Jay-Z is not only a rapper but also a successful businessman and record executive.
In 2023, Jay-Z was ranked as the greatest rapper of all time by Billboard and Vibe.
He grew up in the Marcy Houses, a public housing project in Brooklyn, facing significant challenges in his youth.
Biography
Early Life
Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as Jay-Z, was born on December 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York City. He grew up in the Marcy Houses, a public housing project in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood. Raised by his mother, Gloria Carter, after his father abandoned the family, Jay-Z faced numerous challenges during his youth, including exposure to crime and violence. He attended several high schools but dropped out during his sophomore year. His early experiences in the neighborhood, including a notorious incident where he shot his brother over stolen jewelry, shaped his future artistic narrative.
Career
Jay-Z's music career began in the late 1980s, where he initially appeared on tracks by his mentor Jaz-O. He gained wider recognition in the mid-1990s with his debut album, "Reasonable Doubt," and continued to release a series of critically acclaimed albums, including "The Blueprint" and "The Black Album." Known for his complex lyricism and storytelling, Jay-Z's music often reflects his rise from poverty to wealth, earning him accolades such as multiple Grammy Awards and a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beyond music, he has built a successful business empire, including the clothing line Rocawear and investments in various industries.
Legacy
In 2023, Jay-Z was ranked as the greatest rapper of all time by Billboard and Vibe, a testament to his influence in the music industry. With an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion, he is recognized as the wealthiest music artist in history. His contributions to hip-hop and culture continue to resonate, making him a pivotal figure in the evolution of the genre.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
4:442017
- 1.Kill Jay Z2:58
- 2.The Story of O.J.3:52
- 3.Smile4:50
- 4.Caught Their Eyes3:26
- 5.4:444:44
- 6.Family Feud4:11
- 7.Bam3:55
- 8.Moonlight2:24
- 9.Marcy Me2:54
- 10.Legacy2:57
Magna Carta… Holy Grail2013
- 1.Holy Grail5:38
- 2.Picasso Baby4:06
- 3.Tom Ford3:09
- 4.FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt4:03
- 5.Oceans3:58
- 6.F.U.T.W.4:03
- 7.Somewhere in America2:28
- 8.Crown4:34
- 9.Heaven4:03
- 10.Versus0:52
- 11.Part II (On the Run)5:34
- 12.Beach Is Better0:56
- 13.BBC3:12
- 14.Jay Z Blue3:50
- 15.La Familia3:34
- 16.Nickels and Dimes5:03
The Best of JAY‐Z2011
- 1.22 Two's
- 2.Dead Presidents II
- 3.Brooklyns Finest
- 4.Ain't No Nigga
- 5.Coming Of Age
- 6.Bring It On
- 7.Rap Game / Crack Game
- 8.Wishing On A Star (D Influence Remix)
- 9.Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem)
- 10.A Week Ago
- 11.Coming Of Age (Da Sequel)
- 12.Reservoir Dogs
- 13.Ride Or Die
- 14.Paper Chase
- 15.Friend Or Foe '98
Original Album Classics2011
- 1.Can’t Knock the Hustle
- 2.Politics as Usual
- 3.Brooklyn’s Finest
- 4.Dead Presidents II
- 5.Feelin’ It
- 6.D’evils
- 7.22 Two’s
- 8.Can I Live
- 9.Ain’t No Nigga
- 10.Friend or Foe
- 11.Coming of Age
- 12.Cashmere Thoughts
- 13.Bring It On
- 14.Regrets
- 15.Can’t Knock the Hustle (Fool’s Paradise remix)
- 16.Intro / A Million and One Questions / Rhyme No More
- 17.The City Is Mine
- 18.I Know What Girls Like
- 19.Imaginary Player
- 20.Streets Is Watching
- 21.Friend or Foe ’98
- 22.Lucky Me
- 23.(Always Be My) Sunshine
- 24.Who You Wit Ii
- 25.Face Off
- 26.Real Niggaz
- 27.Rap Game / Crack Game
- 28.Where I’m From
- 29.You Must Love Me
- 30.Wishing on a Star (D Influence remix)
- 31.Wishing on a Star (Track Masters remix)
- 32.Intro – Hand It Down
- 33.Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
- 34.If I Should Die
- 35.Ride or Die
- 36.Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)
- 37.Money, Cash, Hoes
- 38.A Week Ago
- 39.Coming of Age (Da Sequel)
- 40.Can I Get A…
- 41.Paper Chase
- 42.Reservoir Dogs
- 43.It’s Like That
- 44.It’s Alright
- 45.Money Ain’t a Thang
Watch the Throne2011
- 1.No Church in the Wild4:33
- 2.Lift Off4:26
- 3.Niggas in Paris3:39
- 4.Otis2:58
- 5.Gotta Have It2:21
- 6.New Day4:33
- 7.That’s My Bitch3:23
- 8.Welcome to the Jungle2:54
- 9.Who Gon Stop Me4:17
- 10.Murder to Excellence5:01
- 11.Made in America4:52
- 12.Why I Love You3:21
- 13.Illest Motherfucker Alive8:23
- 14.H•A•M4:36
- 15.Primetime3:19
- 16.The Joy5:18
Headliner & Legends2011
- 1.Intro1:33
- 2.9111:00
- 3.A Millie1:49
- 4.Lebron James1:53
- 5.We Fly High2:57
- 6.Pump It Up1:57
- 7.Asap2:57
- 8.Super Ugly2:44
- 9.Rap City1:12
- 10.Hot 97 20064:10
- 11.If Hov Can't2:42
- 12.Reebok1:00
- 13.Warm It Up1:00
- 14.60 Minutes Of Funk2:27
- 15.In My Lifetime0:50
- 16.Can't Knock The Hustle0:55
- 17.Back From France2:38
- 18.Flava In Ya Ear2:35
- 19.I Shot Ya1:45
- 20.Who Shot Ya2:30
- 21.Hot 97 Grammy Family4:42
- 22.Unreleased1:21
- 23.Young, Black & Gifted1:33
- 24.Rock Star3:21
- 25.Bump Bump Bump3:07
- 26.S. Carter2:58
- 27.19955:20
The Hits Collection Volume One2010
- 1.Public Service Announcement (interlude)2:46
- 2.Run This Town4:28
- 3.'03 Bonnie & Clyde3:25
- 4.Encore4:10
- 5.I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)3:50
- 6.Izzo (H.O.V.A.)4:02
- 7.D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)4:16
- 8.99 Problems3:55
- 9.Empire State of Mind4:37
- 10.Dirt Off Your Shoulder4:02
- 11.Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)4:01
- 12.Show Me What You Got3:43
- 13.Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)4:13
- 14.Big Pimpin'4:44
The Blueprint Collector’s Edition2009
- 1.The Ruler’s Back
- 2.Takeover
- 3.Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
- 4.Girls, Girls, Girls
- 5.Jigga That Nigga
- 6.U Don’t Know
- 7.Hola’ Hovito
- 8.Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)
- 9.Never Change
- 10.Song Cry
- 11.All I Need
- 12.Renegade
- 13.Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)
- 14.A Dream
- 15.Hovi Baby
- 16.The Watcher 2
- 17.03’ Bonnie & Clyde
- 18.Excuse Me Miss
- 19.What They Gonna Do
- 20.All Around the World
- 21.Poppin’ Tags
- 22.Fuck All Nite
- 23.The Bounce
- 24.I Did It My Way
- 25.Diamonds Is Forever
- 26.Guns & Roses
- 27.U Don’t Know (remix)
- 28.Meet the Parents
- 29.Some How Some Way
- 30.Some People Hate
- 31.Blueprint 2
- 32.Niggaa Please
- 33.2 Many Hoes
- 34.As One
- 35.A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier
- 36.Show You How
- 37.Bitches & Sisters
- 38.What They Gonna Do Part II
The Blueprint 32009
- 1.What We Talkin’ About4:04
- 2.Thank You4:11
- 3.D.O.A. (Death of Auto‐Tune)4:15
- 4.Run This Town4:28
- 5.Empire State of Mind4:37
- 6.Real as It Gets4:13
- 7.On to the Next One4:17
- 8.Off That4:07
- 9.A Star Is Born3:48
- 10.Venus vs. Mars3:11
- 11.Already Home4:30
- 12.Hate2:31
- 13.Reminder4:18
- 14.So Ambitious4:12
- 15.Young Forever4:14
American Gangster2007
- 1.Intro2:01
- 2.Pray4:24
- 3.American Dreamin’4:48
- 4.Hello Brooklyn 2.03:56
- 5.No Hook3:14
- 6.Roc Boys (And the Winner Is) …4:12
- 7.Sweet3:26
- 8.I Know3:43
- 9.Party Life4:29
- 10.Ignorant Shit3:41
- 11.Say Hello5:27
- 12.Success3:30
- 13.Fallin’4:01
- 14.Blue Magic4:09
- 15.American Gangster3:41
Greatest Hits2006
- 1.Can I Get a...5:13
- 2.Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem)4:02
- 3.Wishing on a Star (D Influence remix)5:56
- 4.Can't Knock the Hustle5:17
- 5.Ain't No Nigga4:04
- 6.Ride or Die4:50
- 7.Brooklyn's Finest4:37
- 8.Imaginary Player4:00
- 9.Friend or Foe1:51
- 10.Friend or Foe 982:11
- 11.More Money, More Cash, More Hoes4:48
- 12.The City Is Mine4:04
- 13.Reservoir Dogs5:22
- 14.I Know What Girls Like4:53
- 15.22 Twos3:30
- 16.Money Ain't a Thang4:16
- 17.Dead Presidents II4:28
- 18.Regrets4:32
Kingdom Come2006
- 1.The Prelude2:44
- 2.Oh My God4:18
- 3.Kingdom Come4:24
- 4.Show Me What You Got3:43
- 5.Lost One3:44
- 6.Do U Wanna Ride5:29
- 7.30 Something4:13
- 8.I Made It3:26
- 9.Anything4:21
- 10.Hollywood4:18
- 11.Trouble4:53
- 12.Dig a Hole4:11
- 13.Minority Report4:34
- 14.Beach Chair5:09
Unfinished Business2004
Tracklist not collected yet.
Inventing the Remix, Part 12004
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Black Album2003
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Best of Both Worlds2002
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse2002
Tracklist not collected yet.
Chapter One2002
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Blueprint2001
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Hits & Unreleased, Volume 12001
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia2000
Tracklist not collected yet.
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter1999
Tracklist not collected yet.
Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life1998
Tracklist not collected yet.
In My Lifetime, Vol. 11997
Tracklist not collected yet.
Reasonable Doubt1996
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Arista Records
- Record label
- Payday Records
- Record label
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Record label
- Roc Nation
- Record label
- Atlantic Records
- Record label
- Priority Records
- Record label
- FFRR
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
- Award
- GLAAD Vanguard Award
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Groups
- High Potentcurrent
- Murder Inc.current
- Roc Boyscurrent
- Roc-A-Fella Familycurrent
- THE CARTERScurrent
- The Commissioncurrent
- The Security Of The First Worldcurrent
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Hova, Hova da God, JAY Z, JAY:Z, JAY‐Z, Jay - Z
Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, businessman, and record executive. In 2023, Billboard and Vibe ranked him as the greatest rapper of all time. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, Jay-Z is known for his complex lyricism that often uses double entendres, wordplay, and braggadocio. His music is built on a rags to riches narrative. According to Forbes, he is the wealthiest music artist in history, worth an estimated US$2.8 billion as of 2026.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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