|
The following biography
is from
Wikipedia.org
“The
Free Encyclopedia.”
|
 |
|
Picture of
Jay-Z
Photo credit:
Joella Marano |
Shawn Corey Carter
(born December 4, 1969),[1] better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American
rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the
most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having
a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010.[2][3] He has sold approximately 50
million albums worldwide, while receiving thirteen Grammy Awards for his musical
work, and numerous additional nominations.[4][5] He is consistently ranked as
one of the greatest rappers of all-time. He was ranked so by MTV in their list
of The Greatest MCs of All-Time in 2006. Two of his albums, Reasonable Doubt
(1996) and The Blueprint (2001) are considered landmarks in the genre with both
of them being ranked in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums
of all time. Blender included the former on their 500 CDs You Must Own Before
You Die.[6]
Jay-Z co-owns the 40/40
Club, is part-owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets and is also the creator of the
line Rocawear.[7] He is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings, one of the three
founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, and the founder of Roc Nation.[8] As an artist,
he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard
200 with eleven.[9] Jay-Z also has had four number ones on the Billboard Hot
100, one as lead artist.
He married American R&B
superstar Beyoncé Knowles on April 4, 2008.[10] On December 11, 2009, Jay-Z was
ranked as the 10th most successful artist of the 2000's by Billboard and ranking
as the 5th top solo male artist and as the 4th top rapper behind Eminem, Nelly,
and 50 Cent.[11]
****
Background information
Birth name
Shawn Corey Carter
Born
December 4, 1969 (age
42)
Brooklyn, New York,
U.S.
Genres
Hip hop
Occupations
Rapper
Instruments
Vocals
Years active
1989–present
Labels
Roc Nation
Associated acts
Memphis Bleek, Foxy
Brown, Big Jaz, The Notorious B.I.G., Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kanye West, Linkin Park,
R. Kelly, Big L
****
Early life
Originally from Marcy
Houses, a housing project in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn in
New York City,[12] the future 'Jay-Z' then known as Shawn Carter, was abandoned
by his father and in 1982, he shot his brother in the shoulder for stealing his
jewelry.[13][14] Carter attended Eli Whitney High School in Brooklyn, along with
future rapper AZ, until it was closed down. After that he attended George
Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Downtown Brooklyn,
with fellow future rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, and Trenton
Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey, but did not graduate.[15] In his
music he refers to having been involved in selling crack cocaine.[14]
According to his
mother, Gloria Carter, her son Shawn used to wake his siblings up at night
banging out drum patterns on the kitchen table. Eventually, she bought him a
boom box for his birthday, sparking his interest in music. He began freestyling,
writing lyrics, and followed the music of many artists popular at the time.[16]
In his neighborhood, Carter was known as 'Jazzy', a nickname that eventually
developed into his showbiz/stage name, 'Jay-Z'. The moniker is also an homage to
his musical mentor, Jaz-O, as well as to the J/Z subway lines that have a stop
at Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn.[12]
Jay-Z can briefly be
heard on several of Jaz-O's early recordings in the late 1980s and early 1990s,
including 'The Originators' and 'Hawaiian Sophie'.[17] Jay-Z was also involved
in and won several battles with rapper LL Cool J in the early 90's as part of a
plan to get a sought-after record deal.[18] He first became known to a wide
audience by being featured on the posse cut 'Show and Prove' on the 1994 Big
Daddy Kane album Daddy's Home. Jay-Z has been referred to as Big Daddy Kane's
hype man during this period,[19] though Kane explains that he didn't fill the
traditional hype man role, instead Jay-Z 'basically made cameo appearances on
stage. When I would leave the stage to go change outfits, I would bring out
Jay-Z and Positive K and let them freestyle until I came back to the
stage'.[20][21] He made an appearance on a popular song by Big L, 'Da
Graveyard', and on Mic Geronimo's 'Time to Build', which also featured early
appearances by DMX, and Ja Rule in 1995. His first official rap single was
called 'I Can't Get With That', for which he released a music video.[22]
Music career
1994–1997: Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime,
Vol. 1
From the beginning of
his professional recording career, when no major label gave him a record deal,
Jay-Z, Damon Dash, and Kareem Biggs created Roc-A-Fella Records as their own
independent label in 1995. After striking a deal with Priority to distribute his
material, Jay-Z released his 1996 debut album Reasonable Doubt with beats from
acclaimed producers such as DJ Premier and Super DJ Clark Kent and a notable
appearance by The Notorious B.I.G.. The album reached number 23 on the Billboard
200, and was well-received by critics.[12] This album would later be included in
Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' as No.248 and eventually reach
platinum status.[23]
After reaching a new
distribution deal with Def Jam in 1997, Jay-Z released his follow-up In My
Lifetime, Vol. 1. Executively produced by Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs, it sold
better than his previous effort. Jay-Z later explained that the album was made
during one of the worst periods of his life, he was reeling from the death of
his close friend The Notorious B.I.G. The album was a personal revelation for
Jay-Z as he spun the tale of his hard knock upbringing.[24] The album's glossy
production stood as a contrast to his first release, and some dedicated fans
felt he had 'sold out'. However, the album did feature some beats from producers
who had worked with him on Reasonable Doubt, namely DJ Premier and Ski. Like its
predecessor, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 earned Platinum status in the United
States.[23]
1998–2000: Vol. 2..., criminal charges and
mainstream success
In 1998, Jay-Z released
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life which spawned the biggest hit of his career at the
time, 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)'. He relied more on flow and wordplay,
and he continued with his penchant for mining beats from the popular producers
of the day such as Swizz Beatz, an upstart in-house producer for Ruff Ryders,
and Timbaland. Other producers included DJ Premier, Erick Sermon, The 45 King,
and Kid Capri. Charting hits from this album included 'Can I Get A...',
featuring Ja Rule and Amil, and 'Nigga What, Nigga Who', also featuring Amil.
Vol. 2 would eventually become Jay-Z's most commercially successful album; it
was certified 5× Platinum in the United States and has to date sold over five
million copies.[23] The album went on to win a Grammy Award, although Jay-Z
boycotted the ceremony protesting DMX's failure to garner a Grammy
nomination.[25] In 1999, Jay-Z dueted with Mariah Carey on 'Heartbreaker', a
song from her seventh album, Rainbow. In that same year, Jay-Z released Vol.
3... Life and Times of S. Carter, the album proved to be successful and sold
over 3 million records.[23] Vol. 3's most successful single was 'Big Pimpin'',
featuring UGK. Around the same time, Jay-Z was accused of stabbing record
executive Lance 'Un' Rivera for what Jay-Z perceived was Rivera's bootlegging of
Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter. The stabbing allegedly occurred at the
record release party for Q-Tip's debut solo album Amplified at the Kit Kat Klub,
a now defunct night club in Times Square, New York City, on December 9. Jay-Z's
associates at the party were accused of causing a commotion within the club,
which Jay-Z allegedly used as cover when he supposedly stabbed Rivera in the
stomach with a five-inch (127 mm) blade.[26] In his book Decoded, Jay-Z
addresses his assault case. While he didn't apologize for his actions, he did
express regret that the incident happened and attributed it to a loss of
control, saying that there was no reason for him to get into a situation that
put him and people who depended on him at risk. He also vowed to never get
involved in a similar situation again.[citation needed]
Jay-Z initially denied
the incident and pleaded not guilty when a grand jury returned the indictment.
Jay-Z and his lawyers contended he was nowhere around Rivera during the incident
and they had witnesses and videotape evidence from the club that showed Jay-Z's
whereabouts during the disturbance. Nevertheless, he later pleaded guilty to a
misdemeanor charge that resulted in a sentence of three years probation.[27] In
2000, Jay-Z released The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, which was originally intended
to become a compilation album for Roc-A-Fella artists but somehow turned into a
Jay-Z album.[28] The album helped to introduce newcomer producers The Neptunes,
Just Blaze, Kanye West and Bink, which have all gone on to achieve notable
success. This is also the first album where Jay-Z utilizes a more soulful sound
than his previous albums. The Dynasty sold over two million units in the U.S.
alone.[23]
2001–02: Feud with Nas, The Blueprint and The
Blueprint2
In 2001, Jay-Z spoke
out against Prodigy after he took an issue with a Jay-Z line from 'Money, Cash,
Hoes' that he felt were subliminal shots at Mobb Deep and referenced Mobb Deep's
beef with Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Death Row Records. He later performed
the song 'Takeover', at Summer Jam 2001, which initially attacked Prodigy and
revealed photos of Prodigy dressed like Michael Jackson.[29] A line at the end
of 'Takeover' referenced Nas, who criticized him on 'We Will Survive'.[30] Nas
responded with a diss track called 'Ether' and almost instantly, Jay-Z added a
verse to 'Takeover' which dissed Nas and would start a feud between the two
rappers. Jay-Z later released his sixth studio album The Blueprint which was
later considered by many to be one of hip hop's 'classic' albums, receiving the
coveted 5 mic review from The Source magazine. Released during the wake of
September 11 attacks, the album managed to debut at number one on the Billboard
200, selling more than 427,000 units;[31] the album's success was overshadowed
by the tragic event. The Blueprint has been certified 2x Platinum in the United
States.[23] The Blueprint was applauded for its production and the balance of
'mainstream' and 'hardcore' rap, receiving recognition from both audiences. The
Blueprint was written in only two days.[32] Eminem was the only guest rapper on
the album, producing and rapping on the song 'Renegade'. Four of the thirteen
tracks on the album were produced by Kanye West and represents one of West's
first major breaks in the industry. The Blueprint includes the popular songs
'Izzo (H.O.V.A.)', 'Girls, Girls, Girls', 'Jigga That Nigga' and 'Song Cry'.
Jay-Z's next solo album
was 2002's The Blueprint2: The Gift & the Curse, a double-album. The album
debuted on the Billboard 200 at number one, selling over 3 million units in the
U.S. alone[23] and surpassing The Blueprint.[33] It was later reissued in a
single-disc version, The Blueprint 2.1, which retained half of the tracks from
the original. The album spawned two massive hit singles, 'Excuse Me Miss' and
''03 Bonnie & Clyde', which featured Jay-Z's future wife Beyoncé Knowles. 'Guns
& Roses', a track featuring rock musician Lenny Kravitz, and 'Hovi Baby' were
two successful radio singles as well. The album also contained the tracks 'A
Dream', featuring Faith Evans and the late The Notorious B.I.G.; and 'The
Bounce', featuring Kanye West. The Blueprint 2.1 featured tracks that do not
appear on The Blueprint2: The Gift & the Curse, such as 'Stop', 'La La La
(Excuse Me Again)', 'What They Gonna Do, Part II' and 'Beware' produced by and
featuring Panjabi MC.[34]
2003–05: The Black Album, initial retirement and
collaborative albums
After returning from a
trip in the south of France,[35] Jay-Z announced work on his 8th studio album
The Black Album at the opening of the first the 40/40 Club.[36] He worked with
several producers including Just Blaze, The Neptunes, Kanye West, Timbaland,
Eminem, DJ Quik, 9th Wonder and Rick Rubin. Notable songs on the album included
'What More Can I Say', 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder', 'Change Clothes', and '99
Problems'. The Black Album has sold 3 million copies in the US.[23] Jay-Z
collaborated with R. Kelly and released a collaborative studio album, The Best
of Both Worlds.
On November 25, 2003,
Jay-Z held a concert at Madison Square Garden, which would later be the focus of
his film Fade to Black. This concert was his 'retirement party'. All proceeds
went to charity. Other performers included collaborators like The Roots (in the
form of his backing band), Missy Elliott, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Siegel, Freeway,
Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Twista, Ghostface Killah, Foxy Brown, Pharrell and R.
Kelly with special appearances by Voletta Wallace and Afeni Shakur, the mothers
of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur respectively.[citation needed] While
Jay-Z had attested to a retirement from making new studio albums, various side
projects and appearances soon followed. Included in these were a greatest hits
record, as well as the release and tour of Unfinished Business, the second
collaborative album between Jay-Z and R. Kelly.
In 2004, Jay-Z
collaborated with rock group Linkin Park, in which they released their
collaborative remix EP Collision Course, which featured mashups of both artists'
songs, as well as a concert DVD. The album's only single, 'Numb/Encore', went on
to win a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and was performed with Linkin
Park live at the Grammys, with a special appearance by Paul McCartney, who added
verses from the song 'Yesterday'. The EP sold over 1 million copies in the
US.[23] Jay-Z was the executive producer of The Rising Tied, the debut album of
Fort Minor, the hip hop side project of Linkin Park rapper Mike Shinoda.
Later in 2004, Jay-Z
was named president of Def Jam Records, which led to Jay-Z, Dash and Biggs
selling their remaining interests in Roc-A-Fella Records and Jay-Z taking
control of both of the companies.[37] Reportedly this major industry move was
prompted by disagreements between Jay-Z and Dash as to what direction
Roc-A-Fella could undertake.[38] The publicized split between Jay-Z, Dash and
Biggs led to the former partners sending jabs at each other in interviews.[39]
2005–07: 'I Declare War', comeback with Kingdom
Come and American Gangster
On October 27, 2005,
Jay-Z headlined New York's Power 105.1 annual concert, Powerhouse. The concert
was entitled the 'I Declare War' concert leading to intense speculation in the
weeks preceding the event on whom exactly Jay-Z would declare war. As he had
previously 'declared war' on other artists taking lyrical shots at him at other
events, many believed that the Powerhouse show would represent an all-out
assault by Jay-Z upon his rivals.[40] The theme of the concert was Jay-Z's
position as President and CEO of Def Jam, complete with an on-stage mock-up of
the Oval Office. Many artists made appearances such as the old roster of
Roc-A-Fella records artists, as well as Ne-Yo, Teairra Mari, T.I., Young Jeezy,
Akon, Kanye West, Paul Wall, The LOX, and Diddy.[41]
At the conclusion of
the concert, Jay-Z put many arguments to rest to the surprise of hip hop fans.
The most significant development in this show was closure to the infamous hip
hop rivalry between Jay-Z and Nas. The two former rivals shook hands and shared
the stage together to perform Jay-Z's 'Dead Presidents' blended with Nas's song
'The World is Yours'.[42]
Jay-Z returned with his
comeback album on November 21, 2006 titled Kingdom Come.[43] Jay-Z's comeback
single, 'Show Me What You Got', was leaked on the Internet in early October
2006, scheduled to be released later on that month, received heavy air-play
after its leak, causing the FBI to step in and investigate.[44] Jay-Z worked
with video director Hype Williams, and the single's video was directed by F.
Gary Gray. The album features producers such as Just Blaze, Pharrell, Kanye
West, Dr. Dre and Coldplay's Chris Martin (single entitled 'Beach
Chair').[45][46] The first week saw 680,000 sales of the CD, which Entertainment
Weekly said was 'the highest single-week total in Jay's decade long career'.[47]
This album has sold 2 million copies in the US.[23]
Jay-Z released his
tenth album entitled American Gangster on November 6, 2007. After viewing the
Ridley Scott film of the same name, he was heavily inspired to create a new
'concept' album that depicts his experiences as a street-hustler.[48] The album
is not the film's official soundtrack, although it was distributed by Def
Jam.[49] Jay-Z's American Gangster depicts his life in correlation to the movie
American Gangster. At the start of the album's first single, 'Blue Magic', Jay-Z
offers a dealer's manifesto while making references to political figures of the
late 1980s with the lyric: 'Blame Reagan for making me to into a monster, blame
Oliver North and Iran-Contra, I ran contraband that they sponsored, before this
rhymin' stuff we was in concert.'[50] Also notable about the 'Blue Magic' music
video was Jay-Z flashing 500 euro notes, in what Harvard Business School
professor Rawi Abdelal has called a 'turning point in American pop culture's
response to globalization.' The album has sold 1 million copies in the US.[23]
On December 24, 2007, Jay-Z stated that he would not remain at Def Jam as the
company's President, and vacated the position effective of January 1, 2008.[51]
2008–present: Glastonbury, new record deal, The
Blueprint 3, Watch the Throne and follow-up
It was announced on
February 2, 2008 that Jay-Z would headline the 2008 Glastonbury Festival,
becoming the first major hip hop artist to headline the British
festival.[52][53] Tickets sold out before the opening of the festival. One of
the more outspoken critics of his selection was Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame,
who criticized the organizers of the festival for scheduling Jay-Z as a
headliner for the traditionally guitar-driven festival, stating 'I'm sorry, but
Jay-Z? No chance. Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music and even when they
throw the odd curve ball in on a Sunday night you go 'Kylie Minogue?' I don't
know about it. But I'm not having hip hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong.'[54]
Controversy ensued in
the months leading up to the event with artists, promoters and fans weighing in
both for and against. Jay-Z responded to this saying, 'We don't play guitars,
Noel, but hip hop has put in its work like any other form of music. This
headline show is just a natural progression. Rap music is still evolving. We
have to respect each other's genre of music and move forward.'[55] In response
to Gallagher's criticism, Jay-Z opened his Glastonbury set with a
tongue-in-cheek cover of Oasis's iconic song 'Wonderwall'.[56] His Glastonbury
performance was heralded as a successful response to pre-festival criticism.[57]
He also headlined many
other summer festivals in 2008, including Roskilde Festival in Denmark,[58] Hove
Festival in Norway[59] and O2 Wireless Festival in London.[60] During Kanye
West's August 6, 2008 concert at Madison Square Garden, Jay-Z came out to
perform a new song and he and Kanye proclaimed that it was to be on The
Blueprint 3.[61] On May 21, 2009, Jay-Z announced he would be parting ways with
Def Jam, and had struck a multi-million dollar deal to sign with Live Nation,
with whom he would start his Roc Nation imprint which would serve as a record
label, talent/management agency, and music publishing company[62] and also
partnered up with production team Stargate to start a record label called
StarRoc.[63][64] Jay-Z's 11th studio album The Blueprint 3 was originally to be
released on September 11, 2009[65] but was instead released in North America on
September 8, 2009 due to increasing anticipation.[66] Its international release
followed on September 14.[67] It is his 11th album to reach No.1 on the
Billboard 200[68] and has surpassed Elvis Presley's previous record, making him
the current record holder.[9]
On October 9, 2009,
Jay-Z kicked off his tour for The Blueprint 3, during which he supported his new
album in North America. In a Shave Magazine review of his performance at Rexall
Place in Edmonton, Jake Tomlinson expressed that 'It was the type of smooth
performance you would expect from the hip-hop superstar.' The review gave this
performance 4 stars. His North American tour continued until November 22,
2009.[69] At his concert on November 8, 2009 at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, Rihanna
joined him on stage and performed 'Hard' for the very first time, then performed
'Run This Town' with Jay-Z.[70] Among his success, Jay-Z has ventured into
producing Broadway shows. Along with Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Jay-Z
helped produced the play Fela!, a musical celebrating the work of the late
Nigerian star Fela Kuti.[71] Jay-Z said he was inspired by the power of Kuti's
work and his life story, which resulted in his interest to help produce the
musical.[71] Fela! is a story about an African pioneer and political activist
who made his first moves on the scene during the 1970s.[71]
On January 23, 2010,
Jay-Z released a track, 'Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)', with Rihanna, and U2's
Bono and The Edge, as well as performing it at the Hope For Haiti Now
telethon.[72] In June 2010, Eminem and Jay-Z announced they would perform
together in a pair of concerts in Detroit and New York. The event was dubbed The
Home & Home Tour. The first two concerts rapidly sold out, prompting the
scheduling of an additional show at each venue.[73] Jay-Z was the supporting act
for U2 on the Australian and New Zealand leg of their U2 360° Tour, beginning in
Auckland, New Zealand in November 2010, followed by Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
and Perth in December.[74] He also appeared on stage during U2 performances of
'Sunday Bloody Sunday', and in Auckland also joined the band for a performance
of 'Scarlet', singing some lines of his song, 'History'. In August 2010, it was
revealed that Jay-Z and Kanye West would be collaborating on a five-track EP
entitled Watch the Throne. Although, it was later revealed by West that the
project had become a full-length LP. Recording sessions for the album took place
at various recording locations and began in November 2010. The first single
released for the project was 'H•A•M'. The track was co-produced by Lex Luger and
West himself. The track ended up being on the deluxe edition of the album. The
follow-up to that was the second single 'Otis', which premiered on Funkmaster
Flex's Hot 97 radio show, and was later released to the iTunes Store eleven days
later. The song's existence, along with several other tracks from the album, was
confirmed during a listening session hosted by Jay-Z. The album was first
released on the iTunes Store, five days prior to it being released in physical
format, a strategy Jay-Z later said was used to block an internet leak. It
debuted at #1 on the iTunes Store in 23 countries. It also broke Coldplay's
record for most albums sold in one week on the online retailer, selling 290,000
copies on iTunes alone. It held that record, until Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV was
released twenty-one days later, selling only 10,000 copies more. It debuted on
the US Billboard 200 chart at #1, selling 436,000 copies in its first week. The
album received generally positive reviews. Jay-Z and West later gave a surprise
performance of 'Otis' at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. In April 2011, Jay-Z
launched a blog-like, lifestyle website by the name of Life + Times. It covers
everything from music, to fashion, to technology, to sports. The site is curated
based on Jay-Z's interests, and he himself works with a small staff to produce
every single piece of content.
Jay-Z collaborated with
M.I.A. on the single 'XXXO', which achieved a fair level of success and went on
to become remixed by several producers worldwide.
On September 23, 2010,
Q-Tip confirmed working on Jay-Z's follow up album to The Blueprint 3, saying
the album was to hit stores by spring 2011.[75] The album has not yet been
released; it has been confirmed 3 songs have been recorded and one of which
features Frank Ocean.
Musical style
Influences
Jay-Z that states his
earliest exposure to music was through his parents' record collection, which was
mostly of soul artists such as Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway. He says 'I grew
up around music, listening to all types of people... I'm into music that has
soul in it, whether it be rap, R&B, pop music, whatever. As long as I can feel
their soul through the wax, that's what I really listen to.'[76] He often uses
excerpts from these artists as samples in his work, particularly in the Kanye
West-productions included on The Blueprint.[76]
Rapping technique
Royce da 5'9' and
Fredro Starr of Onyx both describe Jay-Z's emphasis on flow in the book How to
Rap – Starr says that Jay-Z is 'a master of the flow—he can flow fast, he can
flow slow'.[77] The book describes how Jay-Z uses 'rests' to provide structure
to a verse[78] and how he uses 'partial linking' to add more rhymes to a
verse.[79] Jay-Z's early style is described by Vibe as 'a distinctly Das
EFX-type, stiggety style' on his 12' single 'Can't Get With That',[80] referring
to the fast rhythms and vocal delivery of the group Das EFX. He is also known to
write lyrics in his head, as described by Pusha T of Clipse in How to Rap,[81] a
style popular with many MCs such as The Notorious B.I.G.,[81] Everlast,[82]
Bobby Creekwater[83] and Guerilla Black.[83] Shock G of Digital Underground
describes Jay-Z's performance style, saying he 'rarely breaks a sweat, and
instead uses smoothness and clever wordplay to keep the audience interested and
entertained'.[84]
Business ventures
Jay-Z has also
established himself as an entrepreneur like his fellow hip hop moguls and
friends, Russell Simmons, Dr. Dre and Sean 'Diddy' Combs, who also have business
holdings such as record companies and clothing lines. In an interview, he stated
that 'my brands are an extension of me. They're close to me. It's not like
running GM, where there's no emotional attachment.'[85] He is the founder of the
urban clothing brand Rocawear along with Damon Dash.[86] Rocawear has clothing
lines and accessories for men, women and children. The line was taken over by
Jay-Z in early 2006 following a falling out with Dash. In March 2007, Jay-Z sold
the rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group, for $204 million. Jay-Z
will retain his stake in the company and will continue to oversee the marketing,
licensing and product development.[86][87] He also co-owns the 40/40 Club, an
upscale sports bar that started in New York City and has since expanded to
Atlantic City and Chicago. In 2008, the 40/40 club in Las Vegas was closed down
and bought back by the hotel after attendance steadily declined. Future plans
will see 40/40 Clubs in Tokyo and Singapore.[88] In 2005, Jay-Z became an
investor in Carol's Daughter, a line of beauty products, including products for
hair, skin, and hands.[89]
Jay-Z serves as
co-brand director for Budweiser Select and collaborates with the company on
strategic marketing programs and creative ad development. He provides direction
on brand programs and ads that appear on TV, radio, print, and high-profile
events.[90] He is also yet to expand his 40/40 Club sports bar in as many as 20
airports, as he makes deals with his business partners, Juan and Desiree
Perez.[91] He is a part-owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team paying a reported
$4.5 million for his share. He encouraged the team's relocation to Brooklyn's
Barclays Center in the 2012-2013 season, at which point the team will take on
its new name the 'Brooklyn Nets'.[92][93] In October 2005, he was reported in
English media as considering buying a stake of Arsenal F.C., an English soccer
team.[94] He has also invested in a real estate development venture called J
Hotels which recently acquired a $66 million mid-block parcel in Chelsea, New
York. Jay-Z and his partners are contemplating constructing a high-end hotel or
an art gallery building on the newly acquired site which has the potential to go
up about twelve stories.[95] Through his company Gain Global Investments Network
LLC, had an interest estimated between 2 and 7% in the Aqueduct Entertainment
Group (AEG) consortium which in January 2010 was awarded a contract to operate a
4,500 slot machine racino at the Aqueduct Race Track. Jay-Z became interested in
the project after New York Governor David Paterson who awarded the contract said
there had to be an affirmative action component to the ownership. Jay-Z
initially approached Steve Wynn who was also bidding on the contract. On March
9, 2010, Jay-Z and Flake withdrew from the project and Paterson recused himself
from further involvement.[96][97]
On November 16, 2010,
Jay-Z published a memoir entitled Decoded.[98][99]
Personal life
Relationship with Beyoncé
Jay-Z is married to
American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. In 2002, Jay-Z and Knowles collaborated for
the song ''03 Bonnie & Clyde'. Jay-Z also appeared on Knowles' hit single 'Crazy
In Love' and as well as 'That's How You Like It' from her debut Dangerously in
Love. On her second album, B'Day, he made appearances on the 2006 hits, 'Déjà
Vu' and 'Upgrade U'. In the video for the latter song, she comically imitates
his appearance.[100] The couple generally avoid discussing their relationship.
Knowles has stated that she believes that not publicly discussing their
relationship has helped them. Jay-Z said in a People article, 'We don't play
with our relationship.'[101] They kept a low profile while dating, and married
quietly in April 2008.[10] It became a matter of public record on April 22,
2008,[102] but Knowles did not publicly debut her $5 million Lorraine
Schwartz-designed wedding ring until the Fashion Rocks concert on September 5,
2008 in New York City.[103] Knowles and Jay-Z were listed as the most powerful
couple for TIME magazine's 100 most influential people of 2006.[104] In January
2009, Forbes ranked them as Hollywood's top-earning couple, with a combined
total of $162 million.[105] They also made it to the top of the list the
following year, with a combined total of $122 million between June 2008 and June
2009.[105] At the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, Beyoncé revealed that she was
pregnant with their first child[106][107] and on January 7, 2012, she gave birth
to their daughter, named Blue Ivy Carter, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New
York.[108] On January 9, 2012, Jay-Z released 'Glory', a song dedicated to their
child, on his social website LifeandTimes.com.[109] The song detailed the
couple's pregnancy struggles, including a miscarriage Knowles suffered before
becoming pregnant with their daughter.[109] Because Blue's cries were included
at the end of the song and she was officially credited on the song as 'B.I.C',
at 2 days old she became the youngest person ever to appear on a Billboard chart
when 'Glory' debuted on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at Number 74.[110]
Philanthropy
During his retirement,
Jay-Z also became involved in philanthropic activity. On August 9, 2006, he met
with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan at the organization's
headquarters in New York City. The rapper pledged to use his upcoming world tour
to raise awareness of and combat global water shortage. Already on the look-out
for a way to, in his own words, 'become helpful', he had been made aware of this
issue during a visit to Africa.[111] The effort took place in partnership with
the UN,[112] as well as MTV, which produced a documentary entitled Diary of
Jay-Z: Water for Life, first airing in November 2006.[113] Along with Sean 'Diddy'
Combs, Jay-Z pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross' relief effort after
Hurricane Katrina.[114] Jay-Z stated his support for Kanye West after the
latter's outburst against President Bush during a live Katrina charity
telethon.[115] He also addressed the issue of the Katrina disaster, and the
government's response, in his song 'Minority Report'.[116]
Politics
Jay-Z got actively
involved in politics during the 2008 presidential campaign, where he supported
increased voter participation and helped send voters to polling stations.[117]
He was an early supporter for the candidacy of Illinois senator and subsequent
U.S. president Barack Obama, performing for free in voter-drive concerts
financed by the Democrats' campaign.[118] He also became acquainted with Obama
himself, who stated 'Every time I talk to Jay-Z, who is a brilliant talent and a
good guy, I enjoy how he thinks. That's somebody who is going to start branching
out and can help shape attitudes in a real positive way.'[119] During the 2010
mid-term elections' campaign, Jay-Z appeared, along with other artists, in an ad
prepared by the HeadCount organization, urging voters, and especially younger
ones, to register and vote.[120]
Discography
Studio
albums
Reasonable Doubt (1996)
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
(1997)
Vol. 2... Hard Knock
Life (1998)
Vol. 3... Life and
Times of S. Carter (1999)
The Dynasty: Roc La
Familia (2000)
The Blueprint (2001)
The Blueprint2: The
Gift & The Curse (2002)
The Black Album (2003)
Kingdom Come (2006)
American Gangster
(2007)
The Blueprint 3 (2009)
Collaboration albums
The Best of Both Worlds
(with R. Kelly) (2002)
Unfinished Business
(with R. Kelly) (2004)
Collision Course (with
Linkin Park) (2004)
Watch the Throne (with
Kanye West) (2011)
Awards
and nominations
Main article: List of
awards and nominations received by Jay-Z (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Jay-Z)
Filmography
Streets Is Watching
(1998)
Backstage (2000)
State Property (2002)
Paper Soldiers (2002)
Fade to Black (2004)
Bibliography
Decoded by Jay-Z (2010:
Spiegel & Grau, 336 pages) ISBN 978-1400068920. Part memoir and part a
collection of Jay-Z lyrics with the stories behind them.[121]
Empire State of Mind:
How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office by Zack O'Malley Greenburg
(2011: Portfolio (Penguin), 240 pages) ISBN 978-1591843818. An unauthorized
biography detailing Jay-Z's life from his beginnings in Brooklyn as told by his
friends and former colleagues. [122
References
1.^ Mikelbank, Peter.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20164322,00.html People Magazine
article, December 5, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
2.^ The Greatest MCs
of All Time MTV. Retrieved on December 26, 2006
3.^ O'Malley
Greenburg=, Zack (September 22, 2010). 'Jay-Z’s $50 Million Music Box'. Forbes.
Retrieved November 22, 2010.
4.^ Sherwin, Adam
(June 26, 2008). 'Blingedup wellies for Glastonbury arrive at JayZs hotel'. The
Times (London).
5.^ 'RIAA – Gold &
Platinum – August 8, 2008'. Riaa.com. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
6.^ 'Acclaimed Music:
Jay-Z'. Acclaimed Music. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
7.^ O'Malley
Greenburg, Zack (2011). Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner
to Corner Office. Portfolio (Penguin). ISBN 978-1591843818.
8.^ Pitchfork: Jay-Z
Leaves Def Jam Presidency[dead link]
9.^ a b Access
Hollywood. Jay-Z Beats Elvis For No. 1 Albums Record'[dead link]. MTV. Retrieved
on September 16, 2009.
10.^ a b 'Source:
Beyoncé and Jay-Z Are Married'. People. April 4, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
11.^
http://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/artists-of-the-decade?year=2009
12.^ a b c Birchmeier,
Jason. Jay-Z Biography. Allmusic. Retrieved August 24, 2007.
13.^ 'The King Of
Rap'. CBS News. November 18, 2002.
14.^ a b Adaso, Henry.
How Well Do You Know Jay-Z? About.com. Retrieved August 24, 2007.
15.^ 'Jay-Z Picture,
Profile, Gossip, and News at'. Celebritywonder.com. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
16.^ 'December 4', The
Black Album – Jay-Z
17.^ Edwards, Paul,
2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p.
xi.
18.^ Koroma, Salima
(May 15, 2009). 'Industry Insider Reveals 'Secret War' Between LL Cool J and
Jay-Z'. HipHopDX. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
19.^ Edwards, Paul,
2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p.
316.
20.^ 'Big Daddy Kane –
The Unkut Interview | unkut.com – A Tribute To Ignorance (Remix)'. unkut.com.
Retrieved June 25, 2010.
21.^ 'Exclaim!
Canada's Music Authority'. Exclaim.ca. Retrieved June 25, 2010.[dead link]
22.^ 'I Can't Get With
That Music Video'. Youtube. November 22, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
23.^ a b c d e f g h i
j k 'RIAA – Gold & Platinum'. RIAA. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
24.^ 'Jay-Z –'.
Askmen.com. December 4, 1969. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
25.^ Reid, Shaheem
(February 27, 2002). 'Where's The Love? Jay-Z Disses Grammys Again'. MTV News.
Retrieved August 15, 2009.
26.^ Handlin, Sam.
Jay-Z pleads guilty to stabbing record executive. Courttv.com. October 18, 2001.
Retrieved June 18, 2006.
27.^ D'Angelo, Joe
(October 17, 2001). 'Jay-Z Pleads Guilty To Stabbing, Faces Three Years'
Probation'. MTV. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
28.^ Jones, Steve
(November 7, 2000). 'Jay-Z's rap dominates'. USA Today (Gannett Company, Inc.).
29.^ Reid, Shaheem
(December 12, 2001). 'Mobb Deep Strike Back At Jay-Z On Infamy'. MTV. Retrieved
August 14, 2009.
30.^ Selwyn Seyfu
Hinds (January 15, 2002). 'Kings of New York by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds'. village
voice. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
31.^ Martens, Todd
(September 20, 2001). 'Jay-Z Draws 'Blueprint' For Chart Dominance'. Billboard.
Retrieved November 12, 2008.
32.^ Recounted by
Jay-Z on the documentary Collision Course . Collision Course. Jay-Z and Linkin
Park. Roc-A-Fella/Warner Bros./Machine Shop Recordings. 2004.
33.^ Martens, Todd
(November 20, 2002). 'Jay-Z Scores 5th Chart-Topper With 'Blueprint''.
Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
34.^ 'Jay-Z remix
spices interest in Panjabi MC'. USA Today. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
35.^ Reid, Saheem
(July 30, 2002). 'Jay-Z Returns From European Vacation, Ready To Hit Studio'.
MTV News. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
36.^ Reid, Shaeem
(June 25, 2003). 'Jay-Z Taking It 'Way Back To The Roots' On New Album'. MTV
News. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
37.^ Hall, Rashaun
(December 8, 2004). 'Jay-Z, Dame Dash Sell Roc-A-Fella Records; Jay Named Def
Jam Prez'. MTV News. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
38.^ Konigsberg, Eric
(June 12, 2006). 'Why Former Roc-A-Fella Records Partner Damon Dash Hates
Mondays'. New York Magazine. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
39.^ Damon Dash Speaks
About Jay-Z, Vibe.com, April 10, 2006
40.^ Reid, Shaheem
(September 15, 2005). ''I Declare War!' Jay-Z Says He's Going To Air Some
Rappers Out Onstage'. MTV News. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
41.^ Seandra Sims and
Houston Williams (October 27, 2005). 'Hip-Hop Harmony: Jay-Z And Nas Officially
Dead Beef'. AllHipHop.com. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
42.^ Reid, Shaheem
(October 28, 2005). 'Jay-Z And Nas Put Beef To Sleep In Onstage Show Of Unity'.
MTV News. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
43.^ Welte, Jim
(September 13, 2006). 'Jay-Z preps Kingdom Come'. MP3.com. Retrieved September
13, 2006.
44.^ 'Legal Action to
be Taken over Jay-Z Single Leak?'. World Entertainment News. October 9, 2006.
Retrieved September 13, 2006.
45.^ 'Jay-Z Ends His
Retirement With Star-Studded Comeback Album'. San Francisco Chronicle. September
15, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2006.
46.^ Reid, Shaheem
(September 14, 2006). 'Jay-Z's 'Retirement' Is Finally Over: New Album Due In
November'. MTV News. Retrieved September 17, 2006.
47.^ Jay-Z Reclaims
His 'Kingdom' With No. 1 Debut. Billboard.com. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
48.^ DAVID M.
HALBFINGER and JEFF LEED (September 20, 2007). 'For Jay-Z, Inspiration Arrives
in a Movie'. New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
49.^ Shake (September
20, 2007). 'Jay-Z to Release 'American Gangster''. HipHopDX. Retrieved September
20, 2007.
50.^ Biddle, Sam
(November 15, 2007). 'Johns Hopkins Newsletter: New Vibrations'.
www.jhunewsletter.com. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
51.^ 'BREAKING NEWS:
Jay-Z Leaves Def Jam'. AllHipHop.com. December 24, 2007.
52.^ 'Jay-Z confirmed
for Glastonbury'. BBC News. February 1, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
53.^ 'Jay-Z confirmed
to headline Glastonbury 2008'. NME. UK. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
54.^ Paterson, Colin
(April 12, 2008). 'Hip-hop 'wrong' for Glastonbury'. BBC News. Retrieved May 7,
2008.
55.^ 'Noel Gallagher
is narrow minded: Jay-Z'. NDTVmusic.com. May 13, 2008. Retrieved May 13,
2008.[dead link]
56.^ 'Jay-Z's
Glastonbury Wonderwall dig at Noel Gallagher'. Sunday Mirror. June 29, 2008.
57.^ 'Jay-Z answers
critics in Glastonbury performance'. AFP. Google. June 29, 2008. Retrieved
September 4, 2010.
58.^ 'Roskilde
Festival: Forside'. Roskilde-festival.dk. August 20, 2010. Retrieved September
4, 2010.
59.^ Hove Festival
Homepage[dead link]
60.^ Official O2
Wireless Festival line-up
61.^ Jay-Z performs
Blueprint 3 track with Kanye[dead link]
62.^ I.B. Bad
Contemplates The Great Unknown'. HITS Daily Double. May 22, 2009. Retrieved on
August 6, 2009.
63.^ Tai Saint Louis
(September 28, 2008). 'Jay-Z Statement On New StarRoc Label'. AllHipHop.com.
64.^ Jason (September
23, 2008). 'Details On Jay-Z's New Label'. Rap Basement.
65.^ Daniel Kreps (May
21, 2009). 'Jay-Z Buys Out Def Jam Contract, 'Blueprint 3″ Heads to Roc Nation'.
Rolling Stone.
66.^ Kreps, Daniel
(September 8, 2009). 'Jay-Z Pushes Up 'Blueprint 3 ' Release, Announces Tour'.
Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
67.^ 'Jay-Z interview
by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 2009'. Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved
September 4, 2010.
68.^ 'Thee Blueprint 3
– Jay-Z'. Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
69.^ Jake Tomlinson.
'Jay Z Fall 2009 Concert Tour Review'. ShaveMagazine.com. Retrieved November 6,
2009.
70.^ Jocelyn Vena,
Rihanna Joins Jay-Z Onstage At Los Angeles Concert, MTV.com, November 9, 2009
71.^ a b c 'Jay-Z
Becomes A Broadway Producer For 'Fela!''.
72.^ '> News >
'Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)' raising funds for Haiti'. U2.com. Retrieved June
25, 2010.
73.^ 'Eminem And Jay-z
Announce More 'Home & Home' Dates'.
74.^ 'Jay-Z To Join
U2's 360 Tour in Australia'. James Dinh. August 23, 2010. Retrieved August 24,
2010.
75.^ 'Q-Tip Confirms
Jay-Z's Upcoming New Album'. Rap Basement. 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
76.^ a b Anderson,
Kyle (August 24, 2009). 'A Young Jay-Z Describes His Early Influences'. MTV
News. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
77.^ Edwards, Paul,
2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, pp.
65, 112.
78.^ Edwards, Paul,
2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p.
129.
79.^ Edwards, Paul,
2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p.
91.
80.^ Vibe magazine,
Jan 2004, Vol. 12, No. 1, published by Vibe Media Group, p. 75.
81.^ a b Edwards,
Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review
Press, p. 144.
82.^ Edwards, Paul,
2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, pp.
144–145.
83.^ a b Edwards,
Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review
Press, p. 145.
84.^ Edwards, Paul,
2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p.
292.
85.^ 'Jay-Z Talks
Business, Success in New Interview'. idiomag. March 15, 2009. Retrieved March
17, 2009.
86.^ a b 'Iconix to
Buy Rocawear, Jay-Z's Clothing Line'. New York Times. March 7, 2007. Retrieved
March 9, 2007.
87.^ 'Jay-Z: Down To
98 Problems Yet?'. MTV. February 7, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2007.[dead link]
88.^ Stutz, Howard
(August 28, 2008). '40/40 Club closing to make way for Palazzo sports book'.
Casino City Times. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
89.^ 'Will Smith,
Jay-Z back beauty line'. CNN. May 18, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
90.^
[http://www.allhiphop.com/Hiphopnews/index.asp?ID=6279[dead link]
91.^ Jay-Z Bringing
His 40/40 Club To Airports[dead link]
92.^ Brooks, Matt
(09/26/2011). 'Washington Post - Jay-Z: Brooklyn Nets to debut at Barclays
Center in 2012'. The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
93.^ 'NBA.xom - Jay-Z
makes it official: 'Brooklyn Nets' for 2012-13'. Sep 26 2011. Retrieved 6
December 2011.
94.^ Beyoncé's Rapper
Lover Is After A Piece Of Arse: Jay-Z's Footie Bid, The Sunday Mirror, October
9, 2005
95.^ '''HHWorlds.com''
– Jay-Z Teams Up With J Hotels To Develop On $66 million New York Site'.
Hhworlds.com. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
96.^ 'Rev. Flake,
rapper Jay-Z exit sinking Aqueduct bid – crainsnewyork – March 9, 2010'.
Crainsnewyork.com. March 9, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
97.^ Katz, Celeste
(March 9, 2010). 'Paterson Recuses Himself From Racino Project – New York Daily
News – March 9, 2010'. Daily News (New York). Retrieved September 4, 2010.
98.^ Marikar, Sheila
(November 16, 2010). 'Jay-Z's 'Decoded': From Hip-Hop to Barack and Beyond'. ABC
News. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
99.^ Crosley, Hillary
(November 16, 2010). 'Jay-Z's 'Decoded': The Five Most Revealing Excerpts'. MTV
News. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
100.^ 'Beyoncé –
Upgrade U (official video)'. Youtube. Retrieved September 4, 2010.[dead link]
101.^ Michelle Tauber
(October 25, 2004). 'The Good Life'. People. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
102.^ Ehrich Dowd,
Kathy; Clehane, Diane and Steve Helling (April 22, 2008). 'Beyoncé and Jay-Z
File Signed Marriage License'. People. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
103.^ 'Beyoncé's ring
revealed!' People, Vol. 70, No. 12, September 22, 2008, pg. 26.
104.^ 'Beyonce, Jay-Z
the richest pair'. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
105.^ a b Kaufman, Gil
(January 13, 2010). 'Jay-Z And Beyonce Named Top-Earning Couple In
Entertainment'. MTV News. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
106.^ Krupnick, Ellie
(August 28, 2011). 'Beyonce Pregnant, Flaunts Baby Bump On VMA Red Carpet'. The
Huffington Post. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
107.^ 'Beyoncé & Jay-Z
Expecting a Baby'. People. August 28, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
108.^ 'Beyonce Gives
Birth To a Baby Girl'. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. January 8, 2012.
Retrieved January 8, 2012.
109.^ a b 'Jay-Z
reveals Beyonce's miscarriage in ode to daughter'. Reuters. January 9, 2012.
Retrieved January 10, 2012.
110.^ 'Blue Ivy
Carter, Jay-Z and Beyonce's Daughter, Becomes Youngest Person Ever to Appear on
a Billboard Chart'. Billboard. January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
111.^ Jay-Z helps UN
focus on world water crisis, USA Today, August 9, 2006. Retrieved June 4, 2006.
112.^ 'International
Decade for Action: Water for Life, 2005–2015'. United Nations. Retrieved June 4,
2008.
113.^ 'Water for
Life'. MTV. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
114.^ 'Diddy, Jay-Z
give $1 million to Red Cross'. MSNBC. September 2, 2005. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
115.^ 'Jay-Z backs
Kanye West’s telethon outburst'. MSNBC. September 7, 2005. Retrieved June 4,
2008.
116.^ 'For The Record:
Quick News On Jay-Z, Metallica, Bow Wow, John Legend, J Dilla, Sufjan Stevens &
More'. MTV. February 12, 2007. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
117.^ 'Daily News - :
Jay-Z Gets Political In New PSA To Encourage Voters'. Allhiphop.com. Retrieved
2011-07-31.
118.^ 'Jay-Z To
Perform At Obama Voter Drive'. Huffington Post. October 1, 2008.
119.^ 'Inside Barack
Obama's | Rolling Stone Music'. Rollingstone.com. 2008-06-25. Retrieved
2011-07-31.
120.^ Wilkie,
Christina (2010-10-20). 'Rapper Jay-Z hits the political airwaves'. TheHill.com.
Retrieved 2011-07-31.
121.^ 'Jay-Z
'Decoded'', Fresh Air interview transcript, November 16, 2010. Retrieved
November 16, 2010.
122.^ 'About the
Book|JAY-Z Book: Empire State of Mind'
****
The
above biography has been copied in part or in whole
from an article on
Wikipedia.org
'The Free Encyclopedia.' It has been modified under
the GNU Free Document License Section 5 in the
following manner: (1) All links within the article
have been removed, including text links such as
'[#]'; (2) The '[Edit]' text and link have been
removed [if you would like to update the article,
you may do so from the original page]; (3) the table
of Contents links and text have been removed; and
(4) all of the sections of the original article have
not been copied. All of the above text is available
under the terms of the
GNU Free Document License.
URL of Original Article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay-Z
Date Article Copied:
March 2012
We
will try to replace this article with an original
biography in the near future, but we hope this will
be of help to our visitors in the mean time. |
