Jay-Z

Jay-Z is a Grammy Award winning rapper and entrepreneur, the stage name of Shawn Carter. He has sold over 33 million hip-hop albums worldwide.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

The longevity of Jay-Z's career, along with his continued relevance, critical acclaim, numerous chart-topping singles, and immense wealth from humble beginnings, have led to his longtime unofficial status as the most prominent and famous rapper today in the hip hop industry.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

Jay-Z's first album, Reasonable Doubt, is referred to as an all-time hip hop classic, with the single "Dead Presidents" showcasing Jay-Z's captivating, story telling flow and reminiscent rhymes. His 2000 album The Blueprint and his 2003 project The Black Album are both regarded as being modern hip hop classics, with hits such as "H-to-the-Izzo", "Dirt Off your Shoulder," and "99 Problems."http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

Jay-Z's marriage to Beyonce Knowles, of Destiny's Child, cemented his status as a global celebrity and powerhouse in the music industry. Combining their two audience demographics with numerous campaigns and products, Jay-Z and Beyonce are known as a powerhouse couple in the entertainment business, with each pooling together millions in net worth to combine into a highly regarded musical partnership.

American President Barack Obama has said that he is a fan of Jay-Z's music. In a heated debate with Hilary Clinton, Obama responded to Clinton's criticisms by pretending to brush dirt off his shoulder, referencing Jay-Z's hit song. Jay-Z performed at several of Obama's Inauguration Balls, and has even said that he has "Obama on the text", on his single "On To the Next One."

Jay-Z has frequently made note of his upbringing, in the gritty Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, raised by a single mother while his father left the family. The remarkable success he has achieved through hip hop records are only one aspect of Jay-Z's current dominance; the entrepreneurial and managerial skills he has demonstrated in his own label Roc-a-Fella Records, and as the past President of Def Jam Records, along with the popular clothing line Roc-a-Wear, have since catapulted Jay-Z to being one of the most powerful and wealthy musicians of any genre.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

Jay-Z left Def Jam records in May of 2009, and began working out a contract with Sony Records soon thereafter. The deal involved Jay-Z leaving Def Jam cost him a reported $5 million, but he will remain in control of all his master recordings.Reuters: Rapper Jay-Z Close to a Deal with Sony (May 27, 2009)

His subsequent album, "The Blueprint 3", spawned the singles "D.O.A. (Death of Auto Tune" "Run This Town", and "Empire State of Mind," all of which received immense radio airplay. Empire State of Mind, in particular, which featured R&B singer Alicia Keys, was a celebration of New York State, and continues to be played. In general, however, the album received mediocre reviews, since besides the released hit singles it was perceived to be laden with filler and tracks that were far below Jay-Z's potential.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

Roc-a-Fella Records, a label which Jay-Z founded, has signed and generated stars that have managed to rival his own success. Kanye West, in particular, stands as the biggest Roc-a-Fella artist to date, managing to eclipse Jay-Z in recent years with massive hits such as "Stronger" and "Gold Digger." West has made a note to respect Jay-Z and his role in West's fame, since Jay-Z was the one who allowed Kanye to step from behind his typical producer's role and enter stardom as a rapper.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

Jay-Z also signed R&B artist Rihanna to Def Jam while he was CEO. She has since become even more successful arguably than West, with hits such as "Umbrella" and "Disturbia" that appealed to listeners of all genres. Both West and Rihanna have helped Jay-Z expand his style into more mainstream, pop music fields, with considerable radio airplay across multiple stations.Though Rihanna is not technically on Roc-A-Fella she remains closely affiliated and tied with its artists.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

Currently the other two dominant artists on Roc-a-Fella are rappers Beanie Siegel and Jadakiss. An up and coming signee is the rapper J.Cole, who was featured on "Blueprint Three."http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

Jay-Z himself has tended to stick within the confines of hip hop under the album releases of Roc-a-Fella, though he has been featured on other pop artists's songs, such as Mariah Carey]s "Heartbreaker", his wife Beyonce's hit "Crazy in Love", and Rihanna's "Umbrella."

Few rappers, and indeed few artists in general, have ever managed to claim Jay-Z's same level of critical approval and public recognition. Jay-Z holds the record for the most number of number one albums as a solo artist on the Billboard Charts. He has also won 10 Grammy Awards, a considerable achievement for a hip hip artist.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

Jay-Z typically completes the theoretical rap pantheon of Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Rakim, and Big Daddy Kane as the "greatest rappers of all time." Since Biggie and 2Pac have been murdered over a decade ago, while Big Daddy Kane and Rakim have struggled to find mainstream success, Jay-Z's status as both a respected rapper and a mainstream artist and businessman seem entrenched for years to come.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

On several occasions Jay-Z has declared in his songs that he is the "Best Rapper Alive." Though he has been met by challenges from Lil Wayne, Jay-Z has been able to consistently defuse any tensions with other rappers in recent years. Snce his initial feud with Queensbridge rapper Nas. which has since settled, Jay-Z typically has refused to engage in disputes with other artists or rappers, preferring to ignore them instead, or launch concerts that belie the conflict. He is nearly universally acknowledged by rappers and musicians of many styles.http://www.islanddefjam.com/default.aspx?labelID=75

In response to his age, in a genre dominated by youth, Jay-Z has adopted the "elder statesman" stance in hip hop, gradually changing his style and the content of his music from combative boasts and mafioso talk to more reflective songs that include artists as varied as Chris Martin of Coldplay.

Another consequence of his age has been a number of false retirement announcements. Jay-Z announced his retirement from the music industry in 2003, but made a comeback just three years later with the album Kingdom Come selling 680,000 copies the first week. It seems unlikely that he will truly retire for some time, as even his latest album, 2009's "The Blueprint 3", was a number one album and sold nearly 500,00 records, in a hostile environment of illegal downloading.

• 1996: Reasonable Doubt
• 1997: In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
• 1998: Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
• 1999: Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
• 2000: The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
• 2001: The Blueprint
• 2002: 'The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse
• 2003: The Black Album
• 2006: Kingdom Come
• 2007: American Gangster
• 2009: The Blueprint 3

• 1998: "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
• 1999: "Big Pimpin"
• 2001: "Izzo (H.O.V.A)"
• 2002: "03 Bonnie & Clyde"
• 2003: "Excuse Me Miss"
• 2003: "Change Clothes"
• 2003: "99 Problems"
• 2003: "Show Me What You Got"
• 2007: "Blue Magic"
• 2008: "I Know"
• 2009 "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
• 2009 "Empire State of Mind" ft. Alicia Keys