英语名人堂：Jay-Z
1996年，Jay-Z推出处女大碟《Reasonable Doubt》，1996年到2003年，Jay-Z每年都发行一张专辑，此后他担任了Def Jam唱片公司的总裁，随后与Live Nation合作创立了Roc Nation。
在2008年4月4日与碧昂丝结婚。2012年1月7日女儿布鲁·艾薇出世。
Jay-Z被MTV评为“有史以来最伟大的说唱歌手”第一名。滚石则将其评为最伟大的艺术家的第八十八位。
Jay-Z is a rap artist and former CEO of the record label Def Jam Recordings. He co-owns the American basketball team the New Jersey Nets. He has successfully expanded his career as a rapper into the wider business world as a recording executive. Jay-Z released his tenth album in 2007, making him one of rap’s most prolific artists.
Jay-Z was born as Shawn Carter in Brooklyn in 1969. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood. His father abandoned him when he was 11 and he shot his brother in the shoulder when he was 12. He went to high school with fellow rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. Jay-Z was interested in drum rhythms and writing lyrics from a young age.
Carter’s nickname was "Jazzy", which eventually developed into his stage name, "Jay-Z". He appeared on several hip-hop artists’ records in the late 1980s. Other rappers recognized his ability to rap and he recorded his first single in 1995. He was unable to secure a contract and founded Roc-A-Fella Records. He released his debut album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ in 1996, to critical acclaim.
Jay-Z turned into one of rap’s biggest stars over the next decade. He invested a lot of time into developing his business interests. He developed a hip-hop clothing line called Rocawear and received ‘GQ’ magazine’s International Man of the Year award. He also co-owns an American sports bar chain and has got into property development. Jay-Z married R&B star Beyonce in 2008.
