Career Timeline of Jay-Z: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Jay-Z, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, is a highly successful American rapper, businessman, and record executive. He is recognized for his intricate lyricism, characterized by double entendres and wordplay, and his compelling rags-to-riches story. He held the position of president and CEO at Def Jam Recordings from 2004 to 2007. In 2008, he founded Roc Nation, a prominent entertainment company, further solidifying his influence in the music industry and business world.
1988: Working on album Word to the Jaz
While working on the album Word to the Jaz in London in 1988, Jay-Z and Gotti began to build their relationship on the trip.
1994: Appearance on "Show and Prove"
In 1994, Jay-Z became known to a wide audience on the posse cut "Show and Prove" on the Big Daddy Kane album Daddy's Home.
1994: Co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records
In 1994, Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records to release his music.
1995: Release of "In My Lifetime" and Appearances on "Da Graveyard" and "Time to Build"
In 1995, Jay-Z released his first official rap single, "In My Lifetime", with an accompanying music video. In 1995, Jay-Z also appeared on a popular song by Big L, "Da Graveyard", and on Mic Geronimo's "Time to Build".
1995: Creation of Roc-A-Fella Records
In 1995, with Damon "Dame" Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, Jay-Z created Roc-A-Fella Records as an independent label after facing difficulty securing a major label record deal.
1996: Release of Debut Album "Reasonable Doubt"
In 1996, Jay-Z released his debut album "Reasonable Doubt" after striking a distribution deal with Priority. The album featured beats from acclaimed producers such as DJ Premier and Super DJ Clark Kent and an appearance by The Notorious B.I.G.
1997: Release of "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1" with Def Jam
After reaching a new label distribution deal with Def Jam, Jay-Z released his follow-up album "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1" in 1997. The album featured production by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, DJ Premier, and Ski.
1997: Release of "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1"
In 1997, Jay-Z released his second album, "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1", under Roc-A-Fella Records. "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 by Jay-Z" received critical acclaim.
1998: Release of "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life"
In 1998, Jay-Z released "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life", which spawned the hit "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)".
1999: Co-founded Rocawear
In 1999, Jay-Z co-founded the clothing retailer Rocawear.
1999: Collaboration with Mariah Carey and release of Vol. 3
In 1999, Jay-Z collaborated with Mariah Carey on "Heartbreaker" and released "Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter".
2000: Release of "The Dynasty: Roc La Familia"
In 2000, Jay-Z released "The Dynasty: Roc La Familia", originally planned as a Roc-A-Fella compilation. The album helped introduce producers The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Kanye West, and Bink.
September 11, 2001: Release of "The Blueprint"
On September 11, 2001, Jay-Z released "The Blueprint", which received a five-mic review from The Source.
2001: Release of "The Blueprint"
In 2001, Jay-Z released "The Blueprint", which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
2002: Collaboration on "'03 Bonnie & Clyde"
In 2002, Jay-Z and Beyoncé Knowles collaborated on the song "'03 Bonnie & Clyde".
2002: Release of "The Best of Both Worlds" with R. Kelly
In 2002, Jay-Z released the collaborative album "The Best of Both Worlds" with singer R. Kelly.
November 25, 2003: "Retirement Party" Concert at Madison Square Garden
On November 25, 2003, Jay-Z held a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, billed as a "retirement party," with all proceeds going to charity.
2003: Collaborations on Beyoncé's album Dangerously in Love
In 2003, Jay-Z appeared on Beyoncé's hit single, "Crazy in Love" and the song "That's How You Like It" from her debut album Dangerously in Love.
2003: Part-ownership of the Brooklyn Nets
In 2003, Jay-Z became a part-owner of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team, paying a reported $1 million for his share.
2003: Endorsement deal with Reebok and S. Carter Collection
In 2003, Jay-Z became the first rapper in Reebok's history to endorse their footwear, signing a three-year deal. He later appeared in a Reebok collection advertising his S. Carter Collection and promoted their footwears with 50 Cent in a commercial.
2003: Founded 40/40 Club
In 2003, Jay-Z founded the 40/40 Club, a luxury bar chain.
2003: Release of "The Black Album"
In 2003, Jay-Z released "The Black Album", which debuted atop the Billboard 200.
2003: Shawn Carter Foundation Founded
In 2003, Jay-Z, along with his mother, founded the Shawn Carter Foundation, which assists eligible students facing socio-economic hardships attend and get through college.
2004: Collaboration with Linkin Park on "Collision Course"
In 2004, Jay-Z collaborated with rock group Linkin Park, releasing the remix EP "Collision Course".
2004: Release of "Unfinished Business" and "Collision Course"
In 2004, Jay-Z released "Unfinished Business" with R. Kelly and "Collision Course" with Linkin Park.
2004: Release of "Fade to Black" and "Unfinished Business"
In 2004, Jay-Z released the documentary "Fade to Black" and the album "Unfinished Business", a collaboration with R. Kelly.
2004: President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings
In 2004, Jay-Z served as president and chief executive officer of Def Jam Recordings.
2004: Named President of Def Jam Records
In 2004, Jay-Z was appointed president of Def Jam Records. This appointment led to Jay-Z, Dash, and Biggs selling their remaining interests in Roc-A-Fella Records. Jay-Z subsequently assumed control of both companies. The industry shift was reportedly driven by disagreements between Jay-Z and Dash regarding the future direction of Roc-A-Fella.
October 2005: Consideration of buying a stake of Arsenal F.C.
In October 2005, Jay-Z was reported as considering buying a stake of Arsenal F.C., an English soccer team.
October 27, 2005: "I Declare War" Concert
On October 27, 2005, Jay-Z headlined New York's Power 105.1 annual Powerhouse concert, titled the "I Declare War" concert. The theme reflected his position as president and CEO of Def Jam, with an Oval Office stage mock-up. The event included appearances from Roc-A-Fella artists, Ne-Yo, Teairra Marí, T.I., Young Jeezy, Akon, Kanye West, Paul Wall, The LOX, and Diddy.
2005: Investment in Carol's Daughter beauty products
In 2005, Jay-Z became an investor in Carol's Daughter, a line of beauty products.
2005: President of Def Jam Recordings
In 2005, Jay-Z was inaugurated as the president of Def Jam Recordings, launching the careers of Rihanna and Ne-Yo.
August 2006: Meeting with Kofi Annan
In August 2006, Jay-Z met with Kofi Annan, then Secretary-General of the United Nations, and pledged to use his upcoming world tour to raise awareness of the global water shortage.
October 2006: "Show Me What You Got" Leaked
In early October 2006, Jay-Z's comeback single, "Show Me What You Got", was leaked on the Internet. The song received heavy airplay, leading to an FBI investigation. The music video was directed by Hype Williams and F. Gary Gray.
November 2006: Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life Airs
In November 2006, MTV aired the documentary "Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life," which highlighted Jay-Z's efforts to raise awareness of the global water shortage in partnership with the UN.
November 21, 2006: Release of "Kingdom Come" Album
On November 21, 2006, Jay-Z released his comeback album, Kingdom Come. The album's first week sales were 680,000 copies, marking his biggest sales week ever, eventually selling 2 million copies in the U.S.
2006: Public Service Announcement Against Racism and Anti-Semitism
In 2006, Jay-Z appeared with Russell Simmons in a public service announcement denouncing racism and anti-Semitism, sponsored by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.
2006: Expiration of Reebok deal
In 2006, Jay-Z's endorsement deal with Reebok expired and was not renewed.
2006: Jay-Z takes over Rocawear
In early 2006, Jay-Z took over the Rocawear clothing brand following a falling out with Damon Dash.
2006: Ties to Armand de Brignac date back to 2006
Jay-Z's ties to Armand de Brignac company date back to 2006, and he received millions of dollars per year for his association with Armand de Brignac before he bought the entire company in 2014.
March 2007: Sale of Rocawear rights to Iconix Brand Group
In March 2007, Jay-Z sold the rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million, retaining a stake and continuing to oversee marketing, licensing, and product development.
November 6, 2007: Release of "American Gangster" Album
On November 6, 2007, Jay-Z released his tenth album, American Gangster, inspired by the Ridley Scott film of the same name. The album, distributed by Def Jam, reflects his experiences as a street hustler in correlation to the movie, selling 1 million copies in the U.S.
2007: Departure from Def Jam and start of Roc Nation
At the end of 2007, after releasing American Gangster, Jay-Z decided not to renew his contract as president and CEO of Def Jam. Shortly after, he started his Live Nation venture, Roc Nation.
2007: Release of "American Gangster"
In 2007, Jay-Z released "American Gangster", which debuted atop the Billboard 200.
2007: Leaves Def Jam Recordings
Jay-Z concluded his role as president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings in 2007.
January 1, 2008: Resignation as President of Def Jam
On January 1, 2008, Jay-Z resigned from his position as president of Def Jam Records.
June 2008: Obama Praises Jay-Z
In June 2008, Barack Obama praised Jay-Z, recognizing his talent and ability to shape attitudes in a positive way.
August 6, 2008: Performance with Kanye West at Madison Square Garden
During Kanye West's concert on August 6, 2008, at Madison Square Garden, Jay-Z joined him on stage to perform a new song. Together, they announced the song would be included on The Blueprint 3 album.
2008: Launched Roc Nation
In 2008, Jay-Z launched Roc Nation, a multi-disciplinary entertainment agency.
2008: Glastonbury Festival Headliner
In 2008, Jay-Z was announced as the first major hip hop artist to headline Britain's Glastonbury Festival, leading to controversy. Noel Gallagher of Oasis criticized the choice, prompting Jay-Z to defend hip hop's place in music. He opened his set with a cover of Oasis's "Wonderwall" and delivered a well-received performance.
2008: Closure of 40/40 Club in Las Vegas
In 2008, the 40/40 Club in Las Vegas was closed down and bought back by the hotel after attendance steadily declined.
May 21, 2009: Departure from Def Jam and Signing with Live Nation
On May 21, 2009, Jay-Z announced his departure from Def Jam and signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Live Nation. This deal led to the creation of Roc Nation, encompassing a record label, talent/management agency, and music publishing company. He also partnered with Stargate to form StarRoc record label.
September 8, 2009: Release of "The Blueprint 3" Album in North America
On September 8, 2009, Jay-Z's 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3, was released in North America due to increasing anticipation. It became his 11th album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, surpassing Elvis Presley's record as a solo artist.
September 11, 2009: Original release date of The Blueprint 3
September 11, 2009, was the originally planned release date of Jay-Z's 11th album 'The Blueprint 3'. Due to high anticipation, the album was released a few days earlier on September 8, 2009.
October 9, 2009: Launch of The Blueprint 3 Tour
On October 9, 2009, Jay-Z commenced his tour for The Blueprint 3 in North America, supporting his new album. The tour received positive reviews, with critics praising his smooth performance.
November 8, 2009: Performance with Rihanna at UCLA
During his concert at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on November 8, 2009, Rihanna joined Jay-Z on stage to perform "Hard" for the first time and then performed "Run This Town" together.
November 22, 2009: End of North American Tour for The Blueprint 3
On November 22, 2009, Jay-Z concluded his North American tour in support of his album, The Blueprint 3.
2009: Release of "Empire State of Mind"
In 2009, Jay-Z peaked the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist with his single "Empire State of Mind" featuring Alicia Keys.
January 2010: Interest in the Aqueduct Entertainment Group consortium
In January 2010, Jay-Z, through his company Gain Global Investments Network LLC, had an interest in the Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) consortium, which was awarded a contract to operate a racino at the Aqueduct Race Track.
March 9, 2010: Withdrawal from the Aqueduct Entertainment Group project
On March 9, 2010, Jay-Z withdrew from the Aqueduct Entertainment Group project.
September 23, 2010: Q-Tip Confirms Work on Jay-Z's Follow-Up Album
On September 23, 2010, Q-Tip confirmed he was working on Jay-Z's follow-up album to The Blueprint 3, anticipating its release by spring 2011.
November 2010: Supporting U2 on Their Australian and New Zealand Tour
Beginning in November 2010, Jay-Z supported U2 on the Australian and New Zealand leg of their U2 360° Tour, starting in Auckland, New Zealand and followed by Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in December.
November 2010: Recording Sessions Begin for "Watch the Throne"
In November 2010, recording sessions began for a five-track EP with Kanye West, later revealed to be the full-length LP Watch the Throne, with recording sessions taking place at various locations.
November 16, 2010: Publication of Decoded memoir
On November 16, 2010, Jay-Z published his memoir entitled Decoded, co-signed by Dream Hampton.
2010: HeadCount Advertisement
During the 2010 mid-term elections, Jay-Z appeared with other artists in a HeadCount advertisement, urging voters, especially younger ones, to register and vote.
2010: Address of the Case in "Decoded"
In 2010, Jay-Z addressed the case in his book Decoded.
2010: Plans to expand 40/40 Club chain
In 2010, Jay-Z announced plans to expand his 40/40 Club sports bar chain into as many as 20 airports.
April 5, 2011: Launch of Life + Times online magazine
On April 5, 2011, Jay-Z launched the popular culture and lifestyle online magazine Life + Times.
April 2011: Acquisition of Block Starz Music
In April 2011, Jay-Z acquired independent record label Block Starz Music, outbidding executives at Universal Music and Jive Records.
2011: Release of "Watch the Throne"
In 2011, Jay-Z and Kanye West released "Watch the Throne". The first single released for the project was "H•A•M", co-produced by Lex Luger and West himself. The track ended up being on the deluxe edition of the album. The follow-up to that was the second single "Otis".
2011: Release of "Watch the Throne" with Kanye West
In 2011, Jay-Z released the collaborative album "Watch the Throne" with Kanye West.
May 2012: Curator and Headliner for "Budweiser Made in America" Festival
In May 2012, Jay-Z and former Philadelphia mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that Jay-Z would be the curator and headliner for the first annual "Budweiser Made in America" festival at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on September 1 and 2, 2012. The performance was produced by Live Nation.
May 2012: Endorsement of Same-Sex Marriage
In May 2012, Jay-Z endorsed President Obama's support of same-sex marriage and participated in his re-election campaign.
May 2012: Collaboration with Roc Nation Producer Jahlil Beats
In May 2012, Jay-Z was reported to be working on new music with Roc Nation producer Jahlil Beats, selecting several of his beats for the project.
November 12, 2012: Announcement of Performance with Coldplay at Barclays Center
On November 12, 2012, Coldplay announced that they would be playing with Jay-Z at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on December 31.
2012: Relocation of the Brooklyn Nets to the Barclays Center
In the 2012-2013 season, Jay-Z encouraged the relocation of the Brooklyn Nets to Brooklyn's Barclays Center (from New Jersey).
April 2, 2013: Launch of Roc Nation Sports
On April 2, 2013, Jay-Z launched his own sports agency, Roc Nation Sports, with a focus on the representation of various professional athletes, in partnership with Creative Artists Agency.
April 2013: Decline in value of Brooklyn Nets share
In April 2013, Jay-Z's share of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team declined in value to $350,000, based on Forbes magazine's valuation.
April 18, 2013: Relinquishing ownership in the Brooklyn Nets
On April 18, 2013, Jay-Z officially announced that he would be relinquishing his ownership in the Brooklyn Nets. The shares were eventually sold to singer, rapper, actor and entrepreneur Will Pan.
July 4, 2013: Release of "Magna Carta Holy Grail"
During the fifth game of the 2013 NBA Finals, Jay-Z announced his twelfth studio album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, which was released on July 4, 2013. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold 528,000 copies in its first week.
September 2013: Sale of stake in Barclays Center
In September 2013, Jay-Z's stake in Barclays Center was sold for $1.5 million.
2013: Trust Fund for Sean Bell's Children
In 2013, author dream hampton revealed that Jay-Z had established a trust fund for Sean Bell's children.
2013: Most Anticipated Album of 2013
In 2013, the album had been named one of the most anticipated albums of 2013 by Complex Magazine, MTV, and XXL. Jay-Z also made an appearance on Justin Timberlake's comeback single "Suit & Tie" from his third studio album The 20/20 Experience.
October 2014: Tidal in operation since October 2014
Tidal, the music streaming service later acquired by Jay-Z, has been in operation since October 2014.
2014: Feature on Beyonce's Self-Titled Album
In 2014, Jay-Z appeared on his wife Beyoncé's self-titled fifth studio album, Beyoncé, with a feature on the song "Drunk in Love". They performed this song together at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards opening.
2014: Investment in Armand de Brignac champagne
In 2014, Jay-Z invested $200 million in Armand de Brignac champagne for a 100 percent stake in the brand.
March 2015: Acquisition of Aspiro and Tidal
In March 2015, Jay-Z completed the $56 million acquisition of Aspiro, the Norwegian media technology company that operates the subscription-based music streaming service Tidal.
July 2015: Investment in JetSmarter
In July 2015, Jay-Z made a significant investment in JetSmarter, an app for booking private plane flights.
2015: Acquired Aspiro and Led Expansion of Tidal
In 2015, Jay-Z acquired the technology company Aspiro and led the expansion of Tidal, Aspiro's media streaming service.
2015: Donation to Bail Out Protestors
In 2015, Jay-Z donated to bail out protestors arrested during activism against police brutality.
2016: Appearance at Hillary Clinton Rally
In 2016, Jay-Z and Beyoncé appeared at a Hillary Clinton rally in Cleveland. Clinton praised Jay-Z for addressing racism, oppression, and the criminal justice system. He described Donald Trump as a "superbug" and condemned remarks he perceived as racist, but later said that Trump's rhetoric forced people to come together and address difficult issues such as white privilege.
2016: Film and TV deal with Weinstein Company
In 2016, Jay-Z signed a two-year exclusive film and TV deal with Weinstein Company, giving them first-look options to create scripted and unscripted projects. He produced a documentary series on Kalief Browder as part of the deal.
2016: Lawsuit win for "Made in America"
In 2016, he won a lawsuit for the song "Made in America" with Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean against Joel McDonald.
June 2017: Promotion of "4:44" Album
In early June 2017, promotional posters and ads appeared in New York City, Los Angeles, and online for a Tidal-related project titled 4:44. A teaser ad aired during the NBA Finals on June 7, featuring actors Mahershala Ali, Lupita Nyong'o, and Danny Glover, ending with "4:44 – 6.30.17, Exclusively on Tidal".
2017: Release of "4:44"
In 2017, Jay-Z released "4:44", which debuted atop the Billboard 200.
June 6, 2018: Kick-Off of the On the Run II Tour
On June 6, 2018, Jay-Z and Beyoncé commenced their On the Run II Tour in Cardiff, United Kingdom.
2018: Release of "Everything Is Love" with Beyoncé
In 2018, Jay-Z released the collaborative album "Everything Is Love" with his wife Beyoncé.
2019: Became Hip-Hop Billionaire
In 2019, Jay-Z became the first hip-hop billionaire through his business ventures.
March 2020: $1 Million Donation for COVID-19 Relief
In March 2020, Jay-Z donated $1 million through the Shawn Carter Foundation to aid in relief during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York.
April 2020: Donation of Face Masks to U.S. Prisons
In April 2020, Jay-Z, along with Meek Mill, donated over 100,000 face masks to U.S. prisons to assist in protecting prison inmates from COVID-19.
August 2020: Partnership with Long Island University to establish Roc Nation School
In August 2020, Jay-Z's Roc Nation partnered with Brooklyn's Long Island University to establish the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment.
November 2020: Appointment as Chief Visionary Officer of TPCO Holding Corp.
In November 2020, Jay-Z joined TPCO Holding Corp., a cannabis products company, in the role of "Chief Visionary Officer".
2021: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and collaborations with Kanye West and Drake
In 2021, Jay-Z was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also appeared on Kanye West's song "Jail" from the album Donda, which won a Grammy. Additionally, he featured on Drake's song "Love All" from the album Certified Lover Boy.
December 5, 2022: Partnership with Caesars Entertainment to build a casino
On December 5, 2022, Jay-Z and Roc Nation announced their partnership with Caesars Entertainment to build and operate a casino property at Times Square.
2022: Collaboration with Pusha T and DJ Khaled and Emmy Award
In 2022, Jay-Z collaborated with Pusha T on "Neck & Wrist" featuring Pharrell Williams from Pusha T's album, It's Almost Dry and made a guest appearance on DJ Khaled's album title track, "God Did". He was also awarded a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) as a producer for the Super Bowl LVI halftime show.
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