Jay-Z

Shawn Carter grew up in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects and began writing rhymes as a teenager. He was influenced by old-school hip-hop acts such as Run-DMC and by films, while his experiences in Brooklyn later became a recurring subject in his lyrics. He initially performed under the nickname Jazzy, which became Jay-Z, a name associated with his childhood nickname and the J/Z subway lines near his home.

In 1994, Carter founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Damon Dash and Kareem Burke. The label released his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996. Although the album initially reached number 23 on the Billboard charts, it eventually sold more than one million copies in the United States and became regarded as a classic hip-hop recording.

Jay-Z's early run of albums established him as a leading voice in East Coast hip-hop. Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life became his first album to top the Billboard 200 and earned him his first Grammy Award for best rap album. The Blueprint, released in 2001, strengthened his reputation through its lyricism, soul-based samples, and production from Kanye West, Just Blaze, Bink, Timbaland, and other collaborators.

Jay-Z announced that The Black Album would be his final solo album in 2003, but he returned to recording with Kingdom Come in 2006. He became president of Def Jam Recordings in 2004 and left the position in 2007. During his executive tenure, he signed or supported artists including Rihanna, Ne-Yo, and Young Jeezy, and helped Kanye West move from producer to recording artist.

After his return to music, Jay-Z released American Gangster in 2007 and The Blueprint 3 in 2009. The latter included "Empire State of Mind" with Alicia Keys and "Run This Town" with Kanye West and Rihanna. He later worked with Kanye West on the collaborative album Watch the Throne in 2011 and released Magna Carta Holy Grail in 2013. In 2017, 4:44 addressed infidelity, racism, and politics through unusually personal lyrics.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé married in 2008 and have three children, Blue Ivy Carter, Rumi Carter, and Sir Carter. They collaborated on the 2003 hit "Crazy in Love" and released the joint album Everything Is Love in 2018 as the Carters. Jay-Z also appeared on numerous recordings by other artists and worked with Beyoncé on music that presented their relationship through complementary, confessional albums.

His business portfolio expanded from Roc-A-Fella Records into clothing, entertainment, sports, and technology. He founded Roc Nation in 2008, launched Roc Nation Sports in 2013, and became involved with TIDAL, the 40/40 Club, Armand de Brignac, Paper Planes, and other ventures. Roc Nation's partnership with the NFL began in 2019 and includes work on live music entertainment and the Super Bowl halftime show.

In 2002, Jay-Z and his mother, Gloria Carter, founded the Shawn Carter Foundation. The organization provides college scholarships and educational support to students facing financial and socioeconomic barriers.

Jay-Z is a founding member of REFORM Alliance, which advocates changes to probation and parole policies, and serves on the advisory board of the United Justice Coalition. His social justice work has also addressed bail reform, wrongful incarceration, and racial inequities. He produced the documentary miniseries TIME: The Kalief Browder Story and other projects focused on criminal justice and social injustice.

His honors include becoming the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and the first living solo hip-hop artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. Reasonable Doubt entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2025, and Jay-Z has received 25 Grammy Awards.