Jay-Z
#294 Most Popular
About
Rapper whose first hit, "Dead Presidents," became an international success. He has since won 22 Grammy Awards and sold over 75 million albums worldwide. His albums Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album were all featured on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Before Fame
His interest in creating music exploded after receiving a boom box from his mother on his 12th birthday, and his nickname evolved from "Jazzy" to "Jay-Z."
Trivia
His success in music led him to launch a record label and a clothing line, become a partial owner of the Brooklyn Nets, and found the 40/40 Club.
Family Life
He was born Shawn Corey Carter. He married Beyonce Knowles on April 4, 2008 and they had their first daughter, Blue Ivy, on January 7, 2012. They welcomed a pair of twins named Rumi and Sir in June 2017. His mother's name is Gloria Carter.
Associated With
He grew up listening to soul artists such as Marvin Gaye, which influenced his early music.
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