Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known as his stage name, JayZ , is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. He co-owns The 40/40 Club and the New Jersey Nets.
JayZ is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having sold over 26 million units in the United States and receiving several Grammy Awards for his musical work. Along with his financial and musical success, Jay-Z is known for being involved in many quarrels with other artist in the rap industry, the most well known being between him and fellow New York rapper Nas, which was eventually settled in 2005.
JayZ ‘s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, is ranked by Rolling Stone as #248 on its “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. His critically acclaimed album, The Blueprint, was written in only two days. After announcing his retirement from recording music in 2003, he returned in late 2006 with the album Kingdom Come, which sold 680,000 copies in its first week, Jay-Z’s highest-selling album in a one-week period. MTV named him number one on their list of the greatest MCs of all time. In April 2008, JayZ was reportedly on the verge of a partnership with Live Nation for $150 million—among the most expensive contracts ever awarded to a musician. JayZ married Beyonce Knowles on April 4, 2008.
Rihanna, the hot little singer and hip hop chick, was born on February 20th, 1980 in Barbados. Rihanna won beauty contests as a child, obviously, and then when she was 15 she was lucky enough to meet music producer Evan Rogers.
He was on vacation in Barbados and a friend introduced them. Rogers pegged her for a hot hip hop chick. He must be able to tell the future, like Lost on ABC. Anyway, she went to New York and met Jay-Z, the Def Jam Records CEO.
Rihanna was signed to a Def Jam contract at age 16. Jay-Z is quoted as saying, “yo, I knew she be a star”. Rihanna has made her debut album and it is out now. It is called “Music of the Sun.” Her most popular songs are “SOS”, “Umbrella”, “Take a Bow”, “Disturbia”, and T.I’s “Live your Life”