Jay-Z

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969) better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer and entrepreneur. He is one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed music artists of all time.
Born in New York, Jay-Z began his music career in the 1990s, releasing his debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996 to widespread acclaim and success. A year earlier, in 1995, he founded Roc-a-Fella Records. To date he has released thirteen solo albums, The Blueprint (2001) and The Black Album (2003) being heralded as modern rap classics. He has also released a collaboration with Kanye West, Watch The Throne, and most recently a collaboration with his wife, Beyonce, Everything Is Love.
Jay-Z also has a successful career outside his music. He has started the clothing line Rocawear, acted as president of Def Jam and is the founder of the Roc Nation entertainment company. His marriage to famous signer Beyonce was heavily publicised and elevated his status as a celebrity. Jay-Z's net worth of $900 million makes him the wealthiest rap artist in the world.
Jay-Z is among the most critically acclaimed music artists of the 21st century and one of the most acclaimed rappers. He has received 21 Grammy Awards, tied with Kanye West for most as a rapper. He has the most number one albums of any solo artist on the Billboard 200 and is regularly listed as one of the greatest artists of the 21st century.
== Career ==
=== 1980s-97: Early Career and first albums ===
Jay-Z began rapping at a young age, being mentored by rapper Jaz-O. He appeared alongside other rappers on their albums in the late 1980s and 1990s and appeared in rap battles. However, no record labels would sign him and so in 1995 he founded his own independent label Roc-a-Fella records. In 1996 he received a distribution deal with Priority Records and released his debut album Reasonable Doubt. The album charted at number 23 and received favourable reviews. In 1997 he received a new distribution deal with Def Jam and released his second album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, produced by Puff Daddy. This album charted at number 3 on the Billboard 200.
=== 1998-2000: Vol. 2, Vol. 3 and The Dynasty ===
In 1998, Jay-Z released his third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life which was his first album to top the Billboard charts and is also his most successful album ever. The album also won a Grammy Award. In 1999 he released his fourth album Vol. 3... The Life and Times of S. Carter, again topping the charts in the US. In 2000 he released his fifth album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, which was originally meant to be a Roc-a-Fella compilation album but was marketed as a solo Jay-Z album to increase sales. The album peaked at number 1 in the US.
=== 2001-02: The Blueprint and The Blueprint2 ===
In 2001, Jay-Z had a prominent feud with rappers Prodigy and Nas. On September 11 2001, hours before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Jay-Z released his sixth album The Blueprint. The album debuted at number 1 and is considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time. With four tracks produced by Kanye West, it also represented a break in West's career. In 2002 he released his seventh album The Blueprint2: The Gift & the Curse which was a double album and again topped the charts.
=== 2003-04: The Black Album and Collaborative albums ===
In 2002, Jay-Z released a collaborative album with R. Kelly, The Best of Both Worlds, debuting at number 2. In 2003 Jay-Z released his eighth album The Black Album to widespread critical acclaim, again reaching number one. It was advertised as the final album before his retirement, though he soon decided to continue his career. In 2004, despite announcing his retirement, Jay-Z released a second collaborative album with R.Kelly, Unfinished Business, which debuted at number 1. In 2004 he also released a collaborative remix EP with Linkin Park, Collision Course, winning a Grammy and again topping the charts. Also in 2004, Jay-Z was announced as the President of Def Jam and took control of both it and Roc-a-Fella.
=== 2005-07: Kingdom Come and American Gangster ===
In 2005 Jay-Z headlined the annual Powerhouse concert where he finally ended his feud with Nas. In 2006 he released his comeback album Kingdom Come. The album again debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 despite mixed reviews. In 2007 he released American Gangster, inspired by the film of the same name. It topped the charts in the US.
=== 2008-11: The Blueprint 3 and Watch the Throne ===
On the first of January 2008, Jay-Z resigned as president of Def Jam. Despite some controversy over the choice, Jay-Z headlined the 2008 Glastonbury Festival. In April 2008, he married Beyonce in a highly publicised wedding. After parting ways with Def Jam, he struck a deal with Live Nation, founding the Roc Nation imprint. In September 2011 he released his eleventh studio album, The Blueprint 3, becoming his eleventh album to top the Billboard 200, surpassing Elvis Presley's record to become the artist with the most number one albums. In August 2011, Jay-Z and Kanye West released a collaborative album titled Watch the Throne which topped the Billboard 200. 
=== 2012-Present: Magna Carta Holy Grail, 4:44 and Everything Is Love ===
In July 2013, Jay-Z released his twelfth album Magna Carta Holy Grail, which again topped the Billboard 200. In June 2017 he released his thirteenth album 4:44 which again topped the charts. The album received widespread critical acclaim. In June 2018, Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce released a surprise album Everything Is Love which debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200.
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
Title 	Album details	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions
Title 	Album details	US 	US
R&B 	CAN 	FRA 	GER 	NLD 	NOR 	SWE 	SWI 	UK
Reasonable Doubt 	
* Released: June 25, 1996 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella
* Formats: CD, cassette, LP	23 	3 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	140
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 	
* Released: November 4, 1997 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
* Formats: CD, cassette, LP	3 	2 	36 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	78
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life 	
* Released: September 29, 1998 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
* Formats: CD, cassette, LP	1 	1 	13 	— 	76 	— 	— 	34 	49 	109
Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter	
* Released: December 28, 1999 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, IDJMG
* Formats: CD, cassette, LP	1 	1 	8 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	75 	155
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia 	
* Released: October 31, 2000 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, IDJMG
* Formats: CD, cassette, LP	1 	1 	5 	— 	98 	— 	— 	— 	89 	86
The Blueprint 	
* Released: September 11, 2001 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, IDJMG
* Formats: CD, cassette, LP	1 	1 	3 	73 	55 	51 	36 	30 	59 	30
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse	
* Released: November 12, 2002 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, IDJMG
* Formats: CD, cassette, LP	1 	1 	8 	79 	61 	66 	— 	— 	52 	23
The Black Album 	
* Released: November 14, 2003 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, IDJMG
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	1 	1 	12 	66 	47 	66 	18 	41 	29 	34
Kingdom Come 	
* Released: November 21, 2006 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, IDJMG
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	1 	1 	6 	79 	76 	71 	— 	45 	17 	35
American Gangster 	
* Released: November 6, 2007 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, IDJMG
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	1 	1 	3 	58 	99 	64 	29 	— 	17 	30
The Blueprint 3 	
* Released: September 8, 2009 (US)
* Label: Atlantic, Roc Nation
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	1 	1 	1 	20 	22 	12 	15 	44 	12 	4
Magna Carta... Holy Grail 	
* Released: July 9, 2013 (various)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, IDJMG
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	1 	1 	1 	12 	9 	7 	2 	8 	1 	1
4:44 	
* Released: June 30, 2017
* Label: Roc Nation, UMG
* Format: CD, cassette, digital download	1 	1 	1 	43 	15 	11 	11 	16 	5 	3
=== Collaborative albums ===
Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	US 	US
R&B 	CAN 	FRA 	GER 	NLD 	NOR 	SWE 	SWI 	UK
The Best of Both Worlds
(with R. Kelly)	
* Released: March 19, 2002 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, Jive
* Formats: CD, cassette, LP	2 	1 	19 	20 	22 	12 	— 	42 	18 	37
Unfinished Business
(with R. Kelly)	
* Released: October 26, 2004 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, Jive
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	1 	1 	— 	68 	77 	60 	— 	— 	65 	61
Watch the Throne
(with Kanye West)	
* Released: August 8, 2011 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, Roc Nation
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	1 	1 	1 	10 	2 	3 	1 	27 	1 	3
Everything Is Love
(with Beyoncé as The Carters)	
* Released: June 16, 2018 (US)
* Label: Parkwood, Columbia, UMG, Roc Nation
* Formats: CD, Streaming, digital download	2 	— 	4 	44 	23 	4 	11 	14 	5 	5
=== Live albums ===
Title 	Album details	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions
Title 	Album details	US 	US
R&B 	UK
Jay-Z: Unplugged	
* Released: December 18, 2001 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
* Formats: CD, LP	31 	8 	153
=== Compilation albums ===
Title 	Album details	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions
Title 	Album details	US 	US
R&B 	AUS 	GER 	NOR 	SWI 	UK
Chapter One: Greatest Hits 	
* Released: March 11, 2002 (JPN)
* Label: BMG, Northwestside
* Formats: CD, LP	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	65
Blueprint 2.1 	
* Released: April 8, 2003 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
* Formats: CD, digital download	17 	6 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
Bring It On: The Best of Jay-Z 	
* Released: November 25, 2003 (UK)
* Label: BMG
* Formats: CD, LP	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
Greatest Hits 	
* Released: September 25, 2006 (UK)
* Label: Sony BMG
* Formats: CD	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	84
Jay-Z: The Hits Collection, Volume One	
* Released: November 22, 2010 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, Roc Nation
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	43 	11 	83 	89 	16 	98 	20
=== Soundtrack albums ===
Title 	Album details	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions
Title 	Album details	US 	US
R&B
Streets Is Watching	
* Released: May 5, 1998 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
* Formats: CD, LP	27 	3
=== Extended plays ===
Title 	Album details	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions
Title 	Album details	US 	US
R&B 	CAN 	FRA 	GER 	NLD 	NOR 	SWE 	SWI 	UK
Collision Course
(with Linkin Park)	
* Released: November 30, 2004 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam, Warner Bros., Machine Shop
* Formats: CD, LP, digital download	1 	3 	6 	20 	5 	9 	1 	9 	2 	15
Live in Brooklyn	
* Released: October 9, 2012 (US)
* Label: Roc-A-Fella, Atlantic, Roc Nation
* Formats: Digital download	35 	6 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
=== Singles ===
Title 	Year	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Album
Title 	Year	US 	US
R&B 	US
Rap 	CAN 	GER 	NLD 	NZ 	SWE 	SWI 	UK 	Album
"In My Lifetime" 	1995	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Non-album single
"Dead Presidents" 	1996	50 	17 	4 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Reasonable Doubt
"Ain't No Nigga"
(featuring Foxy Brown)	1996	50 	17 	4 	— 	— 	— 	45 	— 	— 	31 	Reasonable Doubt
"Can't Knock the Hustle"
(featuring Mary J. Blige)	1996	73 	35 	7 	— 	— 	— 	26 	— 	— 	30 	Reasonable Doubt
"Feelin' It" 	1997	79 	46 	13 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Reasonable Doubt
"Who You Wit" 	1997	84 	25 	18 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	65 	Sprung soundtrack
"Sunshine"
(featuring Babyface and Foxy Brown)	1997	95 	37 	16 	— 	18 	66 	22 	42 	— 	25 	In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
"Wishing on a Star"
(featuring Gwen Dickey)	1997	— 	— 	— 	— 	56 	— 	29 	50 	— 	13 	In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
"The City Is Mine"
(featuring Blackstreet)	1998	52 	37 	14 	— 	28 	51 	44 	— 	— 	38 	In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
"A Million and One Questions" 	1998	— 	37 	14 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
"It's Alright"
(with Memphis Bleek) 	1998	61 	32 	9 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Streets Is Watching soundtrack
"Can I Get A..."
(featuring Amil and Ja Rule)	1998	19 	6 	22 	36 	12 	30 	— 	— 	26 	24 	Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life and
Rush Hour soundtrack
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" 	1998	15 	10 	2 	7 	5 	6 	10 	6 	7 	2 	Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
"Money, Cash, Hoes"
(featuring DMX) 	1999	— 	36 	19 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)"
(featuring Big Jaz and Amil)	1999	84 	23 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
"Jigga My Nigga" 	1999	28 	6 	1 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
"Girl's Best Friend" 	1999	52 	19 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
"Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)"
(featuring Beanie Sigel and Amil)	1999	65 	17 	9 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
"Things That U Do"
(featuring Mariah Carey)	2000	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
"Anything" 	2000	55 	19 	9 	— 	— 	— 	— 	56 	— 	18 	The Truth
"Big Pimpin'"
(featuring UGK) 	2000	18 	6 	9 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	29 	Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
"Hey Papi"
(featuring Memphis Bleek and Amil)	2000	76 	16 	12 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Nutty Professor II: The Klumpssoundtrack
"I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)"	2000	11 	1 	4 	— 	75 	61 	31 	— 	86 	17 	The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
"Change the Game"
(featuring Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek)	2001	86 	29 	10 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
"Guilty Until Proven Innocent"
(featuring R. Kelly)	2001	82 	29 	12 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
"20 Bag Shorty"
(featuring Gotti, Frody and Niela)	2001	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Projects Presents: Balhers Forever
"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" 	2001	8 	4 	7 	— 	— 	69 	— 	— 	53 	21 	The Blueprint
"Girls, Girls, Girls" 	2001	17 	4 	9 	— 	86 	— 	— 	— 	— 	11 	The Blueprint
"Jigga That Nigga" 	2002	66 	27 	7 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Blueprint
"Song Cry" 	2002	— 	45 	23 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Blueprint
"Honey"
(with R. Kelly) 	2002	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	35 	The Best of Both Worlds
"Get This Money"
(with R. Kelly) 	2002	— 	37 	18 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Best of Both Worlds
"Take You Home with Me (A.K.A. Body)"
(with R. Kelly)	2002	81 	41 	5 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Best of Both Worlds
"'03 Bonnie & Clyde"
(featuring Beyoncé)	2002	4 	5 	2 	4 	6 	5 	4 	14 	1 	2 	The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse
"Hovi Baby" 	2002	— 	76 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse
"Excuse Me Miss"
(featuring Pharrell)	2003	8 	1 	2 	8 	67 	— 	— 	— 	76 	17 	The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse
"La-La-La (Excuse Me Again)" 	2003	— 	37 	20 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Blueprint 2.1 and
Bad Boys II soundtrack
"Change Clothes"
(featuring Pharrell)	2003	10 	6 	4 	— 	54 	40 	42 	— 	44 	32 	The Black Album
"Dirt Off Your Shoulder" 	2004	5 	3 	2 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	12 	The Black Album
"99 Problems" 	2004	30 	26 	10 	— 	67 	— 	— 	— 	— 	12 	The Black Album
"Big Chips"
(with R. Kelly) 	2004	39 	17 	14 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Unfinished Business
"Don't Let Me Die"
(with R. Kelly) 	2004	— 	58 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Unfinished Business
"Numb/Encore"
(with Linkin Park) 	2004	20 	94 	— 	— 	4 	5 	— 	5 	10 	14 	Collision Course
"Show Me What You Got" 	2006	8 	3 	4 	— 	— 	— 	38 	35 	— 	38 	Kingdom Come
"Lost One"
(featuring Chrisette Michele)	2006	58 	19 	10 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Kingdom Come
"30 Something" 	2007	— 	21 	13 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Kingdom Come
"Hollywood"
(featuring Beyoncé) 	2007	— 	56 	21 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Kingdom Come
"Blue Magic"
(featuring Pharrell and En Vogue)	2007	55 	31 	17 	69 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	American Gangster
"Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." 	2007	63 	15 	8 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	117 	American Gangster
"I Know"
(featuring Pharrell) 	2007	— 	26 	11 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	American Gangster
"Swagga Like Us"
(with T.I., featuring Lil Wayne and Kanye West)	2008	5 	11 	4 	— 	— 	— 	— 	22 	— 	33 	Paper Trail
"Jockin' Jay-Z (Dopeboy Fresh)" 	2008	— 	51 	18 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Non-album single
"D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" 	2009	24 	43 	15 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	79 	The Blueprint 3
"Run This Town"
(featuring Kanye West and Rihanna)	2009	2 	3 	1 	6 	18 	30 	9 	8 	9 	1 	The Blueprint 3
"Empire State of Mind"
(featuring Alicia Keys)	2009	1 	1 	1 	3 	11 	2 	6 	6 	4 	2 	The Blueprint 3
"On to the Next One"
(featuring Swizz Beatz)	2009	37 	9 	5 	68 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	38 	The Blueprint 3
"Young Forever"
(featuring Mr Hudson)	2010	10 	86 	16 	21 	— 	50 	32 	40 	44 	10 	The Blueprint 3
"A Star Is Born"
(featuring J. Cole)	2010	— 	91 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	The Blueprint 3
"H•A•M"
(with Kanye West) 	2011	23 	24 	15 	47 	— 	53 	— 	— 	— 	30 	Watch the Throne
"Otis"
(with Kanye West, featuring Otis Redding)	2011	12 	2 	2 	37 	— 	73 	— 	— 	61 	28 	Watch the Throne
"Lift Off"
(with Kanye West, featuring Beyoncé)	2011	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	48 	Watch the Throne
"Niggas in Paris"
(with Kanye West) 	2011	5 	1 	1 	16 	40 	28 	38 	44 	43 	10 	Watch the Throne
"Why I Love You"
(with Kanye West, featuring Mr Hudson)	2011	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	52 	87 	Watch the Throne
"Gotta Have It"
(with Kanye West) 	2011	69 	14 	13 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Watch the Throne
"Glory"
(featuring B.I.C.) 	2012	— 	63 	23 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Non-album single
"No Church in the Wild"
(with Kanye West, featuring Frank Ocean)	2012	72 	31 	20 	92 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	37 	Watch the Throne
"Clique"
(with Kanye West and Big Sean)	2012	12 	2 	3 	17 	— 	85 	— 	— 	— 	22 	Cruel Summer
"Holy Grail"
(featuring Justin Timberlake)	2013	4 	2 	1 	13 	24 	83 	24 	15 	24 	7 	Magna Carta Holy Grail
"Tom Ford" 	2013	39 	11 	8 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	164 	Magna Carta Holy Grail
"Part II (On the Run)"
(featuring Beyoncé)	2014	77 	19 	15 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	93 	Magna Carta Holy Grail
"4:44" 	2017	35 	15 	11 	69 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	73 	4:44
"Bam"
(featuring Damian Marley) 	2017	47 	21 	16 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	93 	4:44
"Family Feud"
(featuring Beyoncé) 	2018	51 	22 	17 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	4:44
"Apeshit"
(with Beyoncé as the Carters)	2018	13 	9 	8 	24 	— 	59 	— 	72 	69 	36 	Everything Is Love