History of Jay-Z in Timeline
Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, is a highly successful American rapper, businessman, and record executive. Considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, his music is characterized by intricate lyrics, wordplay, and a prevalent rags-to-riches theme. He held the position of president and CEO at Def Jam Recordings and subsequently founded Roc Nation, a prominent entertainment company, further solidifying his influence in both the music and business worlds.
December 4, 1969: Shawn Corey Carter was born
On December 4, 1969, Shawn Corey Carter, who would later become known as Jay-Z, was born.
1982: Shot his brother Eric
In 1982, at the age of 12, Jay-Z shot his older brother Eric in the shoulder for stealing his jewelry.
1988: Worked on 'Word to the Jaz' in London
In 1988, Jay-Z worked on the album 'Word to the Jaz' in London, building a relationship with Irv Gotti during the trip.
1994: Co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records
In 1994, Jay-Z co-founded the record label Roc-A-Fella Records to release his music.
1994: Featured on Big Daddy Kane's album
In 1994, Jay-Z gained wider recognition on the posse cut "Show and Prove" on Big Daddy Kane's album Daddy's Home.
1994: Allegedly stopped by NYPD
In 1994, Jay-Z was allegedly stopped by an NYPD detective while en route to I-95, possibly for a search of drugs in his car.
1995: Created Roc-A-Fella Records
In 1995, Jay-Z created Roc-A-Fella Records as an independent label with Damon "Dame" Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, selling burned CDs out of his car.
1995: Released 'In My Lifetime'
In 1995, Jay-Z released his first official rap single, "In My Lifetime", with a music video.
1996: Released 'Reasonable Doubt' Album
In 1996, Jay-Z released his debut album 'Reasonable Doubt' with beats from acclaimed producers after striking a distribution deal with Priority.
1997: Released 'In My Lifetime, Vol. 1'
In 1997, Jay-Z released his second studio album, 'In My Lifetime, Vol. 1', which was met with critical acclaim.
1997: Released 'In My Lifetime, Vol. 1' After Def Jam Deal
In 1997, after reaching a distribution deal with Def Jam, Jay-Z released his follow-up album 'In My Lifetime, Vol. 1'.
1997: Referenced shooting his brother in "You Must Love Me"
On his 1997 album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, Jay-Z referenced shooting his older brother in the shoulder in 1982 in his song "You Must Love Me".
1998: Released 'Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life'
In 1998, Jay-Z released 'Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life' which became his most commercially successful album and spawned the hit "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)".
December 2, 1999: Alleged stabbing at Kit Kat Klub
On December 2, 1999, Jay-Z allegedly stabbed record executive Lance "Un" Rivera at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City during a release party for Q-Tip's album Amplified. He surrendered to police the following evening and was later released on bail.
1999: Co-founded Rocawear
In 1999, Jay-Z co-founded the clothing retailer Rocawear.
1999: Collaborated with Mariah Carey and Released 'Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter'
In 1999, Jay-Z collaborated with Mariah Carey on "Heartbreaker" which became his first chart-topper in the U.S.. In the same year, he also released his album 'Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter'.
1999: Stabbing Incident at Kit Kat Klub
In 1999, Jay-Z was involved in an incident where he stabbed record producer Lance Rivera at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City.
2000: Released 'The Dynasty: Roc La Familia'
In 2000, Jay-Z released 'The Dynasty: Roc La Familia', which was originally planned as a Roc-A-Fella compilation but turned into a Jay-Z album, introducing producers like The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Kanye West, and Bink.
2000: Alleged incident at MTV Video Music Awards after-party
In 2000, at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party, an incident allegedly occurred where Jay-Z, along with Sean "Diddy" Combs, was later accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a 13-year-old girl.
September 11, 2001: Released 'The Blueprint' Album
On September 11, 2001, Jay-Z released his sixth studio album, The Blueprint, which received a five-mic review from The Source and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
October 2001: Pleaded Guilty to Aggravated Assault
In October 2001, Jay-Z pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for stabbing record producer Lance Rivera at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City in 1999, receiving a sentence of three years probation.
2001: Feud with Prodigy and Nas
In 2001, Jay-Z initiated a feud with Prodigy and Nas after they took offense to some of his lyrics, which started after Jay-Z performed 'Takeover' at Summer Jam 2001. This marked the beginning of a well-known rivalry in the hip-hop community.
2001: Released 'The Blueprint'
In 2001, Jay-Z released 'The Blueprint', which debuted atop the Billboard 200.
2001: Nas Claims Jay-Z was not Rivera's stabber in "Ether"
In 2001, Rapper Nas claimed in his diss track "Ether" that Jay-Z was not Rivera's stabber.
2002: Released 'The Best of Both Worlds' with R. Kelly
In 2002, Jay-Z released the collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds' with R. Kelly.
November 25, 2003: "Retirement Party" Concert at Madison Square Garden
On November 25, 2003, Jay-Z held a concert, billed as a "retirement party", at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with proceeds going to charity; the concert was later the focus of his 2004 documentary, Fade to Black.
2003: Founded the 40/40 Club
In 2003, Jay-Z founded the 40/40 Club, a luxury bar chain.
2003: Reconciled with his father before his death
In 2003, Jay-Z reconciled with his father, Adnis Reeves, before his death.
2003: Referenced NYPD Stop in '99 Problems'
In 2003, Jay-Z referenced a 1994 incident in his song "99 Problems" where he was allegedly stopped by an NYPD detective.
2003: Released 'The Black Album'
In 2003, Jay-Z released 'The Black Album', which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
2003: Founding of the Shawn Carter Foundation
In 2003, Jay-Z, along with his mother, founded the Shawn Carter Foundation to assist eligible students facing socio-economic hardships in attending and completing college.
2004: Became President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings
In 2004, Jay-Z became the president and chief executive officer of Def Jam Recordings.
2004: Released 'Collision Course' and Executive Produced Fort Minor's Album
In 2004, Jay-Z collaborated with Linkin Park to release 'Collision Course' and served as the executive producer for Fort Minor's debut album, The Rising Tied. He also planned to retire in 2004, though side projects and appearances continued.
2004: Released 'Unfinished Business' and 'Collision Course'
In 2004, Jay-Z released 'Unfinished Business' with R. Kelly and 'Collision Course' with Linkin Park.
2004: Named President of Def Jam Records
In 2004, Jay-Z was named president of Def Jam Records. This led to Jay-Z, Dash, and Biggs selling their remaining interests in Roc-A-Fella Records, giving Jay-Z control of both companies. The move was reportedly prompted by disagreements between Jay-Z and Dash regarding the future direction of Roc-A-Fella.
2004: Fade to Black Documentary Release
In 2004, the documentary 'Fade to Black' was released, focusing on Jay-Z's "retirement party" concert at Madison Square Garden held on November 25, 2003.
October 27, 2005: "I Declare War" Concert
On October 27, 2005, Jay-Z headlined New York's Power 105.1 annual concert, Powerhouse. The concert was entitled the "I Declare War" concert, leading to speculation about whom Jay-Z would declare war on. The concert featured a mock-up of the Oval Office, symbolizing Jay-Z's position as president and CEO of Def Jam, and included appearances from artists such as Ne-Yo, Teairra Marí, T.I., Young Jeezy, Akon, Kanye West, Paul Wall, The LOX, and Diddy.
2005: Feud with Nas Ended
In 2005, Jay-Z's feud with Nas ended with the help of record producer Mark Pitts, settling their differences.
August 2006: Meeting with Kofi Annan
In August 2006, Jay-Z met with Kofi Annan at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, pledging to raise awareness of the global water shortage during his upcoming world tour.
October 2006: "Show Me What You Got" Leak and Investigation
In early October 2006, Jay-Z's comeback single, "Show Me What You Got", was leaked online. The song received heavy airplay after its leak, leading the FBI to investigate.
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 about 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 sold 680,000 copies in its first week, becoming his biggest sales week ever, and has sold 2 million copies in the U.S.
2006: Public service announcement denouncing racism
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: Enstoolment as Sarkin Waka of Kwara
In 2006, Jay-Z was enstooled as the Sarkin Waka of Kwara in the Nigerian chieftaincy system.
November 6, 2007: Release of "American Gangster" Album
On November 6, 2007, Jay-Z released his tenth album, "American Gangster". The album was inspired by the Ridley Scott film of the same name and depicts his experiences as a street hustler. The album has sold 1 million copies in the U.S.
2007: Released 'American Gangster'
In 2007, Jay-Z released 'American Gangster', which debuted atop the Billboard 200.
2007: Left Def Jam Recordings
In 2007, Jay-Z stepped down from his role as president and chief executive officer of Def Jam Recordings.
January 1, 2008: Resignation as President of Def Jam
On January 1, 2008, Jay-Z resigned as president of Def Jam Recordings, marking the end of his tenure in the role.
June 2008: Obama Praises Jay-Z
In June 2008, Barack Obama said, "Every time I talk to Jay-Z, who is a brilliant talent and a good guy, I enjoy how he thinks. That's somebody who is going to start branching out and can help shape attitudes in a real positive way."
August 6, 2008: Performance at Madison Square Garden
On August 6, 2008, During Kanye West's concert at Madison Square Garden, Jay-Z appeared to perform a new song, heralding its inclusion 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. This sparked controversy, with Noel Gallagher of Oasis criticizing the choice. Jay-Z responded by covering Oasis's "Wonderwall" at the festival, delivering a performance that was seen as a successful response to the criticism.
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 included the creation of Roc Nation, a record label, talent/management agency, and music publishing company. He also partnered with Stargate to start StarRoc, a record label.
September 8, 2009: Release of "The Blueprint 3" Album
On September 8, 2009, "The Blueprint 3", Jay-Z's 11th studio album, was released in North America due to high anticipation. It is his 11th album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, surpassing Elvis Presley's record.
September 11, 2009: Original Release Date of "The Blueprint 3"
On September 11, 2009, the original planned release date for Jay-Z's album, "The Blueprint 3", which was moved forward due to growing anticipation.
October 9, 2009: "The Blueprint 3" Tour Kickoff
On October 9, 2009, Jay-Z began his tour for "The Blueprint 3" in North America, supporting his new album.
November 8, 2009: Performance with Rihanna at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion
On November 8, 2009, at a concert at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, Rihanna joined Jay-Z on stage to perform "Hard" for the first time, and then performed "Run This Town" with Jay-Z.
November 22, 2009: End of North American Tour
On November 22, 2009, Jay-Z concluded his North American tour for "The Blueprint 3".
2009: Peaked Billboard Hot 100 with 'Empire State of Mind'
In 2009, Jay-Z's single "Empire State of Mind" featuring Alicia Keys, reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
September 23, 2010: Q-Tip Confirms Work on Jay-Z's Follow-Up Album
On September 23, 2010, Q-Tip confirmed that he was working on Jay-Z's follow-up album to The Blueprint 3, with the album expected to be released by spring 2011.
November 2010: Supporting U2 on the U2 360° Tour
In November 2010, Jay-Z was the supporting act for U2 on the Australian and New Zealand leg of their U2 360° Tour, starting in Auckland, New Zealand.
November 2010: Start of "Watch the Throne" Recording Sessions
In November 2010, recording sessions began for what was initially planned as a five-track EP called "Watch the Throne", although the project later evolved into a full-length LP with Kanye West. Recording sessions took place at various locations.
2010: HeadCount advertisement appearance
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.
2011: Expected album release
In 2011, It was expected that Jay-Z's follow-up album to The Blueprint 3, would hit stores by spring.
2011: Release and Success of "Watch the Throne" Album
In 2011, Jay-Z and Kanye West released "Watch the Throne". The album was first released on iTunes, debuting at No. 1 in 23 countries and breaking Coldplay's record for most albums sold in one week on the platform. It then debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 436,000 copies in its first week. Jay-Z and West performed "Otis" at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.
2011: Released 'Watch the Throne' with Kanye West
In 2011, Jay-Z released the collaborative album 'Watch the Throne' with Kanye West.
February 2012: 'The Blueprint' Sales Milestone
As of February 2012, Jay-Z's album "The Blueprint" had sold 2.7 million copies worldwide.
May 2012: Curator and Headliner for "Budweiser Made in America" Festival
In May 2012, Jay-Z and former Philadelphia mayor Michael A. Nutter announced Jay-Z as the curator and headliner for the first annual "Budweiser Made in America" festival at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on September 1 and 2, 2012.
May 2012: Endorsement of Obama's support 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 Jahlil Beats on New Music
In May 2012, it was reported that Jay-Z would be working on new music with Roc Nation producer Jahlil Beats. Beats mentioned sending Jay-Z his favorite beats, and Jay-Z responded positively, indicating he would work on them.
October 6, 2012: Subway Ride to Barclays Center Show
On October 6, 2012, Jay-Z took the subway to his sold-out show at The Barclays Center.
November 12, 2012: Announcement of Coldplay Performance with Jay-Z
On November 12, 2012, Coldplay announced that they would be playing with Jay-Z at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on December 31.
July 4, 2013: Release of "Magna Carta Holy Grail" and Name Change
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. Around the same time, he confirmed that he would be dropping the hyphen from his stage name, officially stylizing it in all capital letters as JAY-Z.
December 2013: Nine Grammy Nominations
In December 2013, JAY-Z received nine nominations at the 2014 Grammy Awards, the most of any artist that year.
2013: Most Anticipated Albums of 2013
In 2013, Jay-Z's upcoming album was named one of the most anticipated albums by Complex Magazine, MTV, and XXL. Production was expected from Jahlil Beats, Kanye West, Rick Rubin, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, and Pharrell Williams.
2013: Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2013, Time magazine named Jay-Z one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2014: Appearance on Beyoncé'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".
2015: Acquired Aspiro and Expanded Tidal
In 2015, Jay-Z acquired the technology company Aspiro and led the expansion of its media streaming service, Tidal.
2015: Donation to bail out protestors
In 2015, Jay-Z donated to bail out protestors arrested during activism against police brutality.
2015: Grammy Award for "Drunk in Love"
In 2015, The song and its accompanying album would later win three Grammy Awards including Best R&B Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards opening
2016: Lawsuit Win for "Made in America"
In 2016, JAY-Z won a lawsuit for the song "Made in America" with Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean against Joel McDonald.
2016: Appearance at Hillary Clinton rally
In 2016, Jay-Z and Beyoncé appeared at a Hillary Clinton rally in Cleveland, where Clinton praised Jay-Z for addressing racism, oppression, and the criminal justice system. He condemned remarks he perceived as racist.
June 2017: Promotion of "4:44" Album
In early June 2017, posters and banner ads promoting a Tidal-related project titled 4:44 appeared in New York City and Los Angeles. 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". On June 18, the project was confirmed to be a new JAY-Z album.
2017: Released '4:44'
In 2017, Jay-Z released '4:44', which debuted atop the Billboard 200.
June 6, 2018: Start of On the Run II Tour
On June 6, 2018, JAY-Z and Beyoncé kicked off the On the Run II Tour in Cardiff, United Kingdom.
2018: Released '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 various business ventures.
2019: 'The Blueprint' Added to National Recording Registry
In 2019, Jay-Z's album, The Blueprint, was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
March 2020: Donation to COVID-19 relief in New York
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.
2023: Purchase of Malibu house
In 2023, Jay-Z and Beyoncé bought a house in Malibu, California for $200 million. The house, designed by Tadao Ando, set a record for the most expensive residence sold in California.
2023: Named Greatest Rapper of All Time
In 2023, Jay-Z was named the greatest rapper of all time by Billboard and Vibe.
2023: Rivera Recanted Allegations
In 2023, Lance Rivera recanted the allegations of the stabbing incident.
2023: Rivera claims Jay-Z lied about Stabbing
In 2023, Rivera stated that Jay-Z lied, and was not the one that stabbed him: "No. Jay-Z was not the guy that actually stabbed me that night (...) it's never been his history".
December 2024: Accusation of Rape in Civil Lawsuit
In December 2024, Jay-Z, along with Sean "Diddy" Combs, was accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party in 2000. Jay-Z denied the allegations and described it as a blackmail attempt.
February 10, 2025: Jay-Z files lawsuit against Tony Buzbee
On February 10, 2025, Jay-Z filed a lawsuit against Tony Buzbee, stating he lost $20 million in contracts due to the allegations.
February 14, 2025: Lawsuit against Jay-Z dropped
On February 14, 2025, the lawsuit against Jay-Z was officially dropped by Tony Buzbee and the accuser. The suit was dismissed without settlement.
February 2025: Jay-Z drops request to have Tony Buzbee sanctioned
In February 2025 Jay-Z dropped his request to have Tony Buzbee sanctioned by the court.
2025: Wealthiest Musical Artist
As of 2025, Jay-Z is the wealthiest musical artist in the world, with a net worth of US$2.5 billion.
Mentioned in this timeline
Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court...
Eminem born Marshall Mathers III is a highly influential American...
Robyn Rihanna Fenty known as Rihanna is a highly successful...
Frank Ocean is an influential American singer and songwriter recognized...
Mariah Carey is a highly acclaimed American singer-songwriter record producer...
Kanye Omari West known as Ye is a highly influential...
Trending
47 minutes ago Pistons face Knicks without Stewart; Cunningham reacts to missing key player.
47 minutes ago Anthony Volpe struggles, faces criticism, and prompts lineup changes in latest Yankees setbacks.
47 minutes ago Jared Goff Supports Pistons in Playoff Game Against Knicks at LCA.
48 minutes ago Elina Svitolina's daughter Skai shows passion for tennis; Rybakina wins in Madrid.
48 minutes ago Braves Reclaim Ian Anderson off Waivers After Angels Stint: A Surprising Reunion
48 minutes ago Tobias Harris of Pistons calls the Knicks soft before a big Game 3.
Popular
Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church...
Cristiano Ronaldo often nicknamed CR is a highly decorated Portuguese...
The Real ID Act of is a US federal law...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is an American businessman...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a highly decorated American...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...