The album was a personal revelation for Jay-Z as he spun the tale of his hard knock upbringing. He was reeling from the death of his close friend The Notorious B.I.G. Jay-Z later explained that the album was made during one of the worst periods of his life. Executively produced by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, it sold better than his previous effort. This album would later be included in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" as #248 and would later reach platinum status.Īfter reaching a new distribution deal with Def Jam in 1997, Jay-Z released his follow-up In My Lifetime, Vol. Despite reaching only number 23 on the Billboard 200, the album was well-received by critics. 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.
#JAY Z ALBUMS RANKED HIMSELF PROFESSIONAL#
1įrom 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. His first official rap single was called "I Can't Get With That", for which he released a music video.ġ996–97: Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime, Vol. 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.
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”. Jay-Z has been referred to as Big Daddy Kane’s hype man during this period, though Kane explains that he didn’t fill the traditional hype man role, instead Jay-Z “basically made cameo appearances on stage. 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 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. 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". 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. In his neighborhood, Carter was known as "Jazzy", a nickname that eventually developed into his stage name, "Jay-Z". He began freestyling, writing lyrics, and followed the music of many artists popular at the time.
Eventually, she bought him a boom box for his birthday, sparking his interest in music.
#JAY Z ALBUMS RANKED HIMSELF CRACK#
In his music he refers to having been involved in selling crack cocaine.Īccording to his mother, Gloria Carter, a young Jay-Z used to wake his siblings up at night banging out drum patterns on the kitchen table. and Busta Rhymes also attended, and Trenton Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey, but did not graduate. After that he attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Downtown Brooklyn, which fellow rappers The Notorious B.I.G.
Jay-Z attended Eli Whitney High School in Brooklyn, along with rapper AZ, until it was closed down. Originally from Marcy Houses housing project in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City, Jay-Z was abandoned by his father and, at age 12, he shot his brother in the shoulder for stealing his jewelry. On December 11, 2009, Jay-Z was ranked as the 10th most successful artist of the 2000–2009 decade by Billboard Magazine and ranking as the 5th top solo male artist and as the 4th top rapper behind Eminem, Nelly, and 50 Cent. He married American R&B superstar Beyonce Knowles on April 4, 2008. Jay-Z also has had four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, one as lead artist.Īlong with his financial and musical success, Jay-Z is known for quarreling with other artists in the rap industry, the most famous feud being between him and fellow New York rapper Nas, which was eventually settled in 2005. As an artist, he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200. 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. 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 clothing line Rocawear. He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving ten Grammy Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America having had a net worth of over $150 million in 2009.
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper and businessman.