Biography of Shawn Corey Carter
Shawn Corey Carter, an American rapper, grew up in the drug-ridden Marcy Projects of Brooklyn. Jay-Z originally appeared in Yo! MTV Raps in 1989 and used rap as an escape. Following his Roc-a-Fella label’s millions of record sales, Jay-Z launched an entertainment firm and his apparel brand. Shawn Corey Carter married Beyoncé, a well-known singer and actress, in 2008.
Early Life – Education and Birth Place
Shawn Corey Carter was born in Brooklyn, NY. Jay-mother Z’s later remembered Jay-father, Z’s Adnes Reeves, left the family when he was just 11 years old. The young rapper, Jay-Z, was born and raised by his mother, Gloria Carter, in the drug-ridden Marcy Projects of Brooklyn.
Shawn Carter used drugs and dabbled in gun violence throughout a difficult adolescence that is chronicled in many of his autobiographical songs. The soon-to-be-martyred rap icon Notorious B.I.G. was a classmate of his at Brooklyn’s Eli Whitney High School. In one of his songs (“December 4th”), Jay-Z subsequently recalled his early years, stating, “I went to school, had high marks, could behave when I wanted/ However, I harbored internal demons that would surface when pressed.”
| School/High School | United States Queen’s Gate School, London, England |
| College | Not Known |
Struggle and Career of Shawn Corey Carter
The Hip-Hop Fame Journey
At an early age, Carter resorted to rap as a way out of drug abuse, violence, and destitution. Jay-Z collaborated with rapper Jaz-O, an elder artist who functioned as a mentor, in 1989 to record a song titled “The Originators,” which earned them a spot on a Yo! MTV Raps episode. At this point, Carter adopted the moniker Jay-Z, which was a play on his childhood nickname of “Jazzy,” an homage to Jaz-O, and a reference to the J/Z subway stop close to his Brooklyn home.
In 1996 Jay-Z released Reasonable Doubt, his debut album. The album, which featured collaborations with Notorious B.I.G. on “Brooklyn’s Finest” and Mary J. Blige on “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” is now regarded as a classic hip-hop record despite only peaking at No. 23 on the Billboard 200. Jay-Z became known as a rising hip-hop star after Reasonable Doubt.
The rapper released several No. 1 albums and smash singles over those years. “Big Pimpin’,” “I Just Wanna Love U,” “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” and “03 Bonnie & Clyde,” a duet with future wife Beyoncé Knowles, are some of his most well-known tracks from this era. Jay-most Z’s well-known album during this time was The Blueprint (2001), which went on to rank high among the albums of the decade, according to several music critics.
In 2003, Jay-Z dropped The Black Album and declared it to be his final solo album before retiring, which took hip-hop fans by surprise. Jay-Z stated that he used to get inspiration from attempting to outdo other legendary MCs, but that he had grown bored because there wasn’t much competition.
Rap Comeback
Jay-Z announced his comeback to the music industry in 2006 with the release of his new album, Kingdom Come. He quickly followed up with the 2007 release of American Gangster and the 2009 release of Blueprint 3. These three albums significantly altered Jay-Z’s sound, as they incorporated more rock and soul influences in their production and addressed adult issues such as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election in 2008, and the dangers of fame and wealth. Jay-Z stated, “Hopefully, the topics will cover more territory, and the audience will stay engaged for longer as more individuals get older.”
Jay-Z released Magna Carta Holy Grail, his 12th studio album, in July 2013. The album did well with fans despite receiving a mixed response from reviewers; it eventually peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and became double platinum.
Jay-Z had an incredible nine Grammy nominations that won and Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake shared the victory for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for their smash hit song, “Holy Grail.”
Other Business Ventures
Jay-Z focused on the business side of music during his break from rapping, eventually, rising to the position of president of Def Jam Recordings. However, In 2007, Jay-Z left as president of Def Jam, citing the company’s unwillingness to abandon its outdated business practices. Jay-Z and Live Nation, a concert promotion firm, inked a $150 million deal in 2008.
Notably, Two of Jay-other Z’s commercial endeavors include Roc-a-Fella Films and the well-known urban apparel brand Rocawear. In addition, he owns the 40/40 Club, a classy sports club that started in New York City and eventually expanded to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and (since closed) Las Vegas.
Jay-Z has been a part-owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team since 2004. However, To obtain his certification as a sports agent, Jay-Z liquidated his Brooklyn Nets shares and founded the full-service sports management company Roc Nation Sports in 2013. Jay-Z famously rapped, “I’m not a businessman,” about his business empire.
When Jay-Z and a number of his powerful friends—Madonna, Nicki Minaj, and Jack White, among others—announced the relaunch of Tidal, a streaming music service, the business grabbed headlines once more in March 2015. The program attracted a respectable number of users—a reported one million in September 2015—Early in 2017, Sprint, the largest telecommunications company, acquired a 33 percent share in Tidal from Jay-Z.
According to Forbes, Jay-Z became the first billionaire rapper in June 2019 because of his ownership of Uber and Armand de Brignac champagne. Not too long after, Jay-Z moved into yet another emerging sector of the economy when he was hired as chief brand strategist by the Caliva cannabis company in California.
‘4:44’
Jay-Z was the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 15, 2017. Regarding the honor, Jay-Z tweeted, saying, “I recall when rap was said to be a fad.”
Subsequently, on June 30, Jay-Z made his thirteenth solo album, 4:44, available only to Sprint and Tidal users. Based only on download counts, the Recording Industry Association of America certified it platinum less than a week after its release. The extremely personal album, which features Beyoncé, Damian Marley, and Frank Ocean as special guests, instantly became a financial and critical hit and received praise for the rapper’s open lyrics and newfound artistic maturity.
Jay-Z referred to the album’s title track, “4:44,” as “one of the best songs I’ve ever written” in an iHeartMedia interview.
Notably, It seems that his lyrics speak to the marital problems and adultery that Beyoncé, his wife, discussed in her candid record, Lemonade:
About the birth of their children, Jay-Z sings in the song, “I apologize, often womanize / Took for my child to be born / See through a woman’s eyes.
Other songs include “The Story of OJ,” a critique of the success culture, and “Kill Jay-Z,” which the rapper stated iHeartMedia “is about cutting off the ego.” In the iHeartMedia interview, Jay-Z stated, “‘The Story of OJ’ is a song about us as a culture, having a plan, how we’re going to drive this forward.”
Jay-Z achieved the top spot on the list of nominees for this year’s Grammy Awards and earned eight nominations for his song 4:44. Though Jay-Z did win the 2018 Salute to Industry Icons Award, Jay-Z ultimately lost out when the winners were revealed in January of that year.
‘Everything Is Love’ and OTR II
Shortly after, the king of hip-hop declared that Jay-Z and Beyoncé would be joining together for the OTR II Tour, which would be an extension of their 2014 endeavor. Following this announcement, the tour began on June 6 in Cardiff, Wales, and ten days later, the couple released a collaborative album titled Everything Is Love, giving their fans even more reason to celebrate. Initially, the album was first only available for streaming on Jay-Tidal. Z’s A music video for the song “Apes**t,” which featured the Carters in an aristocratic setting while they sang and rapped amidst the iconic artwork of the Louvre in Paris, was also released along with the album.
Grammys and Awards of Shawn Corey Carter
| Award Names/ Years | Performance/Results |
| XXL Awards (2001) | Man of the Year (won) |
| Whudat Music Award (2005) | Video of the Year (won) |
| Urban Music Award (2009) | Best Hip-Hop Act (won) |
| Webby Awards (2018) | Film & Video – Best Individual Performance (won) |
| UK Music Video Awards (2021) | Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video–International (Nominated) |
| Primetime Emmy Awards (2022) | Outstanding Variety Special (Live) (won) |
| Guys’ Choice Award (2024) | Global Impact Award (won) |
Relationship – Love Life, Marriage or Girlfriend
Jay-Z, who is fiercely protective of his personal life, spent years keeping his relationship with popular singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles a secret. Nevertheless, the pair even succeeded in keeping the media at bay for their little New York City wedding on April 4, 2008.
Subsequently, Jay-Z and Beyoncé have been the focus of several pregnancy rumors ever since they got married. On January 7, 2012, they welcomed Blue Ivy Carter, a daughter, into their family.
Jay-Z posted a song on his website in her honor shortly after his daughter was born. Furthermore, Jay-Z announced on “Glory” that he was happy to be a parent and that Beyoncé had miscarried in the past.
Figure – Physical Measurements
Jay-Z weighs 83 kg and stands 6 feet 2 inches, or 1.88cm, tall. Moreover, His stunning dark black hair and eyes complement his complexion.
| Height | In meters- 188m |
| Weight | 83 kg or 183 Ibs |
| Body Measurement | 44-36-14 inches |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Shoe size | 10 US |
Age of Shawn Corey Carter
Shawn Corey Carter was raised in Brooklyn, New York. By 2024, he will be 54 years old.
Wiki Info
Here is some Wiki information about Shawn Carter given below:
| Real Name | Shawn Carter |
| Nickname | Jay-Z (or Jazzy), S-dot, Hove, Jageman, Iceberg Slim, Jigga, J-Hove, Lucky Lefty, Joe Camel, Hov, Young Ho |
| Date of Birth | December 4, 1969 |
| Place of Birth | Brooklyn, New York City |
| Age | 54 |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity/Race | African American |
| Parents | Father–Adness Reeves Mother–Gloria Carter |
| Siblings | Brother: Eric Carter Sisters: Andrea Carter and Michelle Carter |
| Children | Daughter: Blue Ivy Carter Son: Sir Carter, and Rumi Carter |
| Wife Name | Beyoncé Knowles |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Occupation | Rapper, Record Producer, Songwriter, Businessman, Entrepreneur and Investor |
Shawn Corey Carter Favorite’s
Jay-Z’s favorite interests are listed below.
| Favorite Food | Pasta, Cereal |
| Favorite Pet | Dog |
| Favorite Music | Hip-hop |
| Favorite Movie | Godfather 2 |
| Favorite Perfume | Gold Jay Z |
| Favorite Color | Blue |
| Favorite Sport | Basket |
Net Worth
As of January 2024, superstar rapper and businessman Jay-Z has amassed an astounding $2.5 billion in net worth. Jay-Z became the first rapper to become a billionaire, a feat Jay-Z accomplished in 2019, which is evidence of his enormous success in music and a variety of economic endeavors, including his extremely successful liquor companies.
Social Media Accounts
Below are some social media accounts of Jay-Z with followers:
| 410 k Followers | |
| 124.9 k Followers | |
| 22 M Followers | |
| Youtube | 3.56 M Followers |
Why is Shawn Corey Carter called Jay-Z?
According to his interviews and lyrics, Shawn Corey Carter peddled crack cocaine and was shot three times during that time. His ex-friend was sentenced to prison for possessing drugs and weapons. Known as "Jazzy" in the neighborhood, he later went by the stage moniker "Jay-Z" in honor of his instructor Jaz-O.
How many awards did Jay-Z win?
Jay-Z won 24 Grammy Awards.
When did Jay-Z get his first GRAMMY?
Jay Z won his first GRAMMY for Best Rap Album with Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life in 1998.
Who is more famous Jay-Z or Beyonce?
OPINION: Beyoncé is currently the biggest pop star in America. However, Jay-Z is a big star in his own right and has been for decades. Editor's note: The following is an opinion piece in which the author expresses his or her views.
