Jay-Z
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Jay-Z is one of the most successful American rapper over the past years. He had sold millions of albums all over the world.
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About
Rapper Jay-Z was born on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York. He was known sa "Jazzy" in his neighborhood and shortened his name to Jay-Z later on. For a short time Jay-Z became a street hustler with Big Jaz. From there he learned how to make moves in the music industry. Jay-Z decided to open his own label with Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke called Roc-a-Fella Records. Jay-Z was in need of a distributor, he made a deal with Def Jam.
In 1996, he released his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The album didn't quit make a big impression it only reached at #23 on the Billboard album chart. When the single "Ain't No Nigga" featuring Foxy Brown aired, the album caught the attention of the listeners. The singles "Can't Knock the Hustle", "Dead Presidents" and "Feelin' It" climbed the charts. In 1997, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 Jay-Z's second album was more successful peaking at #3 on the Billboard album chart. The album also featured Puff Daddy and Teddy Riley. The singles "The City Is Mine", "Who You Wit", "Wishing on a Star" and "Sunshine" were a hit.
In 1998, Streets Is Watching was released. "It's Alright", "In My Lifetime (Remix)", "Murdergram", "Only A Customer", "Love For Free" are hits from this album. On September 1998, he made a shift from gangsta rap to pop-rap in his fourth album Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life. In 1999, his Vol. 3: Life And Times Of S. Carter sold a number of copies. In the late 2000, Dynasty Roc la Familia featured Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Amil. The single, "I Just Wanna Love U" became a huge hit. In 2001, Jay-Z's seventh album, The Blueprint, topped the album chart. Some of the album's hit singles are "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)", "Girls, Girls, Girls", "Jigga That Nigga", "Song Cry".
In 2001, Jay-Z worked with Roots on the album, Unplugged. The following year, he also worked with R. Kelly for Best of Both Worlds. He recorded 40 singles but only 25 appeared on his tenth album, The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse in 2002.
Late that year, Jay-Z released his next album, The Black Album. After the release he announced his retirement. In 2004, he had a farewell concert in Madison Square Garden but ended up with a large lawsuit against R. Kelly. As his rapper career ended he became the president of Def Jam Records.
Awards & Certifications
Awards
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Billboard Music Award | Rap Artist of the Year |
| 1999 | MTV Video Music Award | Best Rap Video for "Can I Get A...." |
| 1999 | Grammy Award | Best Rap Album for "Volume 2... Hard Knock Life" |
| 1999 | WB Radio Music Award | Song of the Year (Rhythm/Urban) for "Can I Get A..." |
| 2000 | Online Hip-Hop Award | Artist of the Year |
| 2000 | Radio Music Award | Artist of the Year: Hip Hop/Rhythmic |
| 2001 | Source Award | Artist of the Year - Solo |
| 2001 | BET Award | Best Male Hip-Hop Artist |
| 2002 | Soul Train Award | R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year for "The Blueprint" |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award | Best Editing for "99 Problems" |
| 2004 | Whudat Music Award | The Undocumented Remix of the Year for "Beware of the Boyz" |
| 2004 | Vibe Award | Reelest Video for "99 Problems" |
| 2004 | BET Award | Best Collaboration for "Crazy In Love" |
| 2004 | Rapgra Award | Teledysk Roku for "99 Problems" |
| 2004 | BET Award | Best Male Hip-Hop Artist |
| 2004 | Grammy Award | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Crazy In Love" |
| 2004 | Grammy Award | Best R&B Song for "Crazy In Love" |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award | Best Cinematography for "99 Problems" |
| 2004 | American Music Award | Favorite Rap Male Artist for "The Black Album" |
| 2004 | Source Award | Lyricist of the Year |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award | Best Rap Video for "99 Problems" |
| 2005 | GQ Award | International Man Of The Year |
| 2005 | MVPA Award | Video of the Year for "99 Problems" |
| 2005 | MVPA Award | Hip-Hop Video of the Year for "99 Problems" |
| 2005 | Soul Train Music Award | R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video for "99 Problems" |
| 2006 | MOBO Award | Best International Male |
| 2006 | Grammy Award | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Numb/Encore" |
Certifications
| Year | Album | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Reasonable Doubt | Certified Platinum in U.S. |
| 1997 | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 | Certified 2x Platinum in U.S. |
| 1998 | Streets Is Watching | Certified Platinum in U.S. |
| 1998 | Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life | Certified 5x Platinum in U.S. |
| 1999 | Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter | Certified 3x Platinum in U.S. |
| 2000 | The Dynasty: Roc La Familia | Certified 2x Platinum in U.S. |
| 2001 | The Blueprint | Certified 2x Platinum in U.S. |
| 2002 | The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse | Certified 4x Platinum in U.S. |
| 2003 | The Black Album | Certified 4x Platinum in U.S. |
| 2006 | Kingdom Come | Certified Gold in U.S. |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Billboard Hot 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ain't No Nigga/Dead Presidents | 17 | 4 | 50 | Reasonable Doubt |
| 1996 | Can't Knock The Hustle | 35 | 7 | 73 | Reasonable Doubt |
| 1997 | Feelin' It | 46 | 13 | 79 | Reasonable Doubt |
| 1997 | Sunshine | 37 | 16 | 95 | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 |
| 1997 | Who You Wit (From "Sprung") | 25 | 18 | 84 | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 |
| 1998 | A Million And One Questions/The City Is Mine | 37 | 14 | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 | |
| 1998 | Hard Knock Life | 10 | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 | ||
| 1998 | The City Is Mine | 52 | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 | ||
| 1999 | Girls Best Friend | 19 | 52 | Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter | |
| 1999 | Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) | 2 | 15 | Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life | |
| 1999 | Jigga My N**** | 6 | 1 | 28 | Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter |
| 1999 | Jigga What... | 23 | 84 | Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter | |
| 2000 | Anything | 19 | 55 | Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter | |
| 2000 | I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) | 1 | 4 | 11 | The Dynasty: Roc La Familia |
| 2001 | Change The Game | 29 | 10 | 86 | The Dynasty: Roc La Familia |
| 2001 | Girls, Girls, Girls | 4 | 9 | 17 | The Blueprint |
| 2001 | Guilty Until Proven Innocent | 29 | 12 | 82 | The Dynasty: Roc La Familia |
| 2001 | Izzo (H.O.V.A.) | 4 | 7 | 8 | Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter |
| 2002 | '03 Bonnie & Clyde | 5 | 2 | 4 | The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse |
| 2002 | Jigga | 27 | 7 | 66 | The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse |
| 2002 | Song Cry | 45 | The Blueprint | ||
| 2003 | Change Clothes | 6 | 4 | 10 | The Black Album |
| 2003 | Excuse Me Miss | 1 | 2 | 8 | The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse |
| 2003 | La-La-La (Excuse Me Again) | 37 | 20 | The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse | |
| 2003 | What More Can I Say | 48 | The Black Album | ||
| 2004 | 99 Problems | 26 | 10 | 30 | The Black Album |
| 2004 | Big Chips | 37 | 39 | Unfinished Business | |
| 2004 | Dirt Off Your Shoulder | 3 | 2 | 5 | The Black Album |
| 2004 | Don't Let Me Die | 58 | Unfinished Business | ||
| 2004 | Encore | 30 | 22 | The Black Album | |
| 2006 | Kingdom Come | 52 | 98 | Kingdom Come | |
| 2006 | Show Me What You Got | 3 | 4 | 8 | Kingdom Come |
News
December 5, 2006 Jay Z To Be Married.
Tours & Concerts
No upcoming tours and concerts for Jay-Z.
Announcements
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Year | Single | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ain't No Nigga/Dead Presidents | Priority | Reasonable Doubt |
| 1996 | Can't Knock The Hustle | Priority | Reasonable Doubt |
| 1997 | Feelin' It | Priority | Reasonable Doubt |
| 1997 | Sunshine | Def Jam | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 |
| 1997 | Who You Wit (From "Sprung") | Warner Bros. | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 |
| 1998 | A Million And One Questions/The City Is Mine | Northwest Side | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 |
| 1998 | Hard Knock Life | BMG International | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 |
| 1998 | The City Is Mine | Def Jam | In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 |
| 1999 | Girls Best Friend | Sony International | Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter |
| 1999 | Jigga My N**** | Def Jam | Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter |
| 1999 | Jigga What... | Universal | Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter |
| 2000 | Anything | Polygram International | Vol. 3... Life And Times of S. Carter |
| 2000 | I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) | Def Jam | The Dynasty: Roc La Familia |
| 2001 | Girls, Girls, Girls | Universal International | The Blueprint |
| 2001 | Guilty Until Proven Innocent | Universal International | The Dynasty: Roc La Familia |
| 2001 | Izzo (H.O.V.A.) | Polygram International | Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter |
| 2002 | '03 Bonnie & Clyde | Roc-A-Fella | The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse |
| 2002 | Jigga | Universal | The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse |
| 2002 | Song Cry | Universal | The Blueprint |
| 2003 | Change Clothes | Universal International | The Black Album |
| 2003 | Excuse Me Miss | Universal | The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse |
| 2004 | 99 Problems | Def Jam | The Black Album |
| 2004 | Big Chips | Def Jam | Unfinished Business |
| 2004 | Dirt Off Your Shoulder | Def Jam | The Black Album |
| 2004 | Encore | Warner Bros. | The Black Album |
| 2006 | Show Me What You Got | Def Jam | Kingdom Come |
Compilations & Live Releases
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Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- Jay-Z recieved an award from Prince Charles in London for his contribution to U.K. music.
- R. Kelly sued Jay-Z for $75 million after he was kicked off their tour.
- On his fiance's birthday, Jay-Z spent more than $1 million on a diamond ring and watch for Beyonce.
- He is worth $182.1 million.
- He is a part owner of the NBA team New Jersey Nets.
Reviews
External Links
Categories: Artist | Rap | Hip-Hop
