JAY-Z

Profile

Name: Jay-Z
Birth Name: Shawn Corey Carter
Height: 6' 1"
Sex: M
Nationality: American
Birth Date: December 4, 1969
Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Profession: actor, musician
Education: Eli Whitney High School in Brooklyn
George Westinghouse High School in Downtown Brooklyn
Trenton Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey (did not graduate)
Relationship: Beyonce Knowles (musician, actress; born September 4, 1981)
Father: Adnes Reeves (left the family when Jay-Z was 12 years-old)
Mother: Gloria Carter (founder of Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund)
Claim to fame: debut album Reasonable Doubt (1996)

Biography

Shawn Corey Carter, 4 December 1969, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. Raised in Brooklyn, Carter was a school friend of the Notorious B.I.G. He first started releasing records in the late 80s, part-financing his music by hustling. In 1990, he appeared on records by his close friend Jaz ("The Originators") and Original Flavor ("Can I Get Open'), and later scored an underground hit single with 1995"s "In My Lifetime". Drawing on Jaz's dealings with mercenary labels, Jay-Z set-up his own Roc-A-Fella imprint in 1996 with entrepreneur Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. His debut set, Reasonable Doubt, went on to achieve gold sales and produced the US number 50 pop single "Ain't No Nigga"/"Dead Presidents", featuring future rap star Foxy Brown. The album, which reached US number 23 in July, attracted fans with a mixture of hard-hitting street lyrics and rhymes, epitomized by the collaboration with Notorious B.I.G. on "Brooklyn's Finest'. The follow-up In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 was released in the aftermath of Notorious B.I.G.'s murder, and debuted at US number 3 in November 1997. Featuring guest appearances from Puff Daddy, Lil" Kim, Too Short, BLACKstreet and DJ Premier, this sombre and intensely personal album included the stand-out tracks "You Must Love Me" and "Where I'm From".

Although in demand as a guest artist, Jay-Z found the time to write, produce, and direct the semi-autobiographical short Streets Is Watching. The gold-selling soundtrack introduced several of Roc-A-Fella's rising stars, including Memphis Bleek, Rell and Diamonds In The Rough, and featured the hit single "It's Alright". Jay-Z then became a major star with the hit singles, "Can I Get A ... " and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", the latter built around a line from the musical Annie. One of the more bizarre samples to be used on a hip-hop track, the single nevertheless became an international hit (UK number 2, December 1998/US number 15, March 1999). The album of the same name featured hotshot producer Timbaland, in addition to the usual team of Ski and DJ Premier. Guest rappers included DMX, Foxy Brown and Too Short, on a package that diluted Jay-Z's hard-hitting lyrical edge in an attempt to corner the crossover market. Vol. 2 " Hard Knock Life easily succeeded in its aim, staying at US number 1 for five weeks before finally being deposed by Alanis Morissette's new album. Despite a hectic schedule as a guest producer/writer and rapper, Jay-Z still found the time to enter the studio and record tracks for his new album. Released in December 1999, Vol. 3. Life And Times Of S. Carter confirmed his status as one of hip-hop's most popular artists when it topped the album charts the following month. The following year's The Dynasty: Roc La Familia 2000, another US chart-topper, was originally planned as a supergroup collaboration with fellow Roc-A-Fella rappers Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek and Amil. Jay-Z's remarkable roll continued with 2001's The Blueprint, another stellar work putting him out front as the current leader of the genre. The same December he was sentenced to three years probation for stabbing record producer Lance "Un" Rivera at a New York nightclub two years previously.

Awards
BET Awards
Year : 2004
Category : Best Male hip hop artist
Won

Vibe Awards
Year : 2003
Category : Coolest collaboration
For : Crazy in Love (2004) - with Beyonce Knowles
Won

BET Awards
Category : Best Collaboration
For : Crazy in Love (2004) - with Beyonce Knowles
Won

Vibe Awards
Category : TuBig Award
Won

Trivia

Is No. 1 on Forbes' list of 'Hip-Hop Cash Kings.' (August 2007)

Has reportedly proposed to long-term love Beyoncé Knowles during a romantic getaway to Cannes, and the singer-and-actress said yes. (June 5, 2007)

Jay-Z and Beyonce were named the sexiest couple by Victoria's Secret. (April 20, 2007)

Is teaming up with General Motors to bring out a concept sports utility vehicle (SUV). (January 9, 2007)

On his ‘Jay-Z Hangar’ tour on November 18, 2006, he’ll play seven gigs in seven cities on one day to promote his new album ‘Kingdom Come.’ (November 17, 2006)

Sued by publishing company Bridgeport Music over allegations he used samples illegally on his 2003 song “Justify My Thug.” (November 14, 2006)

Insists his return to performing does not signal the end of his executive involvement with Def Jam Records. (October 30, 2006)

Anheuser-Busch has hired Jay-Z as its new co-brand director for Budweiser Select, banking on his celebrity and entrepreneurial expertise to help lift its beer brand. (October 20, 2006)

Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles were forced to charter an extra plane to cope with their excess baggage on a trip to South Africa recently. (October 18, 2006)

Has announced plans to release a new album, “Kingdom Come,” in November, ending his three-year retirement from making music. (September 15, 2006)

Plans to ban all Cristal champagne products from his personal life and that of his many businesses after the company managing director Frederic Rouzaud said he was curious about the rap community's obsession with Cristal. (June 16, 2006)

Has officially signed former rap rival Nas to Def Jam. (January 24, 2006)

Jay-Z and Nas ended their longtime feud and promoted peace on-stage during a radio station-sponsored concert in New Jersey. (October 29, 2005)

Named GQ’s Man of the Year in 2005.

Spent more than $1million on a diamond ring and watch for fiancee Beyonce Knowles' 24th birthday. (September 7, 2005)

Jay-Z was a high school friend of the Notorious B.I.G.

He first financed his music by hustling.

At age 9, he shot his brother in the shoulder (for stealing his ring).

He was one of the first in the industry to start his own record label...Roc-A-Fella records.

Before he started dropping albums, he worked as a cashier at a Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Met Memphis Bleek at KFC.

In the video of Hard Knock Life, the girl sitting beside Jigga is Peter Gunz' daughter.

In his video of Can I Get A ..., there was a special appearance by Jermaine Dupri.

Jigga got the Hard Knock Life chorus from the Broadway play ANNIE.

Likes to make pancakes when he's at home.

Got his name because he always dressed nice and his friends said he was jazzy.

Nominated for Best Movie Song at MTV Movie Awards for RUSH HOUR (1999)