英語名人堂：Jay-Z

Jay-Z(1969年12月4日-)，本名Shawn Corey Carter，美國嘻哈歌手、唱片制作人、企業(yè)家。歌手生涯共發(fā)行了18張大碟，全球銷量達到7500萬。在Billboard專輯榜上的冠軍專輯數(shù)達13張(歷史第二，超越貓王，僅次于披頭士)。而他的音樂作品共獲得17項格萊美獎。

1996年，Jay-Z推出處女大碟《Reasonable Doubt》，1996年到2003年，Jay-Z每年都發(fā)行一張專輯，此后他擔任了Def Jam唱片公司的總裁，隨后與Live Nation合作創(chuàng)立了Roc Nation。

在2008年4月4日與碧昂絲結(jié)婚。2012年1月7日女兒布魯·艾薇出世。

Jay-Z被MTV評為“有史以來最偉大的說唱歌手”第一名。滾石則將其評為最偉大的藝術(shù)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.