Jay Z -- I'm Now the Master of My Own Destiny

Jay Z is once again the proud owner of some historic music.

Jay has been in an epic battle with a guy who was holding the masters to The Life and Times of S. Carter and The Dynasty albums hostage. There were 41 tracks, 31 with Jay and 10 with Beanie Sigel.

Chauncey Mahan, a sound engineer on the albums, claimed ownership and stashed boxes of tracks in a San Fernando Valley storage facility.

Cops eventually seized the masters, but Mahan didn't back down. He sued Jay and Roc Nation in July, trying to get a piece of the action.

A judge just shut him down, ruling he waited way too long to sue.

So Jay Z owns his stuff outright.