Known as 'Jazzy' in his neighborhood, he soon shortened his nickname to Jay-Z and did all he could to break into the rap game.

In addition to rapping, Jay-Z has also served as a label head (Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation/Def Jam), team owner (NBA's Brooklyn Nets), real-estate mogul, and fashion designer.īorn in 1969 and raised in the rough Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, New York, Jay-Z was raised by his mother and turned to the streets, where he made a name for himself as a fledging rapper and drug dealer. He also contributed the song 'What It Feels Like' to the soundtrack of the Oscar-nominated 2021 drama Judas and The Black Messiah. In addition to his solo work, Jay-Z also found mainstream crossover success with pop, R&B, and rock artists, notably collaborating with protege Rihanna on their Grammy-winning 'Umbrella' (2008) alternative metal outfit Linkin Park on 2004's genre mash-up Collision Course Alicia Keys on New York City's unofficial anthem, the chart-topping 'Empire State of Mind' (2011) frequent foil Kanye West on Watch the Throne (2012) and wife Beyoncé on numerous hit singles, international tours, and the joint album Everything Is Love (2018). After debuting in the late '90s with Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime, Vol 1, he began a chart run that notched over a dozen number one albums spread over two decades, including the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning Vol.

From the projects to the throne, New York rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Jay-Z embodied the quintessential rags-to-riches dream, becoming one of the most successful MCs of his generation while creating an empire that made him one of the richest artists of the era.

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