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Jay-Z
Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) is a living legend who leveraged his work as a rap phenomenon into one of the most successful entrepreneurial careers forged in the music industry, becoming the first hip-hop artist to achieve billionaire status in 2019. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y.; height is 6’2”, and his birthday is Dec. 4, 1969. Following his 1996 debut studio album ‘Reasonable Doubt,’ released under his self-owned record label Roc-A-Fella Records, he would go on to release more than a dozen No. 1 albums, notching his first chart-topping LP in 1998 with ‘Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life,’ and reaching the top again with projects such as 2001’s ‘The Blueprint’ and 2017’s ‘4:44.’ Known for helping to jump-start the wildly successful careers of artists including Kanye West and Rihanna, the MC is a serial collaborator whose songs with Mariah Carey (1999’s “Heartbreaker”), Alicia Keys (2009’s “Empire State of Mind”) and his equally legendary wife, Beyoncé (2003’s “Crazy In Love”) all topped the Billboard Hot 100. He has more than 20 Grammy wins under his belt, including best rap album for ‘Vol 2,’ best R&B song and best rap/sung collaboration for “Crazy in Love,” best rap solo performance for “99 Problems” and “Umbrella,” best R&B song for “Drunk in Love,” and many more. Shortly after a three-year stint as the CEO of Def Jam Recordings, he founded his lucrative entertainment agency Roc Nation in 2008.
