Carter BIO
Shawn was born on December 4, 1969. He was brought up on the mean streets in
the Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, New York. During a difficult childhood he was part time
rapper and full time hustler. Carters father abandoned the family before he became a
teenager. The fledgling rapper was known as "Jazzy" which he modified into Jay-Z.
Other names that he went by later in his career were the Jiggaman, HOV and Hova. After
his fathers departure Jay-Z took solace in his rap on the streets, he used the money from
his hustling to fund his rap career.
One of Jay-Zs closest friends was Christopher Wallace, who was later known as the
Notorious B.I.G. Jay-Z had the magical ability to create an entire track without writing it
down even once. While he tests out a few sample tunes the lyrics just flow from the top
of his head. Jay-Z had heard a lot of stories how record companies exploited young
rappers with talent. The fruits of their hard work were enjoyed by the company. The
rapper needed the company to give him his first break because he did not have the funds
to manage the studio costs.
Jay-Z wanted to avoid this situation. In an unprecedented move he formed his own
company along with fellow street pals Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. He
wanted to cut out the middleman who would drain the profits; Roc-a-Fella Records was
created. Jay-Z struck a deal with Priority Records for the distribution of his album. It is
testimony of his systematic method of functioning that he managed all this before he
released his first album.
Jay-Z was all set to release his first album called "Reasonable Doubt." The album was a
hit with the critics and had a gold single but it did not have much of an impression with
the masses. There was a risk that Jay-Zs high risk and high reward strategy would not
pay off. It was Jay-Zs third album, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life that catapulted him into the
mainstream of rap. Strike when the iron is hot. Jay-Z embarked on a large-scale arena
tour, elevating his popularity to dizzying heights. Another factor that perversely helped
Jay-Z were the killings of Tupac Shakur and his friend the Notorious B.I.G. These two
were the rap superstars of the time and their deaths left Jay-Z as the numero uno rapper
on the east coast.
In the next five years Jay-Z sold more than ten million records. He had more songs on the
radio than any contemporary rapper. Jay-Z has scored a number of hits over the years,
they include, "The Originator's," "Streets Is Watching," "Can I Get Open," "Ain't No
N**a," "You Must Love Me," "Can't Knock the Hustle" and "Feelin It." Anyone in the
forefront of the rap world spawns millions of fans. Jay-Z had become a cultural symbol
for millions of people. The one way of taking advantage of this phenomenon was to
expand.
Roc-A-Fella Films Have released films such as "Streets is Watching", "Backstage" and
"State Property". Three feature films - Paid in Full, Paper Soldiers and Death of a
Dynasty are on the anvil. Jay-Z started his own clothing line called Rocawear in 1999.
Rocawear grossed $150 million in 2001. This is a global initiative with outlets in Europe,
Japan and Canada. It carries loungewear, hats and belts for men, women and children.
Roc-a-fella distributed Armadale Premium, a two grain, triple distilled Scottish vodka. He
opened the 40/40 Club Elite sports bar in New York City. Another first to Jay-Zs name is
endorsement of Reebok shoes. The S. Carter shoe collection marks the first time a nonathlete ever had a signature shoe.
Jay-Z has encouraged many of his protgs who have gone on to make a big name for
themselves. He has sold more than seventeen million albums. Jay-Z has undertaken many
philanthropic activities in New York City. The Team Roc charitable organization helps
underprivileged children in the city. Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund pays for the college
tuition of deserving Marcy area high school students. During the annual Jay-Z Santa
Claus Toy Drive, Jay-Z provides toys to children of the Marcy projects area in Brooklyn.
Jay-Z won the 2001 Grammy award for Best Rap Album - "Vol.3. Life And Times of S.
Carter and the Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group - "Big Pimpin" He won the 1999
Best Rap Video for "Can I Get A"
WIKI
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969),[1] better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American
hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and
entrepreneurs in America,[2] having a net worth of over $150 million,[3] selling over 30 million copies of his
albums in the United States alone and receiving several Grammy Awards for his musical work.[4]
Jay-Z co-owns The 40/40 Club and the NBA's New Jersey Nets and is also the creator of the clothing line
Rocawear. He is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings[5], one of the three founders of Roc-A-Fella
Records and recently, the founder of his new venture Roc Nation. He is also the current holder for the
record of most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200.[6] Jay-Z also had 4 number ones on
the Billboard Hot 100, one as lead artist. (Heartbreaker with Mariah Carey, Crazy in Love with Beyonce,
Umbrella with Rihanna and Empire State of Mind featuring Alicia Keys.)
Along with his financial and musical success, Jay-Z is known for being involved in the feud between him
and fellow New York rapper Nas, which was eventually settled in 2005.[7] He married singer Beyonc
Knowles on April 4, 2008.[8]
Contents
[hide]
1 Early years
2 Musical career
o 2.1 199697: Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
o 2.2 19982000: Vol. 2... Criminal charges and mainstream success
o 2.3 200102: Feud with Nas, The Blueprint and The Blueprint
o 2.4 200305: The Black Album, retirement and Collision Course
o 2.5 200507: "I Declare War", Kingdom Come and American Gangster
o 2.6 2008present: Glastonbury, New Record Deal and The Blueprint 3
3 Business ventures
4 Personal life
o 4.1 Relationship with Beyonc
o 4.2 Philanthropy
5 Discography
6 Awards
7 Filmography
8 References
9 External links
Early years
Jay-Z (top) with a friend (left) in Trenton, New Jersey, circa 1988
Originally from Marcy Houses housing project in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn in
New York City,[9] Jay-Z was abandoned by his father and at 12 years old, he had shot his brother in the
shoulder for stealing his jewelry.[10][11] Jay-Z attended Eli Whitney High School in Brooklyn, along with
rapper AZ, until it was closed down. After that he attended George Westinghouse Information Technology
High School in Downtown Brooklyn, which fellow rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes also
attended, and Trenton Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey, but did not graduate.[12] In his music he
refers to having been involved in selling crack cocaine.[11]
According 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. Eventually, she bought him a boom box for his birthday, sparking his
interest in music. He began freestyling, writing lyrics, and followed the music of many artists popular at the
time.[13] In his neighborhood, Carter was known as "Jazzy", a nickname that eventually developed into his
stage name, "Jay-Z". 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.[9]
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". 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.[14] 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 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. His
first official rap single was called "I Can't Get With That", for which he released a music video. [15]
Musical career
199697: Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
From the beginning of his professional recording career, when no major label gave him a record deal, JayZ, Damon Dash, and Kareem Biggs created Roc-A-Fella Records as their own independent label. 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.. Despite reaching only number 23 on the Billboard 200, the album was
well-received by critics.[9] This album would later be included in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of
All Time" as #248 and would later reach platinum status.[16]
After reaching a new distribution deal with Def Jam in 1997, Jay-Z released his follow-up In My Lifetime,
Vol. 1. Executively produced by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, it sold better than his previous effort. Jay-Z
later explained that the album was made during one of the worst periods of his life. He was reeling from the
death of his close friend The Notorious B.I.G. The album was a personal revelation for Jay-Z as he spun the
tale of his hard knock upbringing.[17] The album's glossy production stood as a contrast to his first release,
and some dedicated fans felt he had "sold out". However, the album did feature some beats from producers
who had worked with him on Reasonable Doubt, namely DJ Premier and Ski. Like its predecessor, In My
Lifetime, Vol. 1 earned Platinum status in the United States.[16]
19982000: Vol. 2... Criminal charges and mainstream success
In 1998, Jay-Z released Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life which spawned the biggest hit of his career at the time,
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)". He relied more on flow and wordplay, and he continued with his
penchant for mining beats from the popular producers of the day such as Swizz Beatz, an upstart in-house
producer for Ruff Ryders, and Timbaland. Other producers include: DJ Premier, Erick Sermon, The 45
King, and Kid Capri. Charting hits from this album included "Can I Get A...", featuring Ja Rule and Amil,
and "Nigga What, Nigga Who", which featured Amil too. Vol. 2 would eventually become Jay-Z's most
commercially successful album; it was certified 5 Platinum in the United States and has to date sold over
five million copies.[16] The album went on to win a Grammy Award, although Jay-Z boycotted the ceremony
protesting DMX's failure to garner a Grammy nomination.[18]
In 1999, Jay-Z released Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter, the album proved to be successful and sold
over 3 million records.[16] Vol. 3's most successful single was "Big Pimpin'", featuring UGK. Around the
same time, Jay-Z was accused of stabbing record executive Lance "Un" Rivera for what Jay-Z perceived
was Rivera's bootlegging of Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter. The stabbing allegedly occurred at the
record release party for Q-Tip's debut solo album Amplified at the Kit Kat Klub, a now defunct night club
in Times Square, New York City, on December 9. Jay-Z's associates at the party were accused of causing a
commotion within the club, which Jay-Z allegedly used as cover when he supposedly stabbed Rivera in the
stomach with a five-inch (127 mm) blade.[19]
Jay-Z initially denied the incident and pleaded not guilty when a grand jury returned the indictment. Jay-Z
and his lawyers contended he was nowhere around Rivera during the incident and they had witnesses and
videotape evidence from the club that showed Jay-Z's whereabouts during the disturbance. Nevertheless, he
later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge that resulted in a sentence of three years probation. [20] In 2000,
Jay-Z released The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, which was originally intended to become a compilation
album for Roc-A-Fella artists but somehow turned into another Jay-Z album.[21] The album helped to
introduce newcomer producers The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Kanye West and Bink!, which have all gone on to
achieve notable success. This is also the first album where Jay-Z utilizes a more soulful sound than his
previous albums. The Dynasty: Roc La Familia sold over two million units in the U.S. alone.[16]
200102: Feud with Nas, The Blueprint and The Blueprint
In 2001, Jay-Z spoke out against Prodigy after he took an issue with a Jay-Z line from "Money, Cash,
Hoes" that he felt were subliminal shots at Mobb Deep and referenced Mobb Deep's beef with Tupac
Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Death Row Records. He later performed a song "Takeover," at Summer Jam
2001, which initially attacked Prodigy and revealed photos of Prodigy dressed like Michael Jackson.[22] A
line at the end of "Takeover" referenced Nas, who criticized him on "We Will Survive".[23] Nas responded
with a diss track called "Stillmatic" and almost instantly, Jay-Z added a verse to "Takeover" which dissed
Nas and would start a feud between the two rappers. Jay-Z later released his sixth studio album The
Blueprint which was later considered by many to be one of hip hop's "classic" albums, receiving the
coveted 5 mic review from The Source magazine. Released during the wake of September 11 attacks, the
album managed to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, selling more than 427,000 units;[24] the
album's success was overshadowed by the tragic event. The Blueprint has been certified 3x Platinum in the
United States.[16] The Blueprint was applauded for its production and the balance of "mainstream" and
"hardcore" rap, receiving recognition from both audiences. The Blueprint was written in only two days.[25]
Eminem was the only guest rapper on the album, producing and rapping on the song "Renegade". Four of
the thirteen tracks on the album were produced by Kanye West and represents one of West's first major
breaks in the industry.The Blueprint includes the popular songs "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)", "Girls, Girls, Girls,
Jigga That Nigga and Song Cry.
Jay-Z's next solo album was 2002's 3 million (U.S. only) selling[16] The Blueprint: The Gift & the Curse, a
double-album. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number one, selling over 545,000 units and
surpassing The Blueprint.[26] It was later reissued in a single-disc version, The Blueprint 2.1, which retained
half of the tracks from the original. The album spawned two massive hit singles, "Excuse Me Miss" and
"Bonnie & Clyde" featuring Jay-Z's girlfriend of four years Beyonc Knowles. "Guns & Roses", a track
featuring rock musician Lenny Kravitz, and "Hovi Baby" were two successful radio singles as well. The
album features the tracks "A Dream", featuring Faith Evans and a recording of the late The Notorious
B.I.G.; and "The Bounce", featuring Kanye West. The Blueprint 2.1 features tracks that do not appear on
The Blueprint: The Gift & the Curse, such as "Stop", "La La La (Excuse Me Again)", "What They Gonna
Do, Part II" and "Beware" produced by and featuring Panjabi MC.[27]
200305: The Black Album, retirement and Collision Course
Jay-Z toured with 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Sean Paul while finishing work on what was announced as
his final album, The Black Album.[28] He worked with several producers including Just Blaze, The
Neptunes, Kanye West, Timbaland, Eminem, DJ Quik, 9th Wonder and Rick Rubin. Notable songs on the
album included "What More Can I Say", "Dirt Off Your Shoulder", "Change Clothes", and "99 Problems".
A few of the songs done on this album portray a more personal side of Jay-Z; for example, "Moment of
Clarity" sheds light on his feelings towards his estranged father and coping with his death and deals with
accusations that he sold out to reach a wider audience. "What More Can I Say" addresses the "biting"
accusations leveled against him by Nas in "Ether" and other detractors. The Black Album has sold 3 million
copies in the US.[16]
On November 25, 2003, Jay-Z held a concert at Madison Square Garden, which would later be the focus of
his film Fade to Black. This concert was his "retirement party". All proceeds went to charity. Other
performers included collaborators like The Roots (in the form of his backing band), Missy Elliott, Memphis
Bleek, Beanie Siegel, Freeway, Mary J. Blige, Beyonc, Twista, Ghostface Killah, Foxy Brown, Pharrell
and R. Kelly with special appearances by Voletta Wallace and Afeni Shakur, the mothers of The Notorious
B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur respectively. While Jay-Z had attested to a retirement from making new studio
albums, various side projects and appearances soon followed. Included in these were a greatest hits record,
mash-up projects and concert appearances with R. Kelly and Linkin Park.
In 2004 Jay-Z collaborated with rock group Linkin Park. The project was named Collision Course, and
contained a six track EP, as well as a making of DVD. Some of the mash ups tracks were entitled "Dirt Off
Your Shoulder/Lying From You", "Jigga What/Faint", and "Numb/Encore". "Numb/Encore" went on to win
a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and was performed with Linkin Park live at the Grammys,
with a special appearance by Paul McCartney, who added verses from the song Yesterday. The EP sold over
1 million copies in the US alone.[16] Jay-Z was the executive producer of Fort Minor's debut album The
Rising Tied. Mike Shinoda got together with Jay-Z and Linkin Park bandmate Brad Delson to discuss what
tracks should make the album.
Later in 2004, Jay-Z was named president of Def Jam Records, which led to Jay-Z, Dash and Biggs selling
their remaining interests in Roc-A-Fella Records and Jay-Z taking control of both of the companies. [29]
Reportedly this major industry move was prompted by disagreements between Jay-Z and Dash as to what
direction Roc-A-Fella could undertake.[30] The publicized split between Jay-Z, Dash and Biggs led to the
former partners sending jabs at each other in interviews.[31]
200507: "I Declare War", Kingdom Come and American Gangster
Jay-Z at a concert in 2006.
On October 27, 2005, Jay-Z headlined New York's Power 105.1 annual concert, Powerhouse. The concert
was entitled the "I Declare War" concert leading to intense speculation in the weeks preceding the event on
whom exactly Jay-Z would declare war. As he had previously "declared war" on other artists taking lyrical
shots at him at other events, many believed that the Powerhouse show would represent an all-out assault by
Jay-Z upon his rivals.[32] The theme of the concert was Jay-Z's position as President and CEO of Def Jam,
complete with an on-stage mock-up of the Oval Office. Many artists made appearances such as the old
roster of Roc-A-Fella records artists, as well as Ne-Yo, Teairra Mari, T.I., Young Jeezy, Akon, Kanye West,
Paul Wall, The LOX, and Diddy.[33]
At the conclusion of the concert, Jay-Z put many arguments to rest to the surprise of hip hop fans. The most
significant development in this show was closure to the infamous hip hop rivalry between Jay-Z and Nas.
The two former rivals shook hands and shared the stage together to perform Jay-Z's "Dead Presidents"
blended with Nas's song "The World is Yours".[7]
Jay-Z returned with his comeback album on November 21, 2006 titled Kingdom Come.[34] Jay-Z's
comeback single, "Show Me What You Got", was leaked on the Internet in early October 2006, scheduled
to be released later on that month, received heavy air-play after its leak, causing the FBI to step in and
investigate.[35] Jay-Z worked with video director Hype Williams, and the single's video was directed by F.
Gary Gray (Friday, The Italian Job). The album features producers such as Just Blaze, Pharrell, Kanye
West, Dr. Dre and Coldplay's Chris Martin (single entitled "Beach Chair").[36][37] The first week saw 680,000
sales of the CD, which Entertainment Weekly said was "the highest single-week total in Jay's decadelong
career".[38] This album has sold 2 million copies in the U.S. alone.[16]
Jay-Z released his tenth album entitled American Gangster on November 6, 2007. After viewing the Ridley
Scott film of the same name, he was heavily inspired to create a new "concept" album that depicts his
experiences as a street-hustler.[39] The album is not the film's official soundtrack, although it was distributed
by Def Jam.[40] Jay-Z's American Gangster depicts his life in correlation to the movie American Gangster.
At the start of the album's first single, "Blue Magic", Jay-Z offers a dealer's manifesto while making
references to political figures of the late 1980s with the lyric: "Blame Reagan for making me to into a
monster, blame Oliver North and Iran-Contra, I ran contraband that they sponsored, before this rhymin'
stuff we was in concert."[41] Also notable about the "Blue Magic" music video was Jay-Z flashing 500 euro
notes, in what Harvard Business School professor Rawi Abdelal has called a "turning point in American
pop culture's response to globalization." The album has sold 1 million copies in the US.[16] On December
24, 2007, Jay-Z stated that he will not remain at Def Jam as the company's President, and vacated the
position effective of January 1, 2008.[42]
2008present: Glastonbury, New Record Deal and The Blueprint 3
Jay-Z during his Glastonbury performance
It was controversially announced on February 2, 2008 that Jay-Z would headline the 2008 Glastonbury
Festival, becoming the first major hip hop artist to headline the British festival. [43][44] Tickets initially failed
to sell out - with 100,000 being sold out of a possible 137,500. As the festival sold out in 2 hours the
previous year critics blamed the choice of a hip hop artist as opposed to a rock band as the main problem, [45]
although more a likely cause is the preceding run of terrible weather and flooding that in 2007 made life at
the festival very difficult.[46] Tickets eventually sold out in the final day before the festival. One of the more
outspoken critics of his selection was Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame, who criticised the organizers of the
festival for scheduling Jay-Z as a headliner for the traditionally guitar-driven, stating "I'm sorry, but Jay-Z?
No chance. Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music and even when they throw the odd curve ball in on
a Sunday night you go 'Kylie Minogue?' I don't know about it. But I'm not having hip hop at Glastonbury.
It's wrong."[47]
Controversy ensued in the months leading up to the event with artists, promoters and fans weighing in both
for and against. Jay-Z responded to this saying, "We don't play guitars, Noel, but hip hop has put in its
work like any other form of music. This headline show is just a natural progression. Rap music is still
evolving. We have to respect each other's genre of music and move forward."[48] In response to Gallagher's
criticism, Jay-Z opened his Glastonbury set with a tongue-in-cheek cover of Oasis's iconic song
"Wonderwall".[49] His Glastonbury performance was heralded as a successful response to pre-festival
criticism.[50]
When Gallagher was asked about the incident he replied "Someone asked me about the fact that
Glastonbury hadn't sold out for the first time in years, and if it was because of Jay-Z. From there it grew
into this crap that I was standing on an orange crate at Speakers' Corner saying, 'Gather round, brothers
and sisters. Have you heard what's happening at Glastonbury this year?' I've hung out with Jay-Z in Tokyo.
It's not my bag, but it's all right."[51] When Jay-Z was asked about Gallagher's comments he said "I heard he
was reaching out. I don't bear any grudge, it's all good. I just don't believe in good music and bad music,
I've always said that." and said that he would be interested in collaborating with Oasis in the future. [52]
He also headlined many other summer festivals in 2008, including Roskilde Festival in Denmark,[53] Hove
Festival in Norway[54] and O2 Wireless Festival in London.[55] Jay-Z also stated that after he finishing
touring he will work on a new album.[56] Timbaland has previously stated that he will be producing the
entire album.[57] Recently, however, Jay-Z went on record to say that it is not guaranteed to be a full
Timbaland production.[58] During Kanye West's August 6, 2008 concert at Madison Square Garden, Jay-Z
came out to perform a new song and he and Kanye proclaimed that it was to be on The Blueprint 3.[59] On
May 21, 2009, Jay-Z announced he would be parting ways with Def Jam, and had stuck a multi-million
dollar deal to sign for Live Nation, which he would start his Roc Nation imprint which would serve as a
record label, talent/management agency, and music publishing company [60] and also partnered up with
production team Stargate to start a record label called StarRoc.[61][62] Jay-Z's 11th studio album The
Blueprint 3 was originally to be released on September 11, 2009[63] but was instead released on September
8, 2009 due to increasing anticipation.[64] It is his 11th album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200[65] and has
surpassed Elvis Presley's previous record, making him the current record holder.[6]
On October 9, 2009, Jay-Z kicked off his tour for The Blueprint 3, during which he will support his new
album in North America. In a Shave Magazine review of his performance at Rexall Place in Edmonton,
Jake Tomlinson expressed that "It was the type of smooth performance you would expect from the hip-hop
superstar." The review gave this performance 4 stars. His North American tour is scheduled to continue
until November 22, 2009.[66] At his concert on November 8, 2009 at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, Rihanna
joined him on stage and performed Hard for the very first time, then performed Run This Town with
Jay. Enjoying their performances were Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Nicole Richie and Samantha
Ronson, James Blunt, and Jamie Foxx.[67]
Among his success, Jay-Z has ventured into producing Broadway shows. Along with Jada Pinkett Smith
and Will Smith, Jay-Z helped produced the play "Fela!," a musical celebrating the work of the late Nigerian
star Fela Anikulapo Kuti.[68] Jay-Z said he was inspired by the power of Kuti's work and his life story,
which resulted in his interest to help produce the musical.[68] "Fela!" is a story about a African pioneer and
political activist who made his first moves on the scene during the 1970s.[68]
Business ventures
Jay-Z has also established himself as an entrepreneur like his fellow hip hop moguls, and friends, Russell
Simmons, Dr. Dre and Sean "Diddy" Combs, who also have business holdings such as record companies
and clothing lines. In an interview, he stated that "my brands are an extension of me. They're close to me.
It's not like running GM, where there's no emotional attachment."[69]
He is the founder of the urban clothing brand Rocawear along with Damon Dash.[70] Rocawear has clothing
lines and accessories for men, women and children. The line was taken over by Jay-Z in early 2006
following a falling out with co-founder Damon Dash. In March 2007, Jay-Z sold the rights to the Rocawear
brand to Iconix Brand Group, for $204 million. Jay-Z will retain his stake in the company and will continue
to oversee the marketing, licensing and product development.[70][71] He also co-owns The 40/40 Club, an
upscale sports bar that started in New York City and has since expanded to Atlantic City and Chicago. In
2008, the 40/40 club in Las Vegas was closed down and bought back by the hotel after attendance steadily
declined, future plans will see 40/40 Clubs in Tokyo, and Singapore.[72]
Jay-Z serves as co-brand director for Budweiser Select and collaborates with the company on strategic
marketing programs and creative ad development. He provides direction on brand programs and ads that
appear on TV, radio, print, and high-profile events.[73] He is a part-owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team
paying a reported $4.5 million for his share. He is interested in relocating the team to Brooklyn. In October
2005, he was reported in English media as considering buying a stake of Arsenal F.C., an English soccer
team.[74] He has also invested in a real estate development venture called J Hotels which recently acquired a
$66 million mid-block parcel in Chelsea, New York. Jay-Z and his partners are contemplating constructing
a high-end hotel or an art gallery building on the newly acquired site which has the potential to go up about
twelve stories.[75]
Personal life
Relationship with Beyonc
Jay-Z's most public relationship has been with American R&B singer Beyonc Knowles, a former member
of Destiny's Child. In 2002, Jay-Z & Beyonce collaborated for the song "Bonnie & Clyde". Jay-Z also
appeared on Knowles' hit single "Crazy In Love" and as well as "That's How You Like It" from her debut
Dangerously in Love. On her second album, B'Day, he made appearances on the 2006 hits, "Dj Vu" and
"Upgrade U". In the video for the latter song, she comically imitates his appearance.[76]
The couple generally avoid discussing their relationship. Beyonc has stated that she believes that not
publicly discussing their relationship has helped them. Jay-Z said in a People article, "We don't play with
our relationship.[77] " They keep a low public profile despite being photographed at New Jersey Nets home
games and while on vacation in Cannes in 2007. The pair were listed as a power couple on Time
Magazine's 100's Most Influential People of 2006.[citation needed]
On April 4, 2008, it was reported by People that Knowles and Jay-Z had been married at a private
ceremony in New York City.[8] It became a matter of public record on April 22, 2008, [78] but Knowles did
not publicly debut her $5 million Lorraine Schwartz-designed wedding ring until the Fashion Rocks
concert on September 5, 2008 in New York City.[79]
Philanthropy
Jay-Z attends President Barack Obama's staff party during the January 2009 inaugural festivities.
During his retirement, Jay-Z also became involved in philanthropic activity. On August 9, 2006, he met
with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the organization's headquarters in New York City. The rapper
pledged to use his upcoming world tour to raise awareness ofand combatglobal water shortage. Already
on the look-out for a way to, in his own words, "become helpful", he had been made aware of this issue
during a visit to Africa.[80] The effort took place in partnership with the UN,[81] as well as MTV, which
produced a documentary entitled Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life, first airing in November 2006.[82]
Along with Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jay-Z pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross' relief effort after
Hurricane Katrina.[83] Jay-Z stated his support for Kanye West after the latter's outburst against President
Bush during a live Katrina charity telethon.[84] He also addressed the issue of the Katrina disaster, and the
government's response, in his song "Minority Report".[85]
BLUEPRINT 3
The Blueprint 3 is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released September 8, 2009 on
Roc Nation in the United States.[12][13] The album was released digitally on September 11, 2009, and its
United Kingdom and international release followed on September 14 that same year.[14] It is the final
installment in The Blueprint trilogy, preceded by the critically acclaimed The Blueprint (2001) and its
follow-up The Blueprint: The Gift & The Curse (2002).
The entire album was leaked on August 31, 2009.[15] When asked about the leak, Jay-Z stated: "It's a
preview. I'm excited for people to hear the album. I'm very proud of the work I've done, so enjoy it".[16]
Upon its release, The Blueprint 3 received generally positive reviews from music critics, based on an
aggregate score of 65/100 from Metacritic. The album sold an estimated 476,000 copies in its first week [17]
and it became his 11th US number one album, breaking the record he had previously shared with Elvis
Presley.[18]
Contents
[hide]
1 Background
2 Recording
o 2.1 Commercial performance
o 2.2 Critical response
3 Track listing
4 Chart history
5 Personnel
6 References
7 External links
[edit] Background
The earliest hype over The Blueprint 3 came when DJ Clue released in January 2008 a mixtape song called
"Ain't I", produced by Timbaland. In the intro, Clue says, "Off that Blueprint 3 baby!" However, a
spokesperson for Jay-Z said that it was an old, unreleased song and that the recording of The Blueprint 3
had not yet started.[19] In July, Timbaland, a frequent contributor of previous Jay-Z albums, told MTV News
that he would be producing the whole album.[20] But in an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine, Jay-Z
called the statement "premature".[21] Later that month, Jay-Z appeared onstage to perform the Kanye West
produced song "Jockin' Jay-Z" during the latter's Glow in the Dark Tour.[22] The following day, Jay-Z
confirmed The Blueprint 3 as the album's title during an interview with radio station Shade 45.[22]
By November 2008, he had finished the album but with lengthy negotiations with Def Jam, he went onto
reworking it.[23] In January 2009, Jay-Z confirmed continued production of the album and admitted the leak
of several songs.[24][25] The album's street single "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" was premiered on June 5
via New York radio station Hot 97.[26] On May 20, 2009, Jay-Z confirmed that he bought out the remainder
of his contract from Def Jam Records in order to start his contract with Live Nation, as The Blueprint 3 was
set to be released under Roc Nation and distributed by Atlantic Records.[13]
[edit] Recording
Most of the album's recording sessions took place in Hawaii at Avex Honolulu Studio,[27] in an effort to
avoid leakage. West's protg Mr Hudson explained to the The Times that he "won't get bothered there"
compared to a major city such as New York or Los Angeles.[28] Sessions for the album took place during
2008 to 2009 at Avex Honolulu Studio and several other recording studios, including Germano Studios,
Oven Studios, and Roc The Mic in New York City, Kingdom Studios and Lava Studios in Cleveland,
Midnight Blue Studios and South Beach Studios in Miami, The Holy Chateau in Perth, Australia, and
Westlake Studio in Los Angeles.[29][27]
Jay-Z told Rolling Stone magazine his method of selecting producers: "If Timbaland makes ten great tracks
then he produces the album, if Kanye West makes ten great tracks then he produces the album; if he makes
three, I'll take three. I let the music dictate the direction."[21] However, judging by the final track listing, it
appears that West is producing majority of tracks in the album, and three done by Timbaland. West
confirmed two songs, "A Star Is Born" and "Young Forever", during an appearance on the The Wake Up
Show in February 2009.[30] Mr Hudson, who is the featured artist on the latter, described it as a flip on the
Alphaville record of a similar name.[31] During a joint interview with Hudson, West confirmed that the pop
artist would be featured on three songs.[31] Pharrell stated that he emailed "So Ambitious" to Jay-Z the day
he was mastering the album. He loved the track so much that he put off the mastering.
In a Billboard magazine interview, Jay-Z confirmed "What We Talkin' About", the album's intro, "Thank
You", and "Already Home" as song names and collaborations with Australian dance group Empire of the
Sun, rappers Drake and Kid Cudi and singer Rihanna.[23] He also mentioned in an interview with DJ Semtex
that his favorite song on the album is "Empire State of Mind".[32] The official tracklist for Blueprint 3 was
revealed on August 18, confirming the guest appearances from Drake, Alicia Keys, Kid Cudi, J. Cole, and
more.[33]
[edit] Commercial performance
The Blueprint 3 debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 489,000 units in its first
week. This was the third highest first week sales of 2009.[34] It became his 11th US number one album,
breaking the record he had previously shared with Elvis Presley.[18] In its second week, it remained at
number 1, shifting a further 298,000 units. In its third week it dropped one spot at number 2 selling another
134,000 bringing the albums total sales figures to 908,000 in its first three weeks. In its fourth week it sold
89,000 copies, bringing the four week total to 997,000, just three thousand copies short of platinum status
after four weeks of sales. It is the second highest selling hip hop/rap album of 2009 behind Eminem's
Relapse. In the album's fifth week it sold 65,000 copies bringing the total to 1,062,000 it is Jay-Z's 11th
solo album to go Platinum.[35][36] The album in its fifth week is also number 5 on the Billboard 200 albums
chart. In its sixth week the album rose up 2 spots to number 3 on the Billboard 200, despite selling 55,000
copies, 10,000 less than its previous week. 43,000 copies were sold in the US in its seventh week, putting it
at number 4 on the charts. In week eight the album sold 41,000 copies. In the next week album sold 38,000
units.[37][38] In next three weeks album sold over 100,000 copies and its current sales in the U.S. is over
1,350,000 units.[37] The album has topped Billboard Rap Albums chart for 10 consecutives week. In its
eleventh week the album fell to number 2 on the rap charts, being surpased by the debut of 50 Cent's
Before I self Destruct
According to Mediatraffic [39], the worldwide sales are as follows: 489,000 first week, 369,000 second week
(note that the album was released internationally a week after the US and Canada, so this week was its first
week released internationally): 858,000 total. 194,000 third week: 1,052,000 total. 135,000 fourth week:
1,187,000 total. 99,000 fifth week: 1,286,000 total. 86,000 sixth week: 1,372,000 total. 63,000 seventh
week: 1,435,000 total. 57,000 eighth week: 1,492,000 total. 56,000 ninth week: 1,548,000 total. 51,000
tenth week: 1,599,000 total. After 10 weeks of release, the Blueprint 3 sold over 1.6 million units
worldwide.
[edit] Critical response
The Blueprint 3 received generally positive reviews from music critics, based on an aggregate score of
65/100 from Metacritic.[40] Newday gave it an A rating,[41] and Robert Christgau gave it an A- rating and
called it "fairly superb".[2] USA Today gave the album 3 out of 4 stars and praised its lyrical qualities,
stating "There was a time when a rapper couldn't expect to last past his 20s. Jay-Z, who is nearing 40 and
releasing his 11th studio album, shows that for someone who is measured mostly against himself, lyrical
dexterity doesn't have an expiration date".[9] Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+ rating and wrote that it
succeeds at its goal of "reaching maximum commercial blast radius while maintaining its street bona fides".
[3]
The Daily Telegraph gave The Blueprint 3 4 out of 5 stars and commended its modern sound.[42]
About.com gave the album 3 out of 5 stars and wrote that it "is a fresh listen, but it doesnt live up to the
hype".[43] The A.V. Club gave it a B+ rating and wrote that "Jay-Z sounds liberated by his legacy rather than
weighed down by expectations".[44]
Despite giving it a generally favorable review, Slant Magazine's William McBee called it "predictable" and
"complacent," and wrote that "The album is a hip-hop feast, for sure, filled to the brim with elite production
and elite rapping, but it lacks the hungriness, the spirit, and the craziness that marks a classic album." [45]
The Smoking Section had a similar sentiment, writing "While he's always been able to connect with
listeners either by drawing on his humble beginnings or giving them something to aspire to, theres just not
much of that this go around."[46] The Washington Post gave the album a negative review and criticized its
lyrical substance.[47] Despite calling the songs "more superficial" than Jay-Z's best work, Chris Carle of
IGN gave it a rating of 7.9/10 and wrote that "This is commercial rap, but it's well-made, and many of the
tracks have been tailor-made to be singles".[48] The Times gave the album 3 out of 5 stars and called it "no
great milestone, but far from the predicted disaster."[49] The Guardian's Alexis Petridis gave it a mixed
review and wrote that the album "peters out in a mass of indistinct tracks" following its first four songs. [50]
In a generally favorable review of The Blueprint 3, Kiilian Fox of The Observer wrote that Jay-Z is
"maturing into a responsible elder statesman" through the album. [51]
[edit] Track listing
MIDNIGHT SUN
Few rappers can make an entrance like Jay-Z.
He didn't just take the stage -- he set a timer first.
Before his sold-out show began last night at 1st Mariner Arena, the THX sound effect boomed through the
speakers and digital clocks displayed on the big screens started counting down from 10 minutes. When time
ran out, the curtain was pulled back, revealing Jay-Z's tight 10-piece band and a screen shaped like the New
York City skyline.
He didn't just walk onto the stage, either. He rose from the floorboards, wearing black shades, black pants, a
black shirt and a black leather jacket.
Now that's an entrance.
The rest of the show was everything you'd expect from one of hip-hop's superstars: Swaggering, bragging
and furious verses. Jay-Z dominated the mike, and the audience loved nearly every minute of it ...
When Jay-Z told them to bounce, they bounced. When he told them to make some noise, they made some
noise, chanting "HOVA" and making his trademark diamond-shaped hand sign. Here is a link to a photo
gallery from the show.
Jay-Z's performance was a 90-minute hit parade that toured through "The Black Album," "Vol. 2 ... Hard
Knock Life" and the rapper's latest No. 1 album (his 11th to debut at No. 1, which surpasses Elvis' record,
he reminded us last night), "The Blueprint 3."
Longtime collaborator Memphis Bleek joined Jay-Z for much of the show, J. Cole guested on "Every Day
A Star Is Born" and singer Bridget Kelly easily held down Alicia Key's parts on "Empire State of Mind."
The highlights: "Jigga What, Jigga Who" was just dirty; Jay-Z nailed it. "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
had an easygoing groove. And Pharrell joined Jay-Z for a solid performance of the brass heavy, highstepping "So Ambitious."Jay-Z had the band fade out at the end of several songs so he could deliver the last
verse and chorus a capella, which gave the words even more weight.
The show's only stumble was the long, rambling finish. Jay-Z might know how to get a performance
rolling, but he had trouble wrapping things up last night.
During the encore, he took about 15 minutes to give shout outs to strangers in the crowd, identifying them
by what they were wearing. If you weren't up front, it was incredibly boring, and unsurprisingly, people
started leaving early.
Finally, Jay-Z closed out the show with a so-so rendition of "Forever Young" and saluted the crowd while
being lowered back down below the stage. Endings aside, last night's show was definitely one for the
books.
The opening acts weren't too shabby, either. Washington's own Wale, who looks to be the most promising
rapper to come out of the District, warmed up the audience with some heavy-hitting hip-hop (and even a
little go-go). During his last song, Wale strode out into the crowd, shaking hands and greeting folks. When
his debut "Attention: Deficit" drops Nov. 10, he might not need to introduce himself anymore.
N.E.R.D. hit the stage after Wale, delivering an intense set of rap/funk/hip-hop. Their songs, which seemed
too progressive for the crowd, changed tempos more than Madonna changes outfits. The only track that
really brought down the house was their closer, Pharrell's "Drop it Like It's Hot."