Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969) was born in New York City, United States. He is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is professionally known as Jay-Z. Often hailed as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Jay-Z has had an indelible impact on the music industry and beyond.
Prior to his music career, Jay-Z was the CEO of Def Jam Recordings, where he played a pivotal role in the creative and commercial success of artists such as Kanye West, Rihanna, and J. Cole. His business ventures have also made him one of the wealthiest hip-hop artists in the world, with a net worth of over $1 billion.
In 1999, Jay-Z founded the clothing retailer Rocawear, which grew to become a multi-million dollar corporation. In 2003, he expanded his empire by founding the luxury sports bar chain 40/40 Club. These businesses paved the way for the creation of Roc Nation, which was established in 2008. Jay-Z continued to diversify his portfolio by acquiring the tech company Aspiro in 2015 and taking charge of their media streaming service, Tidal. In 2020, he launched "Monogram," a line of cannabis products.
Jay-Z's music career is equally impressive, with over 140 million records sold worldwide. He has won 24 Grammy Awards, making him the rapper with the joint-most Grammy awards alongside Kanye West. Furthermore, he holds the record for the most number-one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200, with 14 chart-topping albums to his name.
Jay-Z's accomplishments extend beyond music and business. He has been honored with the NAACP's President's Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Sports Emmy Award. He has also received a nomination for a Tony Award. Billboard and Rolling Stone have both ranked him as one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Additionally, Jay-Z was the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the first living solo rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2013, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
In summary, Jay-Z's impact on the music industry and popular culture as a whole is undeniable. His artistic prowess, coupled with his business acumen and philanthropic efforts, have made him an icon and role model to many.
