Jay-Z
Birth Name:
Shawn Corey Carter
Birth Place:
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Profession
Soundtrack, Producer, Actor, Music department, Writer
Fast Facts
- Became the first rap artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017
- Founded the Shawn Carter Foundation in 2002 to help individuals with economic hardships further their education
- Donated $1 million to the American Red Cross to help with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
- Won a lunchroom rap battle in high school against fellow future hip-hop star Busta Rhymes
- Woke his family up at night by playing drum beats on the kitchen table, so his mother bought him a boombox to hone his talent
- Quote: "I go back and forth with it․ I believe the industry as a whole needs certain events to happen to sustain it and keep it alive․․․you need big artists, you need major events that happen․ ․․․ So when I look at it in those terms, I believe that an album is needed․"
- Known for his well-timed delivery of lyrics, clever word play and improvisation during his performances
- Took musical inspiration from soul artists Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway
- Became the first hip-hop artist to headline the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England
- Served as the president of Def Jam Recordings, founded the sports agency Roc Nation Sports and owns the streaming service TIDAL
Awards
- 1999MTV Movie Award - Best Movie Song:Nominated
- 2011Black Reel - Best Song:Nominated
- 2013Black Reel - Best Song:Nominated
- 2013Key Art Award - Best Audio/Visual Technique:Nominated
- 2015Grammy - Best Music Film:Nominated
- 2015Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Special Class Program:Nominated
- 2017IDA Award - Best Limited Series:Nominated
- 2021HMMA Award - Best Original Song - Feature Film:Nominated
- 2022AAFCA Award - Best Music:Winner
- 2022Black Reel - Outstanding Original Song:Nominated
- 2022Black Reel - Outstanding Original Song:Nominated
- 2022Black Reel - Outstanding Motion Picture:Nominated
- 2022CIC Award - Best Studio Film:Nominated
- 2022CIC Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
- 2022CinEuphoria - Best Song (Original or Adapted) - International Competition:Nominated
- 2022Critics Choice Award - Best Song:Nominated
- 2022DFCS Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
- 2022DFCA Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
- 2022GAFCA Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
- 2022GMS Award - Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film:Nominated
- 2022HFCS Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
- 2022Image Award - Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album:Winner
- 2022IFC Award - Best Song:Winner
- 2022MCFCA Award - Best Song:Nominated
- 2022NCFCA Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
- 2022OFTA Film Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
- 2022SCL Award - Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production:Nominated