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Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper and entrepreneur. Born and raised in New York City, he was named the greatest rapper of all time by Billboard and Vibe in 2023. He served as the president and chief executive officer of Def Jam Recordings from 2004 to 2007 before founding the entertainment company, Roc Nation the following year.
Roc-A-Fella Records was an American hip hop record label and music management company founded by record executives and entrepreneurs Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke in 1994. Carter issued his debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996) as the label's first release, in a joint venture with Priority Records. The label has signed and released albums for acts including Kanye West, Cam'ron, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Juelz Santana, Freeway, Jadakiss, Teairra Marí, State Property, and The Diplomats before its dissolution in 2013.
"99 Problems" is the third single released by American rapper Jay-Z from The Black Album. It was released on April 27, 2004. The chorus hook "I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one" is taken from the Ice-T single "99 Problems" from the album Home Invasion (1993). The hook was coined during a conversation between Ice-T and Brother Marquis of Miami-based 2 Live Crew. Marquis used the phrase in the 1996 2 Live Crew song "Table Dance".
"Girls, Girls, Girls" is the second single from rapper Jay-Z's album The Blueprint (2001). The single was released on October 2, 2001. It is a playful description of the artist's promiscuous lifestyle. The song contains a sample of "There's Nothing In This World That Can Stop Me From Loving You" by Tom Brock, who died a year later. The chorus features a lyrical interpolation of "High Power Rap" by Crash Crew. The song has additional vocals sung by Q-Tip, Slick Rick and Biz Markie, but they are not credited as featured guests on the back artwork; they are, however, credited in the album's liner notes.
"Song Cry" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z and produced by Just Blaze. It was released on April 16, 2002. It was the fourth and final single from his sixth studio album The Blueprint and also appears on the 2001 live album Jay-Z: Unplugged.
Kingdom Come is the ninth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on November 21, 2006, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. It was considered a "comeback album" for the rapper, as 2003's The Black Album was promoted as his final release. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Just Blaze, DJ Khalil, Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz and Kanye West among others. The album also features guest appearances by John Legend, Beyoncé, Usher, Ne-Yo and more.
All Money Is Legal, also known as A.M.I.L.: , is the only studio album by American rapper Amil. It was released on August 29, 2000, through Roc-A-Fella, Columbia, and Sony Music. Jay-Z, Damon Dash, and Amil served as executive producer with a team of producers that included Just Blaze. Before the album's release, Amil was best known for her feature on Jay-Z's 1998 single "Can I Get A...". She was one of several up-and-coming artists signed to Roc-A-Fella, alongside Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel, who released an album in 2000. Although it was her only album on Roc-A-Fella, Amil had been closely associated with the label and its co-founder Jay-Z, earning the moniker "First Lady of Roc-A-Fella".
"4 da Fam" is a song by American rapper Amil, featuring verses from American rappers Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel. Ty Fyffe produced the song. It was released on Roc-A-Fella as the second single from her debut album All Money Is Legal. In the song's lyrics, Amil boasts about being the best female rapper, and Jay-Z discusses his fears of becoming a father, which his verse suggests he believed was about to occur at the time.
"Renegade" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z featuring fellow American rapper Eminem, who produced the song with Luis Resto. Written by all three, the song appears as the 12th track on the former's sixth album The Blueprint. It was originally a collaboration between Eminem and Royce da 5'9" as part of the Bad Meets Evil series, but Royce was later replaced by Jay-Z. The original can be found on mixtapes and has been leaked onto the internet.
The Heart of the City Tour was a co-headlining concert tour by American singer Mary J. Blige and American rapper Jay-Z. The North America tour supports Blige's eighth studio album, Growing Pains (2007) and Jay-Z's tenth studio album American Gangster (2007). According to Pollstar.com the Heart of the City Tour grossed over $34.2 million, making it the most successful male-female hip-hop/R&B tour in history. The-Dream was the opening act for the tour, supporting his 2007 debut album Love/Hate.
Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah, known professionally as Jay Electronica, is an American rapper and record producer. Born and raised in New Orleans, he first saw recognition with release of his mixtape, Act I: Eternal Sunshine (2007). Its success, along with his standalone single "Exhibit C", led New York rapper Jay-Z to sign Electronica to his record label, Roc Nation by 2010 following a multi-label bidding war. His debut studio album, A Written Testimony (2020) was met with critical acclaim and entered the Billboard 200 at number 12; it was followed by his second album, Act II: The Patents of Nobility (2020) in October of that same year. His guest performance on Kanye West's 2021 song "Jesus Lord" marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Monster" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, released as the third single from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song features rappers Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Nicki Minaj, along with indie folk group Bon Iver. All five credited acts have writing credits on the posse cut, with the production handled by West and Mike Dean. The instrumental is atmospheric and drum-heavy, and the lyrics reflect influences from horror films, creating an eerie composition which drew critical comparisons to the Michael Jackson track "Thriller".
"So Appalled" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). The song was produced by West, along with No I.D. and Mike Dean, and features verses by Jay-Z, Cyhi the Prynce, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, and RZA respectively, who all receive writing credits. Lyrically, the song explores topics such as the troubles produced from being famous, social concerns and features numerous pop culture references.
Pledge is the fourth studio album by American hip hop recording artist Killer Mike. It was released on May 17, 2011, through SMC Recordings, Grind Time Official, Tree Leaf Records and Grand Hustle Records. The album's production was handled by Tha Bizness, No I.D., Flying Lotus, The Beat Bullies, DJ Speedy, Raz of the Beat Billionaires and Grind Time label-mates Smiff & Cash. The album, which is his third in the I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind series, was supported by the lead single "Ready Set Go", featuring Grand Hustle label-boss and fellow American rapper T.I.
"It's Good" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring fellow American rapper Jadakiss and Canadian rapper Drake. The fourteenth track off the former's Wayne's ninth studio album, Tha Carter IV. it was solicited to radio on September 13, 2011 as the album's fifth single.
C4 is the third solo mixtape by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, then known as K.Dot, released on January 30, 2009, through Top Dawg Entertainment. Heavily inspired by Lil Wayne's sixth studio album Tha Carter III (2008), the mixtape primarily consists of freestyles over the production from Tha Carter III, in addition to a few original songs. C4 includes guest appearances from Lamar's TDE label-mates Ab-Soul, Punch, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, and BO.
"Glory" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z featuring his daughter Blue Ivy Carter and background vocals from Pharrell Williams. Produced by The Neptunes, it premiered on Jay-Z's official website LifeandTimes.com on January 9, 2012, two days after his wife Beyoncé gave birth to the couple's first child Blue. "Glory" debuted on US urban contemporary radio stations on January 17, 2012. The melodic hip hop track is an emotional homage to Jay-Z's then-newborn child and wife. Lyrically, "Glory" is about the experience and happiness of becoming a father for the first time, while also detailing the heartbreak the couple suffered over a previous miscarriage. The song opens with Blue's first heartbeat, and includes a sample of Blue's cries towards the end. The song also contains samples from "The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World", written and performed by rapper Keith Murray.
"Flawless" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé from her self-titled fifth studio album (2013). Knowles wrote the track with Rashad Muhammad, Terius Nash, Chauncey Hollis and Raymond DeAndre Martin, with production handled by Hollis, Knowles, Martin, Muhammad, and Boots. An early version of the song, titled "Bow Down / I Been On", was released onto the Internet by Beyoncé in March 2013.
"Never Let Me Down" is a song by American rapper and producer Kanye West, that features Jay-Z and J. Ivy, from West's debut studio album The College Dropout (2004). It was released as the album's eight track, produced solely by West and samples "Maybe It's the Power of Love" by Blackjack. West and Ivy each provide one verse–the latter is a poem–while Jay-Z has two verses. Music critics mostly had praise for it, but tended to view Jay's appearance in a negative light. In 2011, Billboard listed the song as the second greatest collaboration between Kanye and Jay. Although an accompanying music video wasn't ever produced for "Never Let Me Down", the audio of it was used in one of West's videos for "Jesus Walks". The song has developed a significant legacy over time, despite never being released as a single.
"Shiny Suit Theory" is a song by American rapper Jay Electronica. The song features guest appearances from American rapper Jay-Z and American singer The-Dream. The song was produced by Jay Electronica, who raps about advice given to him by Sean Combs. The song is Jay Electronica's first collaboration with Jay-Z, who sent in his verse by email as an effort to sign Jay Electronica to a record deal.
References
- ↑ Weiss, Jeff (August 8, 2010). "The Weekend Song: Little Boy Blues-"Seed of Love"". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- 1 2 "Just Blaze Details The Making Of Jay Z's "Public Service Announcement"". YouTube . Revolt. November 19, 2013.
- 1 2 Carter 2010, p. 24.
- 1 2 Baron, Zach (November 4, 2010). "How A Village Voice Reporter Helped Write the Second Verse of Jay-Z's "Public Service Announcement"". The Village Voice .
- 1 2 Carter 2010, p. 26.
- ↑ "Jay-Z: 50 Greatest Songs". Rolling Stone . December 4, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ↑ "The 100 Best Opening Lines in Rap History, Part 2: 50 - 1". Complex Networks .
- ↑ "Jay-Z – Chart History: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Jay-Z – Public Service Announcement (Interlude)". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved December 4, 2023.
Works cited
- Carter, Shawn (November 16, 2010). Decoded . Random House. ISBN 978-1400068920.
