Still, radio stations pointed out that, however reluctant they were to broadcast that and other offensive words, the public knew when it was cut out anyway. In some cases, the change altered the content enough to lose its intended impact and appeal.

Despite the hardcore quality of his first album, as Shawnee Smith of Billboard, noted in November of 1999, it was Jay-Z who also began to transform the hip-hop scene from its hardcore "gangsta rap" to something that bears a more refined style--that of "Armani suits, alligator boots, Rolex watches, expensive cars, broads and Cristel," At the end of 1996, Havelock Nelson reflected on the year in rap for Billboard. Jay-Z, Nelson said, "masterfully reinvented himself after receiving battle scars from his previous rhyme life."

Announces He Will Make No More Albums

In addition to making music, Jay-Z was also interested in the corporate side of the business. Since 1994, Jay-Z had been producing records for other artists as chief of operations for the Roc-A-Fella label. The same handle he had for money in the drug business translated well into the music industry. He talked about his future at that time; "Although my album has already gone gold, it will be my last one. From this point, it's all about the business." Jay-Z did not retire from rap, however. Jay-Z told Vibe that he realized his music had a powerful effect on his fans. "There were cats coming up to me like, 'You must have been looking in my window or following my life'...It was emotional. Like big, rough hoodlum, hardrock, three-time jail bidders with scars and gold teeth just breaking down. It was something to look at, like, I must be going somewhere people been wanting someone to go for a while." So he returned to rap in 1997, with the album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. In 1998 his best-selling, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life, won him a Grammy award for best rap album.

Hard Knocks Tour

In 1999, Jay-Z headlined the Hard Knock Life Tour, which also featured DMX, Beanie Sigel, and others. Jay-Z used his stature as a hit-producing rap star to ensure that the rappers wanted would be included on the tour. At the outset, there were fears that violence would break out on the tour. The tour concluded without incident, however, and was a resounding success.

A documentary crew joined the tour, filming the rappers as they performed, hung out backstage, and traveled in tour buses. The resulting film, "Backstage," was released in September of 2000. Some reviewers lamented that the documentary did provide as complete a picture of Rock-A-Fella/Def Jams's place in the rap world. Although, Elvis Mitchell of the Contra Costa Times notes that hardcore fans are already familiar with the rivalries of the rap business. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle says that "The film makes no attempt to guide hip-hop novices. It just tosses the viewer into this musical experience, which will seem vital to some and depressing and repetitious to others."

In 1999, Jay-Z was preparing to release his fourth album. In the December 27, 1999 issue of USA Today Steve Jones wrote that he noticed in a session he sat in on with Jay-Z and rapper Beanie Sigel, that Jay-Z never writes down a lyric. "I don't write songs," Jay-Z explained. "I just sit there and listen to the track, and I come up with the words. It's a gift. A gift from God." In the article Jay-Z also discussed his upcoming album, Vol. 3: The Life & Times of Shawn Carter. He talked about how his life had changed in the few short years of his success. "With five million records out there, there are all kinds of things that you have to deal with," he said. "Even though it's just been a year, people think that things change with you and start treating you differently. Street people start thinking that maybe you've gone soft. But I'm the same dude. That's why I did the song, 'Come and Get Me.' I'm still holding firm in my position."

When Vol 3... came out, reviews were mixed. Soren Baker wrote in The Los Angeles Times, on December 31, 1999, "For a man who rode to commercial prominence with the help of up-tempo, dance-ready tracks, Jay-Z is sounding pretty laid-back." According to Baker, the album fell behind his Grammy-winning Vol. 2. It was from a calmer, even less-clever and humorous Jay-Z, in that reviewer's opinion.

Arrested in Stabbing Incident

In early December of 1999, Jay-Z was charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault after Untertainment Records executive Lance "Un" Rivera was stabbed once in the stomach and once in the shoulder. According to Newsweek, Jay-Z suspected that Rivera had released bootleg copies of his fourth album, an act that would lead to the loss of millions of dollars in rightful profits. When the two came face to face at a record-release party for rapper Q-tip held in a New York nightclub, eye-witnesses reported that there was an altercation between the two. In the commotion that followed, Rivera was stabbed. At his arraignment in early 2000, Jay-Z pleaded not guilty.

In the weeks between the stabbing incident in New York, and the release of his new album, Jon Caramanica talked about Jay-Z's difficult week in early December of 1999. "After the breakout success of last year's Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life, the expectations on Jay-Z were greater than ever," Caramanica wrote. "In fact, it's been speculated that the entire stabbing incident was part of some large marketing conspiracy to guarantee strong buzz and sales. In hip-hop, where crime is often flipped as a marketing tool, having your artist splashed across the cover of the Daily News may well work financial wonders, but that option seems absurd for a man in Jay's position. Still, the very existence of such a theory hints at an underlying belief that Jay, of all rappers, is too smart to go out like this. Business, never personal." Although his lawyers have advised him not to discuss the case until the trial is concluded, Jay-Z did comment in Vibe in December of 2000 on the fact that, one year after the stabbing incident, a trial date still had not been set. "I feel that if it was any other person," Jay-Z said, "it wouldn't still be dragging on this long." Yet Jay-Z maintains a positive attitude. He told Vibe, "Everything happens for a reason. It's another learning experience for me."

Jay-Z has worked with some of the biggest stars of the rap and hip-hop scene, including, Lil' Kim, Jermaine Dupri, Busta Rhymes, Kelly Price, Doug Wilson, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Nasheim Myrick, Kid Capri, Mase, Deric Angelettie, Too $hort, Joe Quinde, Sauce Money, Stephen Dent, Big Jaz, and Stevie J.

Despite the mixed reviews of Vol. 3: Life and Times of Shawn Carter and his legal troubles, Jay-Z still shows no signs of retiring from rap. The album was an instant platinum success, emphasizing what a number one seller he still was in the genre he has helped to define. In 2000, Jay-Z released Dynasty: Roc la Familia. He told Vibe, "I could make records as long as I have to desire to really dig deep and challenge myself to do it. I can do it for as long as I want." It does not look like Jay-Z be running out of words any time soon.

Awards

Grammy Award, Best Rap Album of 1998, for Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life, 1998; MTV Video Music Award, Best Rap Video, for "Can I Get A...,"1999.

Works

Selected discography

• Singles
• "In My Lifetime," Ffrr, 1995.
• "Dead Presidents," Priority, 1996.
• "Can't Knock the Hustle," Priority 1996.
• "Feelin'," It, Roc-A-Fella/Priority, 1997.
• "This City Is Mine," Def Jam, 1998.
• "Money Cash Hoes," Def Jam, 1999.
• "Can I Get a Rush Hour," BMG International, 1999.
• "Hard Knock Life," Def Jam, 1999.
• "Do It Again," Def Jam, 1999; released on Polygram International, 2000.
• "Things That U Do," Def Jam, 2000.
• "Anything," Def Jam, 2000.
• Albums
• Reasonable Doubt, 1996.
• In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, 1997.
• Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life, 1998
• Vol. 3: The Life and Times of Shawn Carter, 1999.
• Dynasty: Roc la Familia, 2000.
• The Blueprint, Roc-A-Fella, 2001.
• Unplugged (live), Roc-A-Fella, 2001.
• The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse, Roc-A-Fella, 2002.
• (With R. Kelly) The Best of Both Worlds, Universal, 2002.
• The Blueprint 2.1, Roc-A-Fella, 2003.
• The Black Album, Roc-A-Fella, 2003.
• (With Linkin Park) Collision Course, Warner Bros., 2004.

Further Reading

Periodicals

• Billboard, June 29, 1996; Nov. 23, 1996; Dec. 28, 1996.
• Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA), Sept. 7, 2000.
• Jet, September 27, 1999.
• Los Angeles Times, Dec. 27, 1999; Dec. 31, 1999.
• Newsweek, Dec. 13, 1999.
• New York Times, Dec. 26, 1999; Dec. 30, 1999; Jan. 1, 2000.
• People Weekly, April 5, 1999.
• Rolling Stone, Oct. 14, 1999.
• San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 6, 2000.
• USA Today, Dec. 27, 1999; Jan. 3, 2000.
• Vibe, December, 2000.
• Village Voice, Dec. 14, 1999.
• Washington Post, Dec. 14, 1999; Jan. 2, 2000.

Other

• Information was also obtained online at All Music Guide, http://www.allmusic.com and MTV Online, http://www.mtv.com.

— Laura Hightower and Jennifer M. York