Jay-Z

Jay-Z is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished and proficient rappers to ever pick up a microphone. A native of Brooklyn, he spent much of the 1990's trying to break into the rap game while also juggling his time as a street hustler.

Outside of a few early 1990's rap cameos—Jaz-O's "The Originators," Original Flavor's "Can I Get Open" and Big Daddy Kane's "Show & Prove"—Jay was still unsuccessful at securing a label deal for himself. After several failed attempts to get noticed, Jay-Z decided to go independent and formed Roc-A-Fella Records with business partners Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke.

In 1996, Hov kicked off his professional rap career with his stellar debut solo album, Reasonable Doubt, which featured a guest appearance by up-and-coming rap superstar The Notorious B.I.G. The album was a commercial success, reaching platinum status in February of 2002.

Jay's career took off with his 1998 album, Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life, which sold six million copies and included the Annie-sampled "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)." But it was his classic 2001 LP, The Blueprint, that solidified Jay-Z's status as one of hip-hop's G.O.A.Ts (Greatest of All Time).

Jay-Z's talent as a lyricist is undeniable, but he's also made a name for himself in the corporate world. As a savvy businessman, his investments in fashion (Rocawear), liquor (Dussé), a luxury sports bar (40/40 Club), a streaming service (Tidal) and a management agency (Roc Nation), helped him become the wealthiest rapper in the world with a net worth of $2.5 billion.

  • Selected Discography: Reasonable Doubt (1996), The Blueprint (2001), 4:44 (2017), “Can’t Knock the Hustle” (1996), “Takeover” (2001), “4:44″ (2017)
  • Related Artists: Rakim, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G.
  • Read More: Jay-Z’s Biggest Boss Moves of His Career
Best Hip-Hop Videos Of The Week, 8/26- 9/1
Best Hip-Hop Videos Of The Week, 8/26- 9/1
Best Hip-Hop Videos Of The Week, 8/26- 9/1
Hip-hop spawned some pretty tough visuals this past week. With Jay-Z releasing the long awaited visual for "Holy Grail" and Big Sean unleashing the video for "10 2 10", grinding was indeed the theme of the week. Rich Gang also presented the video for "50 Plates" as well as Ace Hood's "Before The Rollie" and Fall Out Boy's Big Sean assisted "The Mighty
Check Out The Trailer For Jay Z And Ron Howard’s ‘Made In America’
Check Out The Trailer For Jay Z And Ron Howard’s ‘Made In America’
Check Out The Trailer For Jay Z And Ron Howard’s ‘Made In America’
Just a day before the second annual Made In America Festival, Jay Z and his Oscar-winning producing partner Ron Howard let go of the trailer for their collaborative Made In America documentary. The film—which is set to premiere at next month's Toronto International Film Festival and on Showtime on October 11—chronicles the growth of Jay's Made In America Fest, and features interviews with Run-D.M.
Jay Z May Come Out For Made In America
Jay Z May Come Out For Made In America
Jay Z May Come Out For Made In America
According to Budweiser brand manager Mike Thompson, he isn’t counting out a surprise appearance from Jay Z. In a interview with Billboard, Mr. Thompson states "You never know. I’m sure he’ll be here to support his wife and who knows, maybe he’ll treat us all to a cameo appearance during one of the performances. It would be cool to see him...
Wall Street Journal Hates Hip-Hop
Wall Street Journal Hates Hip-Hop
Wall Street Journal Hates Hip-Hop
On a segment on Fox News that aired on Tuesday, the state of hip-hop became a topic of criticism. 50 years after the 1963 March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, rap became the topic of discussion, stemming from a Wall Street Journal piece by Juan Williams. In the piece, Ju...
14 Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions Of Rap Songs
14 Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions Of Rap Songs
14 Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions Of Rap Songs
Imagine your favorite record from Kanye and Jay Z turned into a soothing lullaby. How great will that be to play for your child as he or she falls asleep? What if I told you this can happen? Yes, Rockabye Baby! takes your favorite Rap stars and does lullaby renditions of their most popular songs. Its...
Just Blaze Compares Eminem To Jay Z
Just Blaze Compares Eminem To Jay Z
Just Blaze Compares Eminem To Jay Z
Just Blaze has been in the game for a long time. He has worked with a extensive list of artist, two in particular he discusses in today's video, Jay Z and Eminem. Here, the super-producer finds himself comparing the two emcees during an interview with Vlad TV...
Justin Timberlake Has New Nas, Jay Z, Timbaland Song In The Works
Justin Timberlake Has New Nas, Jay Z, Timbaland Song In The Works
Justin Timberlake Has New Nas, Jay Z, Timbaland Song In The Works
Back in late July, Timbaland leaked the existence of a new song he was working on with Nas, Jay Z and Justin Timberlake entitled "Sinatra In The Sands." The mere mention of the track was enough to put hip-hop fans abuzz with anticipation at the potential existence of this super collaboration amongst hip-hop's elite...
Jay Z & Drake Will Appear On Justin Timberlake’s New Album
Jay Z & Drake Will Appear On Justin Timberlake’s New Album
Jay Z & Drake Will Appear On Justin Timberlake’s New Album
After the tremendous success of "Suit & Tie," his platinum-selling collaboration with Jay Z and his stadium-selling tour with Hov this summer, Justin Timberlake will be working with Jay Z, again, on the sequel to The 20/20 Experience out next month. The trackli ...
Jay Z’s Rocawear Sued Over Infringing T-Shirt Design
Jay Z’s Rocawear Sued Over Infringing T-Shirt Design
Jay Z’s Rocawear Sued Over Infringing T-Shirt Design
HoodLove, LLC, a for-profit t-shirt company, is suing Jay Z's ROC Apparel Group, the corporate parent of the Rocawear brand, over copyright infringement over a t-shirt that features the words "Hood Love" on it. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, HoodLove, LLC is claiming that it has owned the right to phrase since 2006. Acc ...

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