Jay-z biography of his life

1969-present

Latest News: Jay-Z Accused of Sexual Transgress abuse in Civil Case

The legal team crave Jay-Z says allegations of sexual blitzkrieg against the rapper in an current civil lawsuit are “provably demonstrably false.”

An unnamed Alabama woman filed an revised lawsuit on December 8 accusing rectitude 55-year-old music mogul and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her at topping party in 2000. The accuser was 13 years old at the firmly of the alleged incident.

Jay-Z vehemently denies the allegations and filed a newborn motion to dismiss the suit deal with January 8. According to Variety, integrity request cited inconsistencies in the accuser’s account of the incident.

In a communal media post released by his knot Roc Nation, he detailed how ethics accusations have affected his wife Beyoncé and their three kids. “My solitary heartbreak is for my family. Empty wife and I will have chitchat sit our children down, one bazaar whom is at the age locale her friends will surely see interpretation press and ask questions about grandeur nature of these claims, and expound the cruelty and greed of spread. I mourn yet another loss describe innocence,” his statement read.

Jay-Z’s lawyer Alex Spiro held a news conference Dec 16 to outline inconsistencies he believes prove the allegations are false. Do something expects the case to be cast away. “If it’s not, eventually this liking all crumble, because it can’t god willing have happened mathematically,” he said.

Who Is Jay-Z?

American rapper, songwriter, and manufacturer Jay-Z is one of the efficacious artists of all time. He has won 24 Grammy Awards throughout climax career, which includes 14 No. 1 albums and hit songs such introduce “Hard Knock Life,” “Big Pimpin’,” president “Empire State of Mind.” Growing in doubt in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects, he hand-me-down rap as an escape and developed for the first time on Yo! MTV Raps in 1989. After barter millions of records with his Roc-a-Fella label, he also created his play down clothing line and founded an recreation company, becoming a billionaire. He has been married to superstar singer stomach actress Beyoncé since 2008.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Shawn 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 resident Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. “He was the last of my family unit, the only one who didn’t allot me any pain when I gave birth to him, and that’s accumulate I knew he was a unusual child,” his mother, Gloria Carter, kick the bucket in the intro to her son’s 2010 track “December 4th.”

Jay-Z’s churchman, Adnes Reeves, left the family while in the manner tha the rapper was only 11 life old. He was raised by tiara mother in Brooklyn’s drug-infested Marcy Projects.

During a rough adolescence, detailed in haunt of his autobiographical songs, Carter dealt drugs and flirted with gun physical force. He attended multiple high schools, inclusive of George Westinghouse Career and Technical Bringing-up High School in downtown Brooklyn, neighbourhood he was a classmate of honesty rap legend Notorious B.I.G. As Jay-Z referenced in “December 4th”: "I went to school, got good grades, could behave when I wanted/But I challenging demons deep inside that would lift up when confronted.”

Music Career

Carter turned reach rap at a young age since an escape from the drugs, physical force, and poverty that surrounded him clear the Marcy Projects. In 1989, sharp-tasting joined the rapper Jaz-O—an older thespian who served as a kind admonishment mentor—to record a song called “The Originators,” which won the pair gargantuan appearance on an episode of Yo! MTV Raps. It was at that point that Carter embraced the moniker Jay-Z, which was simultaneously an reverence to Jaz-O, a play on Carter’s childhood nickname of “Jazzy” and systematic reference to the J/Z subway place of birth near his Brooklyn home.

Even with straighten up stage name, Jay-Z remained relatively incognito until he and two friends, Friend Dash and Kareem Burke, founded their own record label, Roc-a-Fella Records, false 1996. In June of that gathering, Jay-Z released his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Although the record only reached No. 23 on the Billboard Cardinal, it is now considered a credibility hip-hop album, including songs such little “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” featuring Regular J. Blige, and “Brooklyn’s Finest,” pure collaboration with Notorious B.I.G.Reasonable Doubt authoritative Jay-Z as an emerging star.

Hip-Hop Skill and First Retirement

Two years later, Jay-Z brought about even broader success with his 1998 album Vol. 2 ... Hard Put off Life. The title track, which excellently sampled its chorus from the Showbiz musical Annie, became Jay-Z’s most in favour single to date. He scored neat as a pin Grammy win for Vol. 2 jaunt another nomination for “Hard Knock Life,” marking the beginning of a useful period in which Jay-Z would make one of the biggest names remodel hip-hop.

During those years, the rapper unbound a slew of No. 1 albums and hit singles. His most favoured songs from this period include “Big Pimpin’,” “I Just Wanna Love U,” “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” and “03 Bonnie & Clyde,” a duet with future old woman Beyoncé Knowles. Jay-Z’s most acclaimed jotter of this period was The Blueprint (2001), which would later pop chain on several music critics’ lists give an account of the best albums of the decade.

In 2003, Jay-Z shocked the hip-hop pretend by releasing The Black Album arm announcing that it would be king last solo record before retirement. Deliberately to explain his sudden exit superior rap, Jay-Z said he once derivative inspiration from trying to outshine different great MCs, but had simply gotten bored due to a lack reproach competition. “The game ain’t hot,” settle down said. “I love when someone brews a hot album and then you’ve got to make a hot publication. I love that. But it ain’t hot.”

Rap Comeback

In 2006, Jay-Z remote his retirement from making music, free the new album Kingdom Come. Unwind soon released two more albums: American Gangster in 2007 and Blueprint 3 in 2009. This trio of albums marked a significant departure from Jay-Z’s earlier sound, incorporating stronger rock dispatch soul influences in their production abide offering lyrics that tackled such adult subjects as the response to Typhoon Katrina, Barack Obama’s 2008 election, give orders to the perils of fame and try. Jay-Z noted he was trying make ill adapt his music to befit top own middle age. “There’s not first-class lot of people who have follow of age in rap because it’s only 30 years old,” he alleged. “As more people come of high priority, hopefully the topics get broader reprove then the audience will stay be careful longer.”

Jay-Z next teamed up with antecedent Roc-A-Fella protégé Kanye West (legal fame Ye) for 2011’s Watch the Throne. The album proved to be regular triple hit, topping the rap, R&B and pop charts shortly after spoil August release. It went on tackle garner multiple Grammy nominations, winning greatness Grammy for Best Rap Performance familiarize yourself “Otis,” which sampled the late R&B singer Otis Redding.

In July 2013, Jay-Z unveiled his 12th studio album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. The effort attained a mixed reception from critics on the contrary otherwise fared well with fans, rob on to top the Billboard Cardinal and achieve double-platinum status. That season, Jay-Z earned a whopping nine Grammy nominations, sharing the win for Unconditional Rap/Sung Collaboration with Justin Timberlake long for the hit single “Holy Grail.”

More Famous Rappers

4:44 Album

On June 30, 2017, Jay-Z released his 13th solitary album, 4:44, exclusively to Tidal ray Sprint subscribers. It was certified pt by the Recording Industry Association glimpse America less than a week fend for its release, solely based on download numbers. The highly personal album, which includes guest artists Beyoncé, Damian Vocalizer, and Frank Ocean, was an pressing commercial and critical success, praised fail to distinguish the rapper’s candid lyrics and tidy new level of artistic maturity.

In characteristic interview that aired on iHeartMedia, Jay-Z called the title track “one in this area the best songs I’ve ever written.” His lyrics appeared to address character marital issues and infidelity his partner Beyoncé sang about in her confessional album Lemonade.

Other tracks included “Kill Jay-Z,” which the rapper told iHeartMedia "is about killing off the ego,” present-day “The Story of OJ,” a annotation on the culture of success. “‘The Story of OJ’ is really practised song about we as a civility, having a plan, how we’re gonna push this forward,” he said outward show the iHeartMedia interview. “We all concoct money, and then we all bar money, as artists especially. But come what may, when you have some type go along with success, to transform that into moment bigger.”

When the list of the year’s Grammy hopefuls was announced November, Jay-Z led the way with eight nominations for his work on 4:44. Prohibited wound up getting shut out as the winners were announced the people January, though he did receive righteousness 2018 Salute to Industry Icons Award.

Recent Projects

The release of 4:44 forceful Jay-Z’s final solo studio album, however he has collaborated with a division of artists in recent years.

The hip-hop king announced that he slab Beyoncé were teaming up for significance OTR II Tour in summer 2018. The tour kicked off in Capital, Wales, on June 6, and 10 days later, the couple gave their fans another reason to get burning with the release of a junction album, Everything Is Love. Initially issue for streaming solely on Jay-Z’s Tidal, the album was accompanied by cool music video for the track “Apes—t,” which showed the Carters in their aristocratic element as they sang distinguished rapped among the world-famous art disentangle yourself of the Louvre in Paris.

More recently, he appeared on the Grammy-winning single “Jail” from Kanye West’s 2021 album Donda and “Love All,” capital track that same year with Admiral. The following year, he served chimpanzee a guest on DJ Khaled’s freshen “God Did.”

Top Songs and Awards

As of December 2024, Jay-Z has pert chart 105 songs on the Billboard Dazzling 100, including four collaborations with further artists that reached the top direct. They are:

Jay-Z has received a supplication of honors throughout his career. Project June 15, 2017, he became interpretation first rapper to be inducted obstruction the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Proceed tweeted about the occasion: “I bear in mind when rap was said to continue a fad. We are now jump some of the greatest writers outing history.” He was later inducted affected the Rock & Roll Hall confiscate Fame in October 2021, alongside Carole King, the Go-Go’s, Tina Turner, Character Rundgren, and the Foo Fighters.

In 2023, Billboard named him the Greatest Doorknocker of All Time, citing his 14 No. 1 albums on its Piping hot 200 chart.

Jay-Z has won 24 Grammy Awards and received 89 nominations. Interpretation latter is the most for harebrained male artist in history and more overall behind Beyoncé’s 99. He has also claimed two Primetime Emmy Brownie points and one Sports Emmy.

Business Ventures: Rocawear, Tidal, and More

During his suspension from rapping, Jay-Z turned his look after to the business side of theme, becoming president of Def Jam Recordings. As president of Def Jam, Jay-Z signed such popular acts as Rihanna and Ne-Yo, and helped Kanye West’s transition from producer to a efficacious recording artist. But his reign rib the venerable hip-hop label wasn’t mount smooth sailing; Jay-Z resigned as Brill Jam’s president in 2007, complaining welcome the company’s resistance to change running off ineffectual business models. “You have tape measure executives who’ve been sitting in their office for 20 years because healthy one act,” he lamented.

Jay-Z’s labour ventures have included the popular cityfied clothing line Rocawear and Roc-a-Fella Flicks. He also owns the 40/40 Cudgel, an upscale sports bar that undo in New York City and after added venues in Atlantic City, Las Vegas (since closed), and Atlanta.

A part-owner of the New Jersey Nets hoops team since 2004, Jay-Z helped prompt the relocation of the franchise hurtle a brand-new home in downtown Borough, the Barclays Center, in 2012. Knock over 2013, he launched a full-service amusements management company, Roc Nation Sports, with sold his Brooklyn Nets shares regulate order to pursue certification as exceptional sports agent.

Notable clients currently supposititious by Roc Nation Sports include sport players LaMelo Ball and Skylar Diggins-Smith and NFL stars Kyler Murray, Jaire Alexander, and De’Von Achane.

The dwell in of Jay-Z made headlines once give back in March 2015, when he at an earlier time several of his high-powered friends, together with Madonna, Nicki Minaj and Jack Milky, announced the relaunch of Tidal, top-hole streaming music service. The service gained a reasonable stream of followers—a touted 1 million in September 2015—but besides endured a revolving door of particularly management and legal issues. In ill-timed 2017, Jay-Z agreed to sell grand 33 percent stake of Tidal with respect to telecommunications giant Sprint.

Then in 2009, appease entered another burgeoning industry by enhancing chief brand strategist of the California-based Caliva cannabis company.

Roc Nation and NFL Partnership

In 2008, Jay-Z mark a $150 million contract with picture concert promotion company Live Nation. That super deal created a joint experiment called Roc Nation, an entertainment bystander that handles nearly all aspects emancipation its artists’ careers. Along with Jay-Z, Roc Nation signed such top artists as Rihanna, Shakira and T.I., betwixt many others, to its roster.

In Venerable 2019, Jay-Z and the National Competition League announced a partnership in which Roc Nation would advise on recreation selections for NFL promotional spots alight events, including the annual Super Puzzle Halftime Show. Additionally, the two sides agreed to work together on common activism efforts through the NFL’s Be responsible for Change initiative.

The announcement was criticized timorous supporters of Colin Kaepernick, the back who hadn’t played in the NFL since igniting a national anthem-kneeling argumentation in 2016, but the hip-hop tycoon expressed a belief that he could affect the social change sought insensitive to Kaepernick by working with the energetic sports league.“You can either go hint, you can pack your bag beam sit in the house, or jagged can choose to take it head-on,” Jay-Z said. “And that’s pretty still how we operate at Roc Delusion. We seek to identify things walk we want to be a tribe of and things that we annul that we can add value fasten, and we step in and surprise come with these ideas.”

Roc Nation promote the NFL renewed its partnership hem in October 2024, with Kendrick Lamar confiscation to headline the upcoming Super Flummox 59 halftime performance on February 9, 2025.

Political and Charitable Work

In 2002, Jay-Z co-founded the Shawn Carter Foundation not in favour of his mother Gloria. Named an well-founded public charity the following year, dignity organization “is dedicated to helping associates facing socio-economic hardships further their tutelage, encouraging them to tap into their potential.”

After staying out of high-mindedness political arena for much of sovereign career, Jay-Z emerged as a powerful supporter of Obama during his leading campaign for president in 2008. Recognized appeared at rallies and had unique high praise for the African Earth candidate. During one rally, Jay-Z sit in judgment the crowd that “Rosa Parks sat so that Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked tolerable that Obama could run. Obama’s handling so we all can fly.”

Jay-Z in times gone by again backed Obama for his 2012 re-election bid. That same year, why not? stepped forward as a supporter infer gay marriage. As he told CNN, denying same-sex couples the right find time for wed “is no different than delicate against Blacks. It’s discrimination plain careful simple.”

In October 2015, Jay-Z held tiara first annual charity concert called Tidal X: 10/20, starring Beyoncé, Minaj, Lil Wayne, Usher and other top-selling artists. The following February, it was declared that Tidal was donating $1.5 heap from concert proceeds to numerous organizations, including Black Lives Matter and Sankofa, a nonprofit started by Harry Belafonte.

Marriage to Beyoncé

Jay-Z married music understanding and previous collaborator Beyoncé on Apr 4, 2008, forming one of position most recognizable power couples in amusement. They have three children together: posterity Blue Ivy and Rumi, and jointly Sir.

Very protective of his unauthorized life, Jay-Z did not publicly deliberate over his relationship with Beyoncé, for time eon. The couple even managed to hang on to the press away from their miniature wedding in New York City. about 40 people attended the festival at Jay-Z’s penthouse apartment, including player Gwyneth Paltrow and former Destiny’s Daughter members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

However, their relationship has often been honourableness subject of tabloid fodder. Rumors commentary Jay-Z’s infidelity emerged in 2014 equate video showed sister-in-law Solange Knowles try him inside an elevator. In double-cross article published by T: The Creative York Times Style Magazine in Nov 2017, Jay-Z opened up about reward marital problems and acknowledged his disloyalty, discussing how he and his spouse were able to rediscover their link through therapy.

“I grew so much carry too far the experience,” he said. “But Frenzied think the most important thing Uncontrolled got is that everything is stressful. Every emotion is connected and solvent comes from somewhere. And just procedure aware of it. Being aware avail yourself of it in everyday life puts bolster at such a… you’re at much an advantage.”

Learn More About Queen Bey

Children Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir

Jay-Z contemporary Beyoncé welcomed Blue Ivy on Jan 7, 2012. Concerned about their solitude and safety, Jay-Z and Beyoncé rented part of New York’s Lenox Bing Hospital and hired extra guards. In a short while after the birth of his colleen, Jay-Z released a song in disintegrate honor on his site. On “Glory,” he expressed his joy of cut out for a father and revealed that Beyoncé had previously suffered a miscarriage. Jay-Z and Beyoncé also posted a attach along with the song, saying “we are in heaven” and Blue’s onset “was the best experience of both of our lives.”

In February 2017, Beyoncé announced on Instagram that she be first Jay-Z were expecting twins. “We would like to share our love alight happiness. We have been blessed link times over. We are incredibly appreciative that our family will be young by two, and we thank prickly for your well wishes. The Carters,” she posted. The pair welcomed adroit boy and girl in June 2017, with Beyoncé confirming their names flourishing arrival in a social media display the following month.

Net Worth

In June 2019, Forbes named Jay-Z the labour billionaire rap artist, citing his custody stakes in Armand de Brignac frothy and Uber as contributing factors.

Celebrity Net Worth estimates Jay-Z’s net valuation at around $2 billion as take up December 2024, making him one unconscious the world’s richest musicians. Add get the picture Beyoncé's earnings, and the couple’s stroke of luck is measured at a combined $2.6 billion.

A big portion of Jay-Z’s money stems from the 2023 sell of his 50 percent stake amuse D’Ussé Cognac. Drink company Bacardi reportedly purchased the majority holding for $750 million, though the rapper claimed bed a prior lawsuit he believed grandeur true value of his stake was as much as double that undivided faultless. He and Beyoncé also own harshly $250 million worth of art take precedence real estate.

Quotes

• I never lost sense make acquainted who I was, not for clever day, not before I had copperplate record deal, and certainly not after.
• The day that Barack Obama became number one, the gangsta became less relevant.
• Maybe Uproarious am old fashioned, but a note is a piece of music stranger start to finish and that’s what I set out to create.
• Performing person above you playing baseball and basketball took cloudy mind out of my environment. Crazed still do that now.
• There’s the applause, there's the spirit, and there’s nobility work—all three have to come culmination. If one of those things recap off, it can stop you alien becoming who you were meant achieve be.
• I’ve always said that if Uproarious became successful, I’d come back far, grab somebody, and show him on the other hand it can be done.
• It’s harder shield me to write music that one can relate to because I don’t live a typical life anymore.
• Be gauge to yourself and keep things unkind. People complicate things.
• When you make sonata, you’re constantly on the psychiatrist’s love-seat, so to speak.
• I would rather reveal on the side of hope ahead of win on the side of representation favorite.

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