JAY-Z

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Lore & Background

Jay-Z founded Roc-A-Fella Records with close friends Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, and released his debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996). The album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and has since been recognized as a seminal work of the hip hop genre. Its singles includes "Dead Presidents", "Ain't No Nigga", and "Can't Knock the Hustle", all of which reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. His second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997), saw Jay-Z collaborating with producers such as Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Teddy Riley, and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and earned a platinum certification from the RIAA. His third album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (1998), became his first number-one album in the United States. The album featured the international hits such as "Can I Get A..." and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", which both reached top twenty of the Billboard Hot 100. Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life was certified five times platinum by the RIAA and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1999. Two more chart-topping albums–Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter (1999) and The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000)–followed with both of these two albums includes hit singles such as "Big Pimpin'" and "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)", and the latter record features several guest appearances from artists signed to Roc-A-Fella.

In Their Own Story

His sixth album, The Blueprint (2001), topped the Billboard 200, and produced Jay-Z's first Billboard Hot 100 top ten single, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)". The Blueprint was critically reviewed as his best album, while two other records–being his first collaborative album, The Best of Both Worlds (with American R&B singer R. Kelly), and his seventh album, The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002)–were both released the following year. The latter album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and featured the top ten singles "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Excuse Me Miss". His eighth album, The Black Album (2003), was intended by Jay-Z to be his final studio album and features his impending retirement as a recurring theme. The album performed well commercially and was later certified 3x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. Following a period of dormancy, Jay-Z became president of Def Jam Recordings in December 2004 and resumed his rap career two years later with the release of Kingdom Come (2006), which peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. The concept album, American Gangster (2007), continued his streak of number-one albums in the United States. With the release of The Blueprint 3 (2009), Jay-Z surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most number-one albums on the Billboard 200. The album included the international hits such as "Run This Town", "Empire State of Mind" and "Young Forever". His fourth collaborative album, Watch the Throne (with American rapper Kanye West), followed in August 2011, and became Jay-Z's eleventh number-one album in the United States. His twelfth album, Magna Carta Holy Grail (2013), was a great commercial success, topping the Billboard 200 and having the second-biggest sales week for 2013 at the time of its release.

Reader's Guide

Jay-Z's collaborations span multiple genres and eras. His first collaborative album, The Best of Both Worlds, was with American R&B singer R. Kelly. Watch the Throne, his fourth collaborative album, was with American rapper Kanye West and became his eleventh number-one album in the United States. He also formed The Carters with Beyoncé, though the source does not detail their joint projects. His work with producers like Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Teddy Riley on In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 helped shape his early sound, while Kanye West's production on The Blueprint defined a new era.

Did You Know?

• Jay-Z's debut album Reasonable Doubt peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200.
• Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1999.
• With The Blueprint 3 (2009), Jay-Z surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most number-one albums on the Billboard 200.
• Jay-Z became president of Def Jam Recordings in December 2004.
• Magna Carta Holy Grail (2013) had the second-biggest sales week for 2013 at the time of its release.