Shawn Corey Carter was born 4 December 1969 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Raised in Brooklyn, Carter was a school friend of the Notorious B.I.G. He first started releasing records in the late 1980s. In 1990, he appeared on records by his close friend Jaz ("The Originators") and Original Flavor ("Can I Get Open"), and later scored an underground hit single with 1995"s "In My Lifetime". Drawing on Jaz's dealings with mercenary labels, Jay-Z set up his own Roc-A-Fella imprint in 1996 with entrepreneur Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. His debut set, Reasonable Doubt, went on to achieve gold sales and produced the US number 50 pop single "Ain't No Nigga"/"Dead Presidents", featuring future rap star Foxy Brown. The album, which reached US number 23 in July, attracted fans with a mixture of hard-hitting street lyrics and rhymes, epitomized by the collaboration with Notorious B.I.G. on "Brooklyn's Finest". The follow-up In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 was released in the aftermath of Notorious B.I.G.'s murder, and debuted at US number 3 in November 1997. Featuring guest appearances from Puff Daddy, Lil' Kim, Too Short, BLACKstreet and DJ Premier, this sombre and intensely personal album included the stand-out tracks "You Must Love Me" and "Where I'm From". Although in demand as a guest artist, Jay-Z found the time to write, produce, and direct the semi-autobiographical short Streets Is Watching. The gold-selling soundtrack introduced several of Roc-A-Fella's rising stars, including Memphis Bleek, Rell and Diamonds In The Rough, and featured the hit single "It's Alright". Jay-Z then became a major star with the hit singles, "Can I Get A ... " and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", the latter built around a line from the musical Annie. One of the more bizarre samples to be used on a hip-hop track, the single nevertheless became an international hit (UK number 2, December 1998/US number 15, March 1999). The album of the same name featured hotshot producer Timbaland, in addition to the usual team of Ski and DJ Premier. Guest rappers included DMX, Foxy Brown and Too Short, on a package that diluted Jay-Z's hard-hitting lyrical edge in an attempt to corner the crossover market. Vol. 2 -- Hard Knock Life easily succeeded in its aim, staying at US number 1 for five weeks before finally being deposed by Alanis Morissette's new album. Despite a hectic schedule as a guest producer/writer and rapper, Jay-Z still found the time to enter the studio and record tracks for his new album. Released in December 1999, Vol. 3 ... Life And Times Of S. Carter confirmed his status as one of hip-hop's most popular artists when it topped the album charts the following month. The following year's The Dynasty: Roc La Familia 2000, another US chart-topper, was originally planned as a supergroup collaboration with fellow Roc-A-Fella rappers Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek and Amil. See full bio on IMDb »
Jay-Z says he STRONGLY believes gay people deserve the right to get married ... claiming discriminating against a gay person is the same as discriminating against a black person. Jay -- arguably… READ MORE >
Jay-Z is keeping a close eye on his multimillion dollar NBA investment -- showing up to a Brooklyn construction site yesterday to check out the future home of the Nets ... and even trying his hand… READ MORE >
What's black and white and scrubbed of all things Jersey?? The NEW LOGO for the Brooklyn Nets ... designed by part owner of the team Jay-Z. Jigga what?The team -- which will be relocated from NJ… READ MORE >
Robert Griffin III was the number two overall draft pick of the Washington Redskins during Thursday night's NFL Draft ... which nets him a big contract and HUGE perks ... like VIP treatment from… READ MORE >
With a covered up three-month-old baby Blue Ivy attached to her chest, Beyonce and Jay-Z emerged from a yacht in the Caribbean this weekend.Look ma, I'm on a boat. READ MORE >
Who killed JFK? Where's Hoffa buried? Did Beyonce really give birth? Mysteries that may never be solved! Except she totally had that baby -- though she IS oddly thin already. Hmm ...Check out TMZ… READ MORE >
Jay-Z and Kanye West have to be feeling a little more joyful than usual -- because the hit-making duo has settled a federal lawsuit over their song "The Joy" ... TMZ has learned.The "Watch the… READ MORE >
Jay-Z and Beyonce carried a heavily bundled baby Blue Ivy out into the world for the first time ... hitting up Sant Ambroeus in the West Village for a little lunch today.You need to crawl… READ MORE >
This is what the heir to a hip-hop fortune looks like ... Beyonce and Jay Z have finally posted photos of Blue Ivy Carter .. which appear to have been taken at their pimped out suite at Lenox Hill… READ MORE >
It seems cray ... but a simple warning that Jay Z and Kanye West included at the top of their "N**gas in Paris" video may have been the difference between life and death for some of their… READ MORE >
