Early Life
Shawn Carter grew up in the Marcy Houses public housing project in Brooklyn and began writing rhymes as a teenager. He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 when established labels declined to sign him.
Career
His debut, Reasonable Doubt (1996), is regarded as a hip-hop classic; later albums include The Blueprint (2001) and The Black Album (2003). He served as president of Def Jam Recordings and founded the entertainment company Roc Nation in 2008.
Legacy
Jay-Z has won 24 Grammy Awards. In 2017 he became the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2021 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is married to Beyoncé, with whom he released the joint album Everything Is Love (2018) as the Carters.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24