Jay-Z Biography

American businessman, rapper & Hip-hop's first billionaire. Let’s read about the Jay-Z family, education, career and private life.

Singers Sep 10, 2024 0 13 Add to Reading List

Name	Shawn Corey Carter
Parents	Gloria Carter and Adnis Reeves
Featured Album	Reasonable Doubt
Genres	Hip hop, Rap, Gangsta Rap...
Spouse	Beyoncé
Children	Blue Ivy, Sir, Rumi
Pseudonym	JAY-Z, Jay Z, Hov, Hova, The President
Height	6' 1'' feet

Age of Jay-Z:

Shawn Corey Carter, known as Jay-Z age is years, as he born on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn , New York, United States.

Jay-z as child with mother

Family of Jay-Z:

Adnis Reeves and Gloria Carter are his parents. His mother Gloria brought him solo because his father left the family in his childhood. He has three younger brothers Eric, Andrea and Michelle. They grew up in the Marcy Projects housing complex which is an impoverished area of Brooklyn.

Jay-z with his mother

Education of Jay-Z:

Jay-Z attended many schools in his hometown like Eli Whitney High School and George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School. Then later he went to Trenton Central High School in New Jersey. Although, he dropped out during the second year. During the interview he said at that time he was also selling crack cocaine and was shot three times.

Stage Name:

His neighbors called him by the name “Jazzy”, which he later adopted the stage name “Jay-Z” in honor of his mentor Jaz-O.

Beginning:

Jay-z has been interested in music from a young age. He was influenced by the hip hop artists of that time by listening to songs on a portable radio which was a gift from his mother on his birthday. Meanwhile, he also started to write his own rhymes and take part in street rap battles in town.

Jay-z as a rapper in oung age

Debut in Hip Hop:

Although he did not have any resources to establish a record label, Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995. In 1996 he released his first album “Reasonable Doubt” through Roc-A-Fella Records.

Musical career of Jay-Z:

He released many albums later by the name The Blueprint (2001), The Black Album (2003), American Gangster (2007), and 4:44 (2017). These albums make him one the most versatile and consistent rappers in history and also debuted on the top of the Billboard 200.

He is probably known for his skills in telling stories about the issues facing the black community in the United states and rise from poverty to billionaire through his raps.

Great songs like ‘99 Problems,’ ‘Empire State Of Mind’ with Alicia Keys, or ‘Hard Knock Life’ are just a few examples of how he integrates deep social messages into attractive beats and superb productions.

Jay-z with Alicia Keys

Record of Billboard Hot 100:

Jay-Z is the record holder for the highest number of number-one albums (14) in the Billboard chart as a solo artist. He has made four number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 as well.

Jay-Z as a Businessman:

Besides his accomplishments in performing music, Jay-Z has been successful in the world of business, where he has been very active. He held the title of chairman and chief executive officer clark of Def Jam Recording Inc. from the year 2004 through to the year 2007.

First Hip Hop Billionaire:

From the business side, he was the first hip-hop billionaire in 2019. Founder of popular urban fashion label Rocawear and 40/40 sports bar chain. The following year, he started Roc Nation which is involved in artist management, music and movie production and also sports. Jay-Z through Roc Nation at some point managed some of the hottest brands like Rihanna .

In 2015 he bought into Aspiro and augmented the online streaming service Tidal.

Jay-z businessman

Networth of Jay-Z:

In 2024 Jay-Z was a world top ranked as a millionaire musician with a net worth of over 2.5 billion dollars.

Stockholder of NBA:

Furthermore, Jay-Z is also the partial stockholder of the National Basketball Association NBA group, Brooklyn Nets. Strong advocate for equal rights and active in most socially just activities. They included the Shawn Carter Foundation and work with Roc Nation where he has supported causes active against criminal justice reform, disadvantaged community empowerment, and education.

Private life:

Jay-Z married Beyonce, a famous singer and businesswoman on April 4, 2008. They became parents in 2012 with the birth of Blue Ivy Carter. Later in 2017 there was a welcome of twins Sir and Rumi.

Jay-z with family

Their marriage might go down in history as one of the most impactful couples in the entertainment business since they have left their footprints in music and in business too. The couple also collaborated on other projects, including the Carters’ 2018 album, Everything is Love.

Jay-z with Beyonce carter

Awards of Jay-Z:

He is considered one of the best rappers in history, but he is also regarded as a genius when it comes to business. In 2019, it was announced that he would be the first recording artist to become a billionaire, thus making history in hip hop and musical retails.

As of November 2024, he has been one of the top 3 all time best-selling music artists and had sold 50 LT and 75 million singles respectively and claimed 24 Grammy Awards, an American of Kyne West is the most Grammy winning rapper.
Also, he garnered other people’s choice award categories, for example, Emmy and NAACP President’s award amongst others.
In 2013, he was listed on Time Magazine in the 100 most influential people of the world.

In 2021, he made history as the first living solo rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Jay-z holding Grammy award

Summary:

Among the finest rappers and businesspeople in the United States. He started Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 and came out with his first studio album when in 1996. During the active period of his career, such stellar records as The Blueprint, The Black Album and 4:44 were created and released. Owing to commercial endorsement for music he became the first billionaire hip-hop artist in the world by the year 2019. He is married to Beyoncé and they have three children.