June Carter Cash
Musical Monikers
Madonna
Justin Bieber
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived
Quick Facts
- NAME: Jay-Z
- OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur, Music Producer, Rapper
- BIRTH DATE: December 04, 1969 (Age: 43)
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Brooklyn, New York
- Full Name: Shawn Corey Carter
- AKA: Jay-Z
- AKA: Shawn Carter
- ZODIAC SIGN: Sagittarius
Best Known For
Rapper and hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-Z has won Grammy Awards, helmed Def Jam Records, created a clothing line, and married Beyoncé Knowles.
Videos see all videos
-
-
Jay-Z - Mini Biography (3:44)
-
Beyonce - Mini Biography (3:50)
-
Nicki Minaj - Mini Biography (2:57)
Jay-Z - Relationship with Beyonce
Find out which of these facts are true about Jay-Z and Beyonce's relationship.
Jay-Z - Mini Biography
Hip-hop artist Jay-Z was born in Brooklyn and began freestyling at an early age. In addition to his musical talents, he's one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world.
Beyonce - Mini Biography
Beyonce Knowles catapulted to fame with Destiny's Child and went on to release Grammy award-winning solo albums and a film career with her star turn in "Dreamgirls." She married hip-hop artist Jay-Z in 2008.
Nicki Minaj - Mini Biography
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Nicki Minaj's family moved to Queens, where she attended La Guardia High School. She was introduced to rapper Lil Wayne, who signed her to Young Money Entertainment and launched her career.
Quiz
Think you know about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play NowJay-Z. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:50, May 22, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696.
Jay-Z. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696 [Accessed 22 May 2013].
"Jay-Z." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 22 2013, 04:50 http://www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696.
"Jay-Z," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696 [accessed May 22, 2013].
"Jay-Z," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696 (accessed May 22, 2013).
Jay-Z [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 22] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696.
Jay-Z, http://www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696 (last visited May 22, 2013).
Jay-Z. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/jay-z-507696. Accessed May 22, 2013.
The song "Otis," which samples the late R&B singer Otis Redding, snagged several Grammy Award nominations and the recording was also nominated for Best Rap Album. As he sang one of the tracks, "I guess I got my swagger back."
Personal Life
Very protective of his private life, Jay-Z did not publicly discuss his relationship with longtime girlfriend, popular singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles, for years. The couple even managed to keep the press away from their small wedding, which was held on April 4, 2008, in New York City. Only about 40 people attended the celebration at Jay-Z's penthouse apartment, including actress Gwyneth Paltrow and former Destiny's Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
Since tying the knot, Jay-Z and Beyoncé became the subject of countless pregnancy rumors. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Blue Ivy Carter, on January 7, 2012. Concerned about their privacy and safety, Jay-Z and Beyoncé rented part of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital and hired extra guards.
Shortly after the birth of his daughter, Jay-Z released a song in her honor on his website. On "Glory," he expressed his joy of becoming a father and revealed that Beyoncé had previously suffered a miscarriage. Jay-Z and Beyoncé also posted a message along with the song, saying "we are in heaven" and Blue's birth "was the best experience of both of our lives."
© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.
profile name: Jay-Z profile occupation:
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Profile Connections
Included In These Groups
-
Famous Celebrity Couples
View groupJay-Z and Beyonce, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, Sharon and Ozzy, Branjelina... Check out the folks who make up our collection of celebrity couples and browse our photo gallery for a look at some of the world's most famous twosomes!
Famous Celebrity Couples 68 people in this group
-
Musical Monikers
View groupWhen musicians land big fame, there typically comes a moment of reinvention in which the "rock star" identity is born. This new persona often requires a new name, a way to differentiate between the private and public versions of themselves. Musical monikers take different forms, from the simple, last-name changes aimed at boosting celebrity appeal—like Steven Tyler—to the glamorized version of a childhood nickname—like Jay-Z. Musicians' nicknames and aliases tend to take on an identity all their own over time, often becoming as full of personality as the artists they represent.
Musical Monikers 108 people in this group
-
Name Changers
View groupIn entertainment, where the line between fiction and reality is often blurry, names are a crucial part of a celebrity's image. Stage names are often chosen to make an actor or musician's name easier to pronounce or remember, or simply to make it sounds more attractive. Here are famous celebrities who have changed their names.
Name Changers 236 people in this group
