Jay-Z (1967– )

US rap artist and producer. He released a string of platinum albums during the late 1990s and early 2000s, featuring hit singles such as ‘Can I Get A…’ and ‘Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)’ (both 1998). He went on to build a multimillion-dollar empire with his Roc-A-Fella record label and film company and his Rocawear clothing company.

He set up the Roc-A-Fella label in 1996 and released the album Reasonable Doubt, featuring the hit single ‘Ain't No N∗∗∗∗/Dead Presidents’. He followed this with Vol. 1 – In My Lifetime (1997), with collaborations from Puff Daddy (P Diddy) and Lil' Kim, featuring the singles ‘You Must Love Me’ and ‘Where I'm From’. Other platinum albums include Vol. 2 – Hard Knock Life (1998), Vol. 3 – Life and Times of S. Carter (1999, Grammy award), Dynasty – Roc La Familia 2000 (2000), Blueprint (2001), Best of Both Worlds (2002), Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002), and The Black Album (2003). He also released an MTV unplugged album in 2001.

He wrote, directed, and produced the autobiographical short film Streets Is Watching (1998). The popular soundtrack featured the hit single ‘It's Alright’.

He was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He collaborated with rap singer Jaz in the early 1990s and released the underground hit ‘In My Lifetime’ in 1995.