About Jay-Z
Jay-Z is arguably one of the bestselling music artists of all-time and among the most prominent names in rap and hip hop music today. He has sold over hundred million albums and has an impressive 21 Grammys to his credit. Besides, he is also a very successful entrepreneur who runs an entertainment company called Roc Nation.
The rapper will be seen at the Austin City Limits Festival in October following which he will kick off a promotional tour for his latest music record ‘4:44.’
Jay Z tickets for the much anticipated upcoming events are available here. Grab yours before they run out.
Early Life
Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter in Brooklyn, New York on December 4, 1969. His father abandoned the family when he was only eleven years old. He was raised by his mother singlehandedly.
Jay-Z received a boom box as a gift from his mother on one of his birthdays. This sparked his interest in music and at a very young age he found himself writing lyrics and free styling.
In 1989 he joined the rapper Jaz-O from whom he learned the basics of rap music. Owing to his association with Jaz-O, Shawn Carter became popular in his neighborhood by the name ‘Jazzy.’ Eventually he changed his name to Jay-Z to honor his mentor.
Breakthrough
Initially Jay-Z gained popularity for his collaborations with Damon Dash and Kareem Burke. Together the three founded their own label, Roc-A Fella Records in 1995.
Jay Z released his debut record ‘Reasonable Doubt’ in 1996. It may not have received commercial success but it is regarded as one of the greatest all-time albums today. Among the notable songs on the record are ‘Brooklyn’s Finest’ and ‘Can’t Knock the Hustle.’
The turning point of Jay-Z’s music career came with the release of his third studio album ‘Vol 2…Hard Knock Life’ in 1998. It was the rapper’s first album to debut at the top spot on the Billboard 200. It also won a Grammy for ‘Best Rap Album.’ Its title song is considered the rapper’s most successful commercial single so far.
Discography
In 1999 Jay-Z treated his fans with another mega hit record,‘Vol.3 …Life and Times of S. Carter.’ Its success was followed by the album ‘The Dynasty: Roc La Familia’. As the name suggests, this was supposed to be a record featuring appearances by multiple artists; however, it ended up featuring Jay-Z only.
Between 2001 and 2013, the rapper sold millions of albums including The Blueprint, The Blueprint2: The Gift &the Curse, The Black Album, American Gangster and Magna Carta Holy Grail.
Besides his solo music efforts, the singer has also worked in collaboration with a number of renowned music artists. In 2010, he released a collaborative track ‘Stranded’ with Bono, The Edge and Rihanna to support the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Jay-Z also collaborated with British rapper M.I.A for the single XXXO.
In addition, Jay-Z has collaborated with R. Kelly on two albums, Unfinished Business and The Best of Both Worlds. He has also collaborated with Linkin Park on Collision Course and Kanye West on Watch the Throne.
Awards and Achievements
Over the course of his illustrious music career, Jay-Z has received a whopping 57 nominations at the Grammys, 7 at the American Music Awards and 69 at the Billboard Music Awards. Out of these he has won 21 Grammys, 3 American music Awards and 2 Billboard Music Awards.
The rapper holds the record for the most number one albums (fourteen) on the Billboard 200 by a solo music artist. He was ranked 88th on the Greatest Artists of All-time list by Rolling Stone magazine.
According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated to be $810 million in 2017. This makes him the second richest hip hop music artist in the country.
Jay Z Concert Tickets
Jay-Z’s latest studio album ‘4:44’ was released in June, 2017. It debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard 200. Apart from its commercial success, the album has met a positive response from the critics as well. Rolling Stone described the record as “stunning, raw and mature apology that's as much an ode to partnership and family as it is an example of how vulnerability can make for truly excellent art.”
Jay-Z is now gearing up to support the album with the 4:44 Tour which starts on October 27 in Anaheim.
Prior to the tour, he will be making an appearance at the Austin City Limits Festival alongside other acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Killers, Martin Garrix and The xx.
Jay Z concert tickets are now available here. Grab yours to catch the rapper live in his element.
