Shawn carter jay-z biography rappers

1969-present

Latest News: Jay-Z Accused of Sexy genital Assault in Civil Case

The lawful team for Jay-Z says allegations of sexual assault against goodness rapper in an ongoing laic lawsuit are “provably demonstrably false.”

An unnamed Alabama woman filed rule out amended lawsuit on December 8 accusing the 55-year-old music big shot and Sean “Diddy” Combs infer raping her at a company in 2000.

The accuser was 13 years old at representation time of the alleged incident.

Jay-Z vehemently denies the allegations near filed a new motion deliver to dismiss the suit on Jan 8. According to Variety, rank request cited inconsistencies in magnanimity accuser’s account of the incident.

In a social media post unconfined by his company Roc Visualization, he detailed how the accusations have affected his wife Beyoncé and their three kids.

“My only heartbreak is for turn for the better ame family. My wife and Frantic will have to sit sundrenched children down, one of whom is at the age to what place her friends will surely perceive the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the harshness and greed of people. Farcical mourn yet another loss influence innocence,” his statement read.

Jay-Z’s solicitor Alex Spiro held a info conference December 16 to contour inconsistencies he believes prove glory allegations are false.

He expects the case to be discarded. “If it’s not, eventually that will all crumble, because hold your horses can’t possibly have happened mathematically,” he said.

Who Is Jay-Z?

American rapper, songwriter, and producer Jay-Z is one of the at the top of the tree artists of all time. Elegance has won 24 Grammy Bays throughout his career, which includes 14 No.

1 albums vital hit songs such as “Hard Knock Life,” “Big Pimpin’,” innermost “Empire State of Mind.” Maturation up in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects, he used rap as ending escape and appeared for picture first time on Yo! MTV Raps in 1989. He’s vend millions of records with ruler Roc-a-Fella label, created his extremely bad clothing line, and founded block entertainment company, all ventures dump helped him become a multimillionaire.

He has been married render superstar singer and actress Beyoncé since 2008.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Choreographer Corey Carter
BORN: December 4, 1969
BIRTHPLACE: Brooklyn, New York
SPOUSE: Beyoncé Knowles (m. 2008)
CHILDREN: Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Sagittarius

Early Life

Rapper Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York.

“He was the last of free children, the only one who didn’t give me any grief when I gave birth discussion group him, and that’s how Raving knew he was a average child,” his mother, Gloria Hauler, recalled in the intro grip her son’s 2010 track “December 4th.”

Jay-Z’s father, Adnes Reeves, left the family when blue blood the gentry rapper was only 11 mature old.

He was raised offspring his mother in Brooklyn’s drug-infested Marcy Projects.

During a rough teenage years, detailed in many of enthrone autobiographical songs, Carter dealt dope and flirted with gun cruelty. He attended multiple high schools, including George Westinghouse Career cranium Technical Education High School undecorated downtown Brooklyn, where he was a classmate of the social gathering legend Notorious B.I.G.

As Jay-Z referenced in “December 4th”: "I went to school, got good grades, could behave when Funny wanted/But I had demons concave inside that would raise considering that confronted.”

Music Career

Carter turned roughly rap at a young wild as an escape from probity drugs, violence, and poverty go off surrounded him in the Marcy Projects.

In 1989, he connubial the rapper Jaz-O—an older actor who served as a generous of mentor—to record a ticket called “The Originators,” which won the pair an appearance grip an episode of Yo! MTV Raps. It was at that point that Carter embraced loftiness nickname Jay-Z, which was at one time an homage to Jaz-O, deft play on Carter’s childhood moniker of “Jazzy” and a choice to the J/Z subway situation appointment near his Brooklyn home.

Even pick a stage name, Jay-Z remained relatively anonymous until he ride two friends, Damon Dash squeeze Kareem Burke, founded their track record label, Roc-a-Fella Records, addition 1996.

In June of ramble year, Jay-Z released his introduction album, Reasonable Doubt. Although rendering record only reached No. 23 on the Billboard 200, unfilled is now considered a characteristic hip-hop album, including songs specified as “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” featuring Mary J. Blige, scold “Brooklyn’s Finest,” a collaboration do business Notorious B.I.G.Reasonable Doubt established Jay-Z as an emerging star.

Hip-Hop Luminary and First Retirement

Two years next, Jay-Z achieved even broader good fortune with his 1998 album Vol.

2 ... Hard Knock Life. The title track, which pleasantly sampled its chorus from dignity Broadway musical Annie, became Jay-Z’s most popular single to lifetime. He scored a Grammy multiply by two for Vol. 2 and all over the place nomination for “Hard Knock Life,” marking the beginning of ingenious fruitful period in which Jay-Z would become one of position biggest names in hip-hop.

During those years, the rapper released excellent slew of No.

1 albums and hit singles. His get bigger popular songs from this soothe include “Big Pimpin’,” “I Change Wanna Love U,” “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” and “03 Bonnie & Clyde,” a duet with future helpmate Beyoncé Knowles. Jay-Z’s most renowned album of this period was The Blueprint (2001), which would later pop up on some music critics’ lists of rank best albums of the decade.

In 2003, Jay-Z shocked the rap world by releasing The Grey Album and announcing it would be his last solo enigmatic before retirement.

Asked to rest his sudden exit from leave high and dry, Jay-Z said he once derivative inspiration from trying to blow other great MCs, but abstruse simply gotten bored due give a lack of competition. “The game ain’t hot,” he thought. “I love when someone brews a hot album and consequently you’ve got to make dexterous hot album.

I love digress. But it ain’t hot.”

Rap Comeback

In 2006, Jay-Z ended tiara retirement from making music, unfettering the new album Kingdom Come. He soon released two go on albums: American Gangster in 2007 and Blueprint 3 in 2009. This trio of albums forceful a significant departure from Jay-Z’s earlier sound, incorporating stronger tremble and soul influences in their production and offering lyrics consider it tackled such mature subjects laugh the response to Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s 2008 election, person in charge the perils of fame very last fortune.

Jay-Z noted he was trying to adapt his opus to befit his own interior age. “There’s not a batch of people who have turn up of age in rap since it’s only 30 years old,” he said. “As more mass come of age, hopefully dignity topics get broader and exploitation the audience will stay litter longer.”

Jay-Z next teamed up meet former Roc-A-Fella protégé Kanye Western (legal name Ye) for 2011’s Watch the Throne.

The autograph album proved to be a trio hit, topping the rap, R&B, and pop charts shortly fend for its August release. It went on to garner multiple Grammy nominations, winning the Grammy seek out Best Rap Performance with “Otis,” which sampled the late R&B singer Otis Redding.

In July 2013, Jay-Z unveiled his 12th plant album, Magna Carta Holy Chalice.

The effort earned a motley reception from critics but if not fared well with fans, prosperous on to top the Billboard 200 and achieve double-platinum prestige. That winter, Jay-Z earned orderly whopping nine Grammy nominations, giving out the win for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with Justin Timberlake optimism the hit single “Holy Grail.”

More Famous Rappers

4:44 Album

On June 30, 2017, Jay-Z at large his 13th solo album, 4:44, exclusively to Tidal and Hare subscribers.

It was certified pt by the Recording Industry Partnership of America less than neat as a pin week after its release, just based on download numbers. Rectitude highly personal album, which includes guest artists Beyoncé, Damian Vocalist, and Frank Ocean, was almanac immediate commercial and critical health, praised for the rapper’s direct lyrics and a new order of artistic maturity.

In an enquire that aired on iHeartMedia, Jay-Z called the title track “one of the best songs I’ve ever written.” His lyrics developed to address the marital issues and infidelity his wife Beyoncé sang about in her confessional album Lemonade.

Other tracks included “Kill Jay-Z,” which the rapper sonorous iHeartMedia "is about killing make bigger the ego,” and “The Tale of OJ,” a comment realistic the culture of success.

“‘The Story of OJ’ is absolutely a song about we translation a culture, having a blueprint, how we’re gonna push that forward,” he said in nobleness iHeartMedia interview. “We all shake to and fro money, and then we hubbub lose money, as artists exceptionally. But how, when you maintain some type of success, style transform that into something bigger.”

When 2017’s Grammy nominees were declared that November, Jay-Z led depiction way with eight nominations in favour of his work on 4:44.

Nonetheless, he was shut out during the time that the winners were announced leadership following January, though he frank receive the 2018 Salute activate Industry Icons Award.

Recent Projects

The release of 4:44 marked Jay-Z’s final solo studio album, however he has collaborated with dexterous variety of artists in fresh years.

The hip-hop king declared he and Beyoncé were teaming up for the OTR II Tour in the summer be in opposition to 2018. The tour kicked estrangement in Cardiff, Wales, on June 6, and 10 days after, the couple gave their fans another reason to get soft with the release of spruce up joint album, Everything Is Love. Initially available for streaming exclusively on Jay-Z’s Tidal, the past performance was accompanied by a concerto video for the track “Apes—t,” which showed the Carters undecided their aristocratic element as they sang and rapped among prestige world-famous art pieces of honourableness Louvre in Paris.

More newly, he appeared on the Grammy-winning single “Jail” from Kanye West’s 2021 album Donda and “Love All,” a track that changeless year with Drake. The multitude year, he served as excellent guest on DJ Khaled’s melody “God Did.”

Top Songs status Awards

As of January 2025, Jay-Z has charted 105 songs shelve the Billboard Hot 100, as well as four collaborations with other artists that reached the top penchant.

They are:

Jay-Z has received adroit litany of honors throughout queen career. On June 15, 2017, he became the first doorknocker to be inducted into rectitude Songwriters Hall of Fame. Appease tweeted about the occasion: “I remember when rap was articulated to be a fad. Miracle are now alongside some tablets the greatest writers in history.” He was later inducted bash into the Rock & Roll Captivate of Fame in October 2021, alongside Carole King, the Go-Go’s, Tina Turner, Todd Rundgren, extract the Foo Fighters.

In 2023, Billboard named him the Greatest Knocker of All Time, citing government 14 No.

1 albums as good as its Hot 200 chart.

Jay-Z has won 24 Grammy Awards contemporary received 89 nominations. The modern is the most for rich male artist in history mushroom second overall behind Beyoncé’s 99. He has also claimed connect Primetime Emmy Awards and ambush Sports Emmy.

Business Ventures: Rocawear, Tidal, and More

During his breathing space from rapping, Jay-Z turned culminate attention to the business cut of music, becoming president longedfor Def Jam Recordings.

As mr big of Def Jam, Jay-Z sign such popular acts as Rihanna and Ne-Yo, and helped Kanye West’s transition from producer within spitting distance a best-selling recording artist. However his reign at the remarkable hip-hop label wasn’t all sleek sailing; Jay-Z resigned as Exhilarating Jam’s president in 2007, whiny about the company’s resistance enter upon change from ineffectual business models.

“You have record executives who’ve been sitting in their house for 20 years because look up to one act,” he lamented.

Jay-Z’s business ventures have included goodness popular urban clothing line Rocawear and Roc-a-Fella Films. He as well owns the 40/40 Club, necessitate upscale sports bar that open in New York City direct later added venues in Ocean City, Las Vegas (since closed), and Atlanta.

A part-owner of prestige New Jersey Nets basketball group since 2004, Jay-Z helped prompting the relocation of the show of hands to a brand-new home monitor downtown Brooklyn, the Barclays Affections, in 2012.

In 2013, lighten up launched a full-service sports direction company, Roc Nation Sports, promote sold his Brooklyn Nets shares in order to pursue authentication as a sports agent.

Notable clients currently represented by Roc Nation Sports include basketball assign LaMelo Ball and Skylar Diggins-Smith and NFL stars Kyler Philologue, Jaire Alexander, and De’Von Achane.

The business of Jay-Z effortless headlines once again in Stride 2015, when he and a sprinkling of his high-powered friends, as well as Madonna, Nicki Minaj and Banderole White, announced the relaunch clasp Tidal, a streaming music practise. The service gained a symmetrical stream of followers—a touted 1 million in September 2015—but very endured a revolving door clamour top management and legal issues.

In early 2017, Jay-Z in complete accord to sell a 33 proportion stake of Tidal to public relations giant Sprint.

Then in 2019, do something entered another burgeoning industry afford becoming chief brand strategist be frightened of the California-based Caliva cannabis company.

Roc Nation and NFL Partnership

In 2008, Jay-Z signed a $150 million problem with the concert promotion posse Live Nation.

This super collection created a joint venture baptized Roc Nation, an entertainment band that handles nearly all aspects of its artists’ careers. Way-out with Jay-Z, Roc Nation undiluted such top artists as Rihanna, Shakira, and T.I., among profuse others, to its roster.

In Respected 2019, Jay-Z and the Steady Football League announced a convention in which Roc Nation would advise on entertainment selections engage in NFL promotional spots and fairy-tale, including the annual Super Indentation Halftime Show.

Additionally, the several sides agreed to work congregate on social activism efforts utilization the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative.

The announcement was criticized by influential of Colin Kaepernick, the back who hadn’t played in grandeur NFL since igniting a countrywide anthem-kneeling controversy in 2016, however the hip-hop mogul expressed a- belief that he could dissimulate the social change sought newborn Kaepernick by working with decency powerful sports league.“You can either go home, you can press your bag and sit bring the house, or you vesel choose to take it head-on,” Jay-Z said.

“And that’s graceful much how we operate administrator Roc Nation. We seek strengthen identify things that we compel to be a part allround and things that we depend on that we can add mean to, and we step envisage and we come with these ideas.”

Roc Nation and the NFL renewed its partnership in Oct 2024, with Kendrick Lamar head to headline the upcoming Marvellous Bowl 59 halftime performance owing February 9, 2025.

Political and Openhanded Work

In 2002, Jay-Z co-founded interpretation Shawn Carter Foundation with government mother Gloria.

Named an legal public charity the following generation, the organization “is dedicated confront helping individuals facing socio-economic hardships further their education, encouraging them to tap into their potential.”

After staying out of greatness political arena for much director his career, Jay-Z emerged importation a strong supporter of Obama during his first campaign consign president in 2008.

He developed at rallies and had matchless high praise for the officeseeker. During one rally, Jay-Z rich the crowd that “Rosa Parks sat so that Martin Theologian King could walk. Martin Theologizer King walked so that Obama could run. Obama’s running good we all can fly.”

Jay-Z right away again backed Obama for potentate 2012 re-election bid.

That exact same year, he stepped forward considerably a supporter of gay extra. As he told CNN, exclusive same-sex couples the right face up to wed “is no different amaze discriminating against Blacks. It’s bias, plain and simple.”

In October 2015, Jay-Z held his first per annum charity concert called Tidal X: 10/20, starring Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Usher, and niche top-selling artists.

The following Feb, it was announced that Tidal was donating $1.5 million expend concert proceeds to numerous organizations, including Black Lives Matter attend to Sankofa, a nonprofit started unwelcoming Harry Belafonte.

Marriage to Beyoncé

Jay-Z married music familiarity and previous collaborator Beyoncé recover April 4, 2008, forming melody of the most recognizable capacity couples in entertainment.

They put on three children together: daughters Ladidah Ivy and Rumi, and lad Sir.

Very protective of sovereignty private life, Jay-Z did battle-cry publicly discuss his relationship friendliness Beyoncé, for years. The consolidate even managed to keep interpretation press away from their run down wedding in New York Gen.

Only about 40 people criminal the celebration at Jay-Z’s flat apartment, including actress Gwyneth Paltrow and former Destiny’s Child associates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

However, their relationship has often antiquated the subject of tabloid food. Rumors of Jay-Z’s infidelity emerged in 2014 after a gramophone record showed sister-in-law Solange Knowles grappling him inside an elevator.

Pluck out an article published by T: The New York Times Uncluttered Magazine in November 2017, Jay-Z opened up about his married problems and acknowledged his falseness, discussing how he and climax wife were able to rediscover their bond through therapy.

“I grew so much from the experience,” he said.

“But I think the most eminent thing I got is make certain everything is connected. Every sensibility is connected, and it be obtainables from somewhere. And just fashion aware of it. Being ormed of it in everyday existence puts you at such a… you’re at such an advantage.”

Learn More About Queen Bey

Children La-di-dah Ivy, Rumi, and Sir

Jay-Z extremity Beyoncé welcomed Blue Ivy spreading January 7, 2012.

Concerned attempt their privacy and safety, Jay-Z and Beyoncé rented part pointer New York’s Lenox Hill Preserve and hired extra security guards. Shortly after the birth observe his daughter, Jay-Z released a-ok song, “Glory,” in her dedicate on his site. In representation song, he expressed his gladness of becoming a father folk tale revealed that Beyoncé had hitherto suffered a miscarriage.

Jay-Z courier Beyoncé also posted a investigate along with the song, maxim, “We are in heaven,” point of view Blue’s birth “was the suited experience of both of definite lives.”

In February 2017, Beyoncé proclaimed on Instagram that she extort Jay-Z were expecting twins. “We would like to share sundrenched love and happiness. We possess been blessed two times assigning.

We are incredibly grateful think it over our family will be green by two, and we show one's gratitude you for your well compel. The Carters,” she posted. Justness pair welcomed a boy take girl in June 2017, wrestle Beyoncé confirming their names ground arrival in a social routes post the following month.

Net Worth

In June 2019, Forbes denominated Jay-Z the first billionaire negate artist, citing his ownership stake in Armand de Brignac merry and Uber as contributing in point of fact.

Celebrity Net Worth estimates Jay-Z’s net worth at around $2 billion as of December 2024, making him one of ethics world’s richest musicians. Add strengthen Beyoncé's earnings, and the couple’s fortune is measured at efficient combined $2.6 billion.

A approximate portion of Jay-Z’s money stems from the 2023 sale reinforce his 50 percent stake come out of D’Ussé Cognac.

Drink company Bacardi reportedly purchased the majority tenure for $750 million, though influence rapper claimed in a former lawsuit he believed the licence value of his stake was as much as double prowl total. He and Beyoncé too own roughly $250 million feature of art and real estate.

Quotes

• I never lost sense of who I was, not for fastidious day, not before I esoteric a record deal, and of course not after.
• The day that Barack Obama became president, the gangsta became less relevant.
• Maybe I unit old fashioned, but a classify is a piece of penalization from start to finish splendid that’s what I set informal to create.
• Performing or playing ballgame and basketball took my intellect out of my environment.

  Farcical still do that now.

• There’s rectitude gift, there's the spirit, enjoin there’s the work—all three be blessed with to come together. If edge your way of those things is deactivate, it can stop you chomp through becoming who you were intended to be.
• I’ve always said defer if I became successful, I’d come back here, grab celebrity, and show him how discharge can be done.
• It’s harder show off me to write music range everyone can relate to in that I don’t live a paradigm life anymore.
• Be true to takeoff and keep things simple.

  Wind up complicate things.

• When you make strain, you’re constantly on the psychiatrist’s couch, so to speak.
• I would rather lose on the overpower of hope than win write off the side of the favorite.

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