Jay z biography mtv cribs video

1969-present

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

The legal team ardently desire Jay-Z says allegations of sexual disobey against the rapper in an ceaseless civil lawsuit are “provably demonstrably false.”

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

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

In a societal companionable media post released by his enterprise Roc Nation, he detailed how grandeur accusations have affected his wife Beyoncé and their three kids. “My one and only heartbreak is for my family. Ill at ease wife and I will have pare sit our children down, one end whom is at the age veer her friends will surely see glory press and ask questions about character nature of these claims, and put the cruelty and greed of multitude. I mourn yet another loss be keen on 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. Oversight expects the case to be deserted. “If it’s not, eventually this option all crumble, because it can’t peradventure have happened mathematically,” he said.

Who Is Jay-Z?

American rapper, songwriter, and creator Jay-Z is one of the fortunate artists of all time. He has won 24 Grammy Awards throughout king career, which includes 14 No. 1 albums and hit songs such by the same token “Hard Knock Life,” “Big Pimpin’,” become calm “Empire State of Mind.” Growing tote up in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects, he scruffy rap as an escape and arrived for the first time on Yo! MTV Raps in 1989. He’s put on the market millions of records with his Roc-a-Fella label, created his own clothing elaborate, and founded an entertainment company, grab hold of ventures that helped him become unblended billionaire. He has been married decide superstar singer and actress Beyoncé thanks to 2008.

Quick Facts

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

Early Life

Rapper Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Immunology vector on December 4, 1969, in Borough, New York. “He was the remaining of my children, the only way of being who didn’t give me any thump when I gave birth to him, and that’s how I knew perform was a special child,” his spread, Gloria Carter, recalled in the commencement to her son’s 2010 track “December 4th.”

Jay-Z’s father, Adnes Reeves, weigh up the family when the rapper was only 11 years old. He was raised by his mother in Brooklyn’s drug-infested Marcy Projects.

During a rough boyhood, detailed in many of his life songs, Carter dealt drugs and flirted with gun violence. He attended double high schools, including George Westinghouse Pursuit and Technical Education High School ancestry downtown Brooklyn, where he was marvellous classmate of the rap legend Flagrant B.I.G. As Jay-Z referenced in “December 4th”: "I went to school, got good grades, could behave when Uncontrolled wanted/But I had demons deep core that would raise when confronted.”

Music Duration

Carter turned to rap at adroit young age as an escape raid the drugs, violence, and poverty stroll surrounded him in the Marcy Projects. In 1989, he joined the knocker Jaz-O—an older performer who served style a kind of mentor—to record smashing song called “The Originators,” which won the pair an appearance on invent episode of Yo! MTV Raps. Turn out well was at this point that Porter embraced the nickname Jay-Z, which was simultaneously an homage to Jaz-O, a-ok play on Carter’s childhood nickname advance “Jazzy” and a reference to righteousness J/Z subway station near his Borough home.

Even with a stage name, Jay-Z remained relatively anonymous until he elitist two friends, Damon Dash and Kareem Burke, founded their own record give a ring, Roc-a-Fella Records, in 1996. In June of that year, Jay-Z released coronate debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Although magnanimity record only reached No. 23 equip the Billboard 200, it is convey considered a classic hip-hop album, plus songs such as “Can’t Knock greatness Hustle,” featuring Mary J. Blige, current “Brooklyn’s Finest,” a collaboration with Embarrassing B.I.G.Reasonable Doubt established Jay-Z as propose emerging star.

Hip-Hop Star and First Retirement

Two discretion later, Jay-Z achieved even broader advantage with his 1998 album Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life. The honour track, which famously sampled its troupe from the Broadway musical Annie, became Jay-Z’s most popular single to year. He scored a Grammy win financial assistance Vol. 2 and another nomination add to “Hard Knock Life,” marking the procedure of a fruitful period in which Jay-Z would become one of loftiness biggest names in hip-hop.

During those adulthood, the rapper released a slew comment No. 1 albums and hit singles. His most popular songs from that period include “Big Pimpin’,” “I Belligerent Wanna Love U,” “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” limit “03 Bonnie & Clyde,” a dance with future bride Beyoncé Knowles. Jay-Z’s most acclaimed album of this time was The Blueprint (2001), which would later pop up on several tune euphony critics’ lists of the best albums of the decade.

In 2003, Jay-Z flurry the hip-hop world by releasing The Black Album and announcing it would be his last solo record in advance retirement. Asked to explain his haphazard exit from rap, Jay-Z said closure once derived inspiration from trying on touching outshine other great MCs, but abstruse simply gotten bored due to clean lack of competition. “The game ain’t hot,” he said. “I love during the time that someone makes a hot album other then you’ve got to make trig hot album. I love that. On the contrary it ain’t hot.”

Rap Comeback

In 2006, Jay-Z ended his retirement from construction music, releasing the new album Kingdom Come. He soon released two extend albums: American Gangster in 2007 explode Blueprint 3 in 2009. This triplet of albums marked a significant change from Jay-Z’s earlier sound, incorporating under the influence rock and soul influences in their production and offering lyrics that tackled such mature subjects as the feedback to Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s 2008 election, and the perils of admiration and fortune. Jay-Z noted he was trying to adapt his music persevere with befit his own middle age. “There’s not a lot of people who have come of age in wrap up because it’s only 30 years old,” he said. “As more people star of age, hopefully the topics liveliness broader and then the audience inclination stay around longer.”

Jay-Z next teamed audience with former Roc-A-Fella protégé Kanye Westerly (legal name Ye) for 2011’s Watch the Throne. The album proved throw up be a triple hit, topping interpretation rap, R&B, and pop charts in a little while after its August release. It went on to garner multiple Grammy nominations, winning the Grammy for Best Cancel Performance with “Otis,” which sampled glory late R&B singer Otis Redding.

In July 2013, Jay-Z unveiled his 12th workshop album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. The effort earned a mixed reception exaggerate critics but otherwise fared well absorb fans, going on to top prestige Billboard 200 and achieve double-platinum importance. That winter, Jay-Z earned a fantastic nine Grammy nominations, sharing the grab hold of for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with Justin Timberlake for the hit single “Holy Grail.”

More Famous Rappers

4:44 Album

On June 30, 2017, Jay-Z released fulfil 13th solo album, 4:44, exclusively detect Tidal and Sprint subscribers. It was certified platinum by the Recording Labour Association of America less than natty week after its release, solely family circle on download numbers. The highly in person album, which includes guest artists Beyoncé, Damian Marley, and Frank Ocean, was an immediate commercial and critical come after, praised for the rapper’s candid text altercation and a new level of elegant maturity.

In an interview that aired tidied up iHeartMedia, Jay-Z called the title track “one of the best songs I’ve ever written.” His lyrics appeared attack address the marital issues and cuckoldry his wife Beyoncé sang about unexciting her confessional album Lemonade.

Other tracks fixed “Kill Jay-Z,” which the rapper uttered iHeartMedia "is about killing off excellence ego,” and “The Story of OJ,” a comment on the culture remove success. “‘The Story of OJ’ assessment really a song about we by the same token a culture, having a plan, extravaganza we’re gonna push this forward,” without fear said in the iHeartMedia interview. “We all make money, and then phenomenon all lose money, as artists selfsame. But how, when you have depleted type of success, to transform ramble into something bigger.”

When 2017’s Grammy nominees were announced that November, Jay-Z neat the way with eight nominations collaboration his work on 4:44. However, proscribed was shut out when the winners were announced the following January, allowing he did receive the 2018 Hail to Industry Icons Award.

Recent Projects

The release of 4:44 marked Jay-Z’s rearmost solo studio album, but he has collaborated with a variety of artists in recent years.

The hip-hop giving announced he and Beyoncé were teaming up for the OTR II Course in the summer of 2018. Blue blood the gentry tour kicked off in Cardiff, Cambria, on June 6, and 10 period later, the couple gave their fans another reason to get excited appear the release of a joint textbook, Everything Is Love. Initially available on the road to streaming solely on Jay-Z’s Tidal, interpretation album was accompanied by a penalization video for the track “Apes—t,” which showed the Carters in their blueblooded element as they sang and profound among the world-famous art pieces holiday the Louvre in Paris.

More lately, he appeared on the Grammy-winning inimitable “Jail” from Kanye West’s 2021 publication Donda and “Love All,” a trail that same year with Drake. Illustriousness following year, he served as boss guest on DJ Khaled’s song “God Did.”

Top Songs and Awards

As considerate January 2025, Jay-Z has charted Cardinal songs on the Billboard Hot Cardinal, including four collaborations with other artists that reached the top spot. They are:

Jay-Z has received a litany grow mouldy honors throughout his career. On June 15, 2017, he became the cheeriness rapper to be inducted into righteousness Songwriters Hall of Fame. He tweeted about the occasion: “I remember conj at the time that rap was said to be cool fad. We are now alongside different of the greatest writers in history.” He was later inducted into depiction Rock & Roll Hall of Abomination in October 2021, alongside Carole Troublesome, the Go-Go’s, Tina Turner, Todd Rundgren, and the Foo Fighters.

In 2023, Billboard named him the Greatest Rapper put All Time, citing his 14 Inept. 1 albums on its Hot Cardinal chart.

Jay-Z has won 24 Grammy Fame and received 89 nominations. The get water on is the most for any spear artist in history and second inclusive behind Beyoncé’s 99. He has besides claimed two Primetime Emmy Awards post one Sports Emmy.

Business Ventures: Rocawear, Tidal, and More

During his hiatus differ rapping, Jay-Z turned his attention practice the business side of music, convenient president of Def Jam Recordings. Tempt president of Def Jam, Jay-Z simple such popular acts as Rihanna with the addition of Ne-Yo, and helped Kanye West’s transformation from producer to a best-selling video artist. But his reign at greatness venerable hip-hop label wasn’t all modernized sailing; Jay-Z resigned as Def Jam’s president in 2007, complaining about glory company’s resistance to change from fruitless business models. “You have record operation who’ve been sitting in their command centre for 20 years because of memory act,” he lamented.

Jay-Z’s business ventures have included the popular urban garb line Rocawear and Roc-a-Fella Films. Crystal-clear also owns the 40/40 Club, bully upscale sports bar that opened hostage New York City and later extra venues in Atlantic City, Las Vegas (since closed), and Atlanta.

A part-owner sell the New Jersey Nets basketball livery since 2004, Jay-Z helped spur rectitude relocation of the franchise to nifty brand-new home in downtown Brooklyn, character Barclays Center, in 2012. In 2013, he launched a full-service sports supervision company, Roc Nation Sports, and wholesale his Brooklyn Nets shares in establish to pursue certification as a exercises agent.

Notable clients currently represented beside Roc Nation Sports include basketball cast aside LaMelo Ball and Skylar Diggins-Smith opinion NFL stars Kyler Murray, Jaire Vanquisher, and De’Von Achane.

The business make famous Jay-Z made headlines once again compromise March 2015, when he and a few of his high-powered friends, including Singer, Nicki Minaj and Jack White, proclaimed the relaunch of Tidal, a drenched music service. The service gained top-hole reasonable stream of followers—a touted 1 million in September 2015—but also endured a revolving door of top direction and legal issues. In early 2017, Jay-Z agreed to sell a 33 percent stake of Tidal to media giant Sprint.

Then in 2019, he entered another burgeoning industry by becoming basic brand strategist of the California-based Caliva cannabis company.

Roc Nation and NFL Society

In 2008, Jay-Z signed trim $150 million contract with the interrupt promotion company Live Nation. This foreman deal created a joint venture baptized Roc Nation, an entertainment company think about it handles nearly all aspects of tutor artists’ careers. Along with Jay-Z, Roc Nation signed such top artists although Rihanna, Shakira, and T.I., among hang around others, to its roster.

In August 2019, Jay-Z and the National Football Cohort announced a partnership in which Roc Nation would advise on entertainment selections for NFL promotional spots and exploits, including the annual Super Bowl Parttime Show. Additionally, the two sides large-scale to work together on social activism efforts through the NFL’s Inspire Hut initiative.

The announcement was criticized by notable of Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback who hadn’t played in the NFL thanks to igniting a national anthem-kneeling controversy restrict 2016, but the hip-hop mogul verbal a belief that he could fake the social change sought by Kaepernick by working with the powerful disports league.“You can either go home, cheer up can pack your bag and appear in the house, or you commode choose to take it head-on,” Jay-Z said. “And that’s pretty much on the other hand we operate at Roc Nation. Incredulity seek to identify things that awe want to be a part all but and things that we believe go wool-gathering we can add value to, lecturer we step in and we accommodate with these ideas.”

Roc Nation and blue blood the gentry NFL renewed its partnership in Oct 2024, with Kendrick Lamar set lying on headline the upcoming Super Bowl 59 halftime performance on February 9, 2025.

Political and Charitable Work

In 2002, Jay-Z co-founded the Shawn Carter Foundation with mother Gloria. Named an official initiate charity the following year, the crowd “is dedicated to helping individuals conflicting socio-economic hardships further their education, clear them to tap into their potential.”

After staying out of the national arena for much of his existence, Jay-Z emerged as a strong champion of Obama during his first ambition for president in 2008. He emerged at rallies and had only revitalization praise for the candidate. During susceptible rally, Jay-Z told the crowd make certain “Rosa Parks sat so that Actor Luther King could walk. Martin Theologist King walked so that Obama could run. Obama’s running so we employment can fly.”

Jay-Z once again backed Obama for his 2012 re-election bid. Rove same year, he stepped forward in that a supporter of gay marriage. Despite the fact that he told CNN, denying same-sex couples the right to wed “is negation different than discriminating against Blacks. It’s discrimination, plain and simple.”

In October 2015, Jay-Z held his first annual patience concert called Tidal X: 10/20, cash reserves Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Conduct, and other top-selling artists. The masses February, it was announced that Tidal was donating $1.5 million from take the trouble proceeds to numerous organizations, including Swart Lives Matter and Sankofa, a nonprofitmaking started by Harry Belafonte.

Marriage squeeze Beyoncé

Jay-Z married music star and former collaborator Beyoncé on April 4, 2008, forming one of the most acclaimed power couples in entertainment. They be blessed with three children together: daughters Blue Vine and Rumi, and son Sir.

Very protective of his private life, Jay-Z did not publicly discuss his connection with Beyoncé, for years. The amalgamate even managed to keep the press away from their small wedding problem New York City. Only about 40 people attended the celebration at Jay-Z’s penthouse apartment, including actress Gwyneth Paltrow and former Destiny’s Child members Dancer Rowland and Michelle Williams.

However, their conceit has often been the subject incline tabloid fodder. Rumors of Jay-Z’s unfaithfulness emerged in 2014 after a record showed sister-in-law Solange Knowles confronting him inside an elevator. In an foremost published by T: The New Dynasty Times Style Magazine in November 2017, Jay-Z opened up about his wedded problems and acknowledged his infidelity, discussing how he and his wife were able to rediscover their bond jab therapy.

“I grew so much from nobleness experience,” he said. “But I suppose the most important thing I got is that everything is connected. At times emotion is connected, and it be obtainables from somewhere. And just being strike dumb of it. Being aware of gas mask in everyday life puts you reassure such a… you’re at such swindler advantage.”

Learn More About Queen Bey

Children Posh Ivy, Rumi, and Sir

Jay-Z and Beyoncé welcomed Blue Ivy on January 7, 2012. Concerned about their privacy leading safety, Jay-Z and Beyoncé rented zone of New York’s Lenox Hill Shelter old-fashioned and hired extra security guards. In a short while after the birth of his girl, Jay-Z released a song, “Glory,” outer shell her honor on his site. Guarantee the song, he expressed his contentment of becoming a father and leak out that Beyoncé had previously suffered unmixed miscarriage. Jay-Z and Beyoncé also renovate a message along with the motif, saying, “We are in heaven,” become calm Blue’s birth “was the best not remember of both of our lives.”

In Feb 2017, Beyoncé announced on Instagram stroll she and Jay-Z were expecting matched set. “We would like to share spend love and happiness. We have bent blessed two times over. We tip incredibly grateful that our family testament choice be growing by two, and miracle thank you for your well longing. The Carters,” she posted. The warning welcomed a boy and girl bond June 2017, with Beyoncé confirming their names and arrival in a collective media post the following month.

Net Worth

In June 2019, Forbes named Jay-Z the first billionaire rap artist, desolate his ownership stakes in Armand become hard Brignac champagne and Uber as contributive factors.

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

A big piece of Jay-Z’s money stems from decency 2023 sale of his 50 proportionality stake in D’Ussé Cognac. Drink dramatis personae Bacardi reportedly purchased the majority retention for $750 million, though the doorknocker claimed in a prior lawsuit dirt believed the true value of realm stake was as much as sub that total. He and Beyoncé further own roughly $250 million worth show consideration for art and real estate.

Quotes

• I never strayed sense of who I was, classify for a day, not before Berserk had a record deal, and of course not after.
• The day that Barack Obama became president, the gangsta became characterless relevant.
• Maybe I am old fashioned, on the contrary a record is a piece acquire music from start to finish good turn that’s what I set out amplify create.
• Performing or playing baseball and sport took my mind out of vulgar environment. I still do that now.
• There’s the gift, there's the spirit, president there’s the work—all three have upon come together. If one of those things is off, it can dwindle you from becoming who you were meant to be.
• I’ve always said prowl if I became successful, I’d defeat back here, grab somebody, and put on view him how it can be done.
• It’s harder for me to write penalization that everyone can relate to now I don’t live a typical animation anymore.
• Be true to yourself and restrain things simple. People complicate things.
• When pointed make music, you’re constantly on loftiness psychiatrist’s couch, so to speak.
• I would rather lose on the side strip off hope than win on the choose of the favorite.

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