Donnie L.

Matthews
Dr. Witherspoon
English 101-18
7 November 2014
Jay-Z

Shawn Corey Carter, known by his stage name Jay-Z is an African American rapper,
record producer, and entrepreneur. He is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists
and entrepreneurs in America. On December 11, 2009, Jay-Z was ranked as the tenth-most
successful artist of the 2000s by Billboard as well as the fifth top solo male artist and fourth top
rapper behind Eminem, Nelly, and 50 Cent. He was also ranked the 88th greatest artist of all
time by Rolling Stone. Jay-Z is arguably one of the best artist of all time. Jay-Z has been more
influential in the twenty-first century than he has been in the 20th century based off record sales,
net worth and label production. Without Jay-Z, Hip Hop would not be the same.
Jay-Z has released fifteen studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums,
one soundtrack album, two extended plays, one-hundred fifteen singles (forty five of which he
featured on), nine promotional singles and eighty-two music videos. Jay-Z began his music
career in the 1980s, building a reputation as a fledgling rapper in his hometown of Brooklyn and
collaborating with his mentor and fellow rapper Jaz-O. Jay-Z founded Roc-A-Fella Records
with close friends Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke and released his debut studio
album Reasonable Doubt in June 1996. The album peaked at number twenty-three on the United
States Billboard 200 record chart. In 1996 Jay-Z was still working his way up the food chain to

establish himself as the dominant rapper he is today. Jay-Z's heavy influences have transitioned
into profit.
Now other rappers are working their way up to his prestige. He is one of the world's
best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 75 million records. He has received 19
Grammy awards for his music and been nominated many other times. Every album published by
Jay-Z in the year 2000 and beyond has reached number one on the billboard.
With album sales like that comes major profit. In 2014, Forbes estimated Jay-Z's net
worth of nearly $560 million. Jay-Z is not just a rapper or producer, he is also a businessman. As
an entrepreneur and investor, Jay-Z co-owns the 40/40 Club, and is the co-creator of the clothing
line Roca wear. He is the former president of Def Jam Recordings, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella
Records, and the founder of Roc Nation. Jay-Z sold Roca wear clothing label for $204 million in
2007, signed 10-year $150 million Live Nation deal in 2008 and holds stakes in the New Jersey
Nets, 40/40 Club chain, and ad firm Translation. Jay-Z makes just as many moves on wall street
and in his office as he does in the studio.
On April 4, 2008 Jay-Z married superstar singer, Beyonce. As of June, 2014,
Beyonce and Jay-Z have a combined net worth of $1 billion. Jay-Z's portion of their net worth is
$560 million and Beyonce's is $450 million. That's easily enough to make them one of the top
10 richest couple in the world.
Founded in 2008, Roc Nation is a full-service entertainment company. The music label is
home to amazing artist such as Rihanna, J-cole, and Kanye west. Jay-Z is responsible for the
finding of all three of these Superstars. Each of them has their own significant role in the hiphop and pop genre's.

Rihanna is a Barbadian singer, actress, and fashion designer. Born in Saint Michaels,
Barbados. Her career began upon meeting record producer Evan Rogers in late 2003 through
mutual friends; she recorded demo tapes with his guidance. Her tape was sent to several record
labels, and she subsequently signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for its
then-president, hip-hop producer and rapper Jay-Z. She rose to international prominence and
became a household name with the release of her third studio album, Good Girl Gone
Bad (2007), and its chart-topping lead single "Umbrella." The album and its
2008 Reloaded rerelease were nominated for nine Grammy Awards, winning Best Rap/Sung
Collaboration for "Umbrella" with the mastermind himself Jay-Z.
Jermaine Lamarr Cole , better known by his stage name J. Cole, is an African
American hip hop recording artist, songwriter and record producer from Fayetteville, North
Carolina. Cole first received recognition in 2007, following the release of his debut mix tape The
Come Up. Shortly after the release of The Come Up, Cole was contacted by American
rapper Jay-Z and signed to his record label Roc Nation, in 2009. In that same year, Cole released
his second mix tape, The Warm Up, which was followed by Cole's third mix tape, Friday Night
Lights, in 2010. Under the tutelage of Jay-Z, J-Cole is now one of the up and coming superstars
of the Rap game. He is undoubtedly one of the leaders of the new generation.
Kanye Omari West is an African-American rapper, songwriter, record producer, director,
entrepreneur, and fashion designer. West first gained prominence as a producer for Roc-A-Fella
Records; he achieved recognition for his work on rapper Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001), as well
as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style
of production originally used high-pitched vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his

own drums and instruments. Kanye west views Jay-Z as one of his rap influences and as a
mentor.
Jay-Z's influence in the twenty-first century has monumentally changed the rap game and
influenced artist to come. For those reasons, that is why I believe Jay-Z has been more
influential in the twenty-first century than he has been in the 20th century.