  Jay-Z was born in New York on
December 4, 1970. Before becoming one of the
most respected and best-selling rappers of
the latter half of the 90s, Jay-Z was growing
up in Brooklyn, New York as a struggling MC,
cashier at Kentucky Fried Chicken, and drug
dealer.
Jay-Z began a different career
as a solo rapper with the single "In My
Lifetime" which eventually led to a
distribution deal.
 # 172
Singles Artist of the Year
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Dance
Music Maxi-Singles Sales chart for 5 weeks
with "Ain't No.../Dead Presidents."
 Jay-Z released Reasonable
Doubt with the tracks "Can't
Knock The Hustle,""Feelin'
It," "Dead Presidents," and
"Brooklyn's Finest."
The single "Dead
Presidents" was certified gold.
Reasonable
Doubt was certified gold.
 # 141
Singles Artist of the Year
 Jay-Z released Volume
1... In My Lifetime with tracks "The
City Is Mine" and "Sunshine."
 # 44
Singles Artist of the Year
Volume
1... In My Lifetime was certified gold.
Jay-Z appeared in the film Streets
Is Watching and appeared on the soundtrack
with the tracks "It's Alright,"
"Love For Free," "Only A
Customer," "In My Lifetime"
(remix), and "Celebration."
Volume
2... Hard Knock Life was released. Jay-Z
could be heard on rap and even pop radio with
his hits "Hard Knock Life" and
"Can
I Get A..." and his videos became a
staple on MTV.
Volume
2... Hard Knock Life topped the Billboard
200 Albums chart for 5 weeks and the R&B
Albums chart for 6 weeks.
 Volume
2... Hard Knock Life was certified 2x
platinum.
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "Hard
Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)."
Jay-Z could be heard on Timbaland's LP Tim's
Bio: Life Fram Da Basement on the track
"Lobster & Scrimp."
Volume
2... Hard Knock Life was certified 3x
platinum.
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "Can
I Get A..."
Rolling Stone named
Jay-Z the Best Hip-Hop Artist of the Year.
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Year-End
Charts
as the Top R&B Album Artist and Top
R&B Album Artist - Male.
 # 26
Singles Artist of the Year
 Jay-Z won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album (Volume
2... Hard Knock Life) and was nominated for
Best Rap Solo
Performance ("Hard Knock Life")
and Best Rap Performance by
a Duo or Group ("Money Ain't A
Thang" with Jermaine Dupri).
Jay-Z boycotted the awards ceremony
"...because too many major rap artists
continue to be overlooked... Rappers deserve
more attention from the Grammy committee and
from the whole world. If it's got a gun
everybody knows about it, but if we go on a
world tour, no one know." A spokesperson
for Jay-Z said after the awards: "If
they want to give us awards, we'll take them.
But we aren't gonna drop everything and run
to the show to get a small pat on the head
when they don't even air the award he
won."
Volume
2... Hard Knock Life was certified 4x
platinum and Volume
1... In My Lifetime was certified
platinum.
The single "Hard Knock
Life" was certified gold.
 Jay-Z and DMX donated 1-night's
worth of concert profits to the families of
the Columbine victims when their Hard Knock
Life tour hit Denver. Jay-Z told MTV:
"We decided to donate the proceeds from
this show as soon as we saw the date on the
schedule."
Jay-Z returned to the Top 40
with "Can
I Get A..."
Jay-Z hit the Top
10
with "Can
I Get A..."
Jay-Z could be heard on the
soundtrack for Blue
Streak soundtrack with
"Girls' Best Friend."
Jay-Z was named Lyricist of the
Year, Solo at the Source Hip-Hip Music
Awards.
 Jay-Z won a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Rap Video ("Can
I Get A...") and was nominated for Best Video from a Film and Viewer's Choice ("Can
I Get A...").
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 by helping
out Mariah
Carey on her hit "Heartbreaker."
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Rap
Singles chart with "Jigga My..."
for 2 weeks.
 Jay-Z won a WB Radio Music Award
for Song of the Year (Rhythm/Urban) ("Can
I Get A...").
Jay-Z hit the Top
10
with his contribution to Mariah
Carey's "Heartbreaker" (which topped
the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks and the
Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart for 2
weeks and the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop
Singles & Tracks chart for 2 weeks, the
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles &
Tracks chart for 2 weeks, and the Billboard
Maxi-Singles Sales chart for 8 weeks.
 Jay-Z was arrested after turning
himself in in New York for charges related to
a stabbing the night before - he was later
charged with 4 counts of assault, but
maintained his plea of innocence.
Jay-Z released Volume
3... The Life & Times Of Shawn Carter at the end of
the month with anticipation of selling over 1
million copies in the first week of release.
Jay-Z won a Billboard Music
Award for Rap Artist of the Year.
Jay-Z hit #1 on Mariah
Carey's hit "Heartbreaker."
Jay-Z topped the Billboard
Year-End Chart-Toppers as the Top Hot Rap
Artist.
 # 39
Singles Artist of the Year
 Jay-Z was nominated for an American Music
Award for Favorite
Rap/Hip Hop Artist.
Volume
3... The Life & Times Of Shawn Carter debuted at #1 on the
LP charts selling less than half a million
copies in its first week of release in the
U.S. and topped the Billboard R&B Album
chart for 2 weeks.
By the end of the month, a grand
jury in New York indicted Jay-Z on 2 counts
of attempted assault related to the alleged
stabbing last December.
 Jay-Z pleaded not guilty to the
stabbing charges.
Volume
3... The Life & Times Of Shawn Carter was certified 2x
platinum.
Volume
2... Hard Knock Life was certified 5x
platinum.
 Jay-Z won an Online Hip-Hop
Award for Artist of the Year.
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "Big
Pimpin'."
 Jay-Z could be heard on the
soundtrack for Nutty
Professor II: The Klumps soundtrack with
"Hey Papi."
Jay-Z could be
heard on Busta Rhymes' LP, Anarchy, on the track
"Why We Die."
The video "Big
Pimpin'"
was nominated for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Rap Video.
 Jay-Z released his next LP, The
Dynasty Rock La Familia 2000, on the last day of
the month.
Jay-Z won a Radio Music Award
for Artist of the Year: Hip Hop/Rhythmic. The
Dynasty Rock La Familia 2000 debuted at #1 on the
Pop and R&B/Hip-Hop LP charts.
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with with
"I
Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me)."
 Jay-Z hit #1 on the Billboard
R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart
with "I
Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me)" for 3 weeks.
The
Dynasty Rock La Familia 2000 was certified 2x
platinum.
 # 29
Singles Artist of the Year
Jay-Z hit #1 on the Billboard
R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart for a week with
"I
Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me)."
 Jay-Z was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by
a Duo or Group ("Big
Pimpin'")
and Best Rap Album (Volume
3... The Life & Times Of Shawn Carter).
Volume
3... The Life & Times Of Shawn Carter was certified 3x
platinum. Jay-Z was nominated for a Soul
Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or
Rap Album (The
Dynasty Rock La Familia 2000).
 Jay-Z was nominated for a
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite
Artist - Rap.
Jay-Z was arrested in New York
when a gun was found on his bodyguard.
 Jay-Z hit the Top 40 helping out
R.
Kelly with "Fiesta."
Jay-Z hit #1 on the Billboard
R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart
for 5 weeks and the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
chart for a week with "Fiesta" (with R.
Kelly).
Jay-Z won a BET Award for Best
Male Hip-Hop Artist.
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)."
Jay-Z's video for
"I
Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me)" was nominated
for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Rap Video. Jay-Z also performed
at the ceremony.
Jay-Z won a Source
Award for Artist of the Year - Solo.
Jay-Z released The
Blueprint.
The
Blueprint topped the Billboard 200 LP
chart for 3 weeks and the R&B/Hip-Hop
Albums chart for 3 weeks - selling over
426,000 copies in its 1st week of release in
the US.
Jay-Z topped the MTV Top 20
Video Countdown with "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)."
 The
Blueprint was certified platinum.
Jay-Z performed at The
Concert For New York City benefit concert in New
York City (later released as an LP) with
proceeds going to 9/11 charities.
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "Girls, Girls, Girls."
Jay-Z could be heard on Timbaland &
Magoo's LP Indecent
Proposal on the track "Party
People."
 Jay-Z released Unplugged.
Jay-Z received 3 years probation
for a 1999 stabbing.
Jay-Z topped Billboard
Year-End Charts with the Top Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks ("Fiesta" with R.
Kelly) and as the Top Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Artist
and the Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles &
Tracks Artist - Male.
Readers and critics of Rolling
Stone voted Jay-Z as Best Hip-Hop
Artist of the Year.
 # 59
Singles Artist of the Year
Jay-Z was
nominated for 3 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Solo Performance ("Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"), Best Rap Performance by
a Duo or Group ("Change The Game"
featuring Beanie Sigel &
Memphis Bleek), and Best Rap Album (The
Blueprint).
Reasonable
Doubt was certified platinum.
Jay-Z won a Soul Train Award for
R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year (The
Blueprint).
Jay-Z teamed up with R.
Kelly for the LP The
Best Of Both Worlds.
 The
Best Of Both Worlds topped the Billboard
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart.
The hits collection Chapter
One: Greatest Hits was released overseas.
The
Blueprint was certified 2x platinum and The
Best Of Both Worlds was certified
platinum.
Jay-Z appeared on the 8
Mile soundtrack with the track
"8 Miles And Runnin'."
Jay-Z performed on Saturday
Night Live.
Jay-Z released a 2-CD set, The
Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse.
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with help
from Beyoncé
Knowles on "'03 Bonnie & Clyde."
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Top
200 LP chart for a week and the Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for 2 weeks with
The
Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse selling over 545,000
copies its first week of release in the US.
The
Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse was certified
3x platinum.
 Jay-Z had moderate R&B and
rap hits with the tracks "People
Talking," "Jigga," "Take
You Home With Me a.k.a. Body" (with R.
Kelly), "Get This Money"
(with R.
Kelly), "Song Cry,"
"Somebody's Girl" (with R.
Kelly), "Shake Ya Body"
(with R.
Kelly and Lil' Kim), and "Hovi
Baby."
 # 12
Singles Artist of the Year
 Jay-Z hit the Top 10 with "'03 Bonnie & Clyde."
Jay-Z was
nominated for a Soul Train Music Award with R.
Kelly for R&B/Soul Album Group,
Band or Duo (The
Best Of Both Worlds).
Jay-Z was
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance - Male ("Song
Cry").
 Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "Excuse Me Miss."
Jay-Z released Blueprint
2.1: Gift & Curse - the LP was shorter
version of The
Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse with 2 additional
unreleased tracks.
Jay-Z topped the Billboard
R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart
for a week and the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
chart with "Excuse Me Miss."
VH1: 50
Greatest Hip Hop Artists includes Jay-Z at # 10.
Jay-Z's signature athletic shoes
became the fastest sellers in Reebok's
history.
 Jay-Z brought his viewpoints
against the US war with Iraq with a remix of Panjabi
MC's single "Beware Of The Boys
(Mundian To Bach Ke)."
Panjabi MC and
Jay-Z topped the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop
Singles Sales chart for a week with
"Beware Of The Boys (Mundian To Bach
Ke)."
 Jay-Z hit the Top 40 and then
the Top 10 helping out Beyoncé
Knowles on "Crazy In Love" from her LP Dangerously
In Love.
Jay-Z and 50 Cent started touring
together as part of the 'Rock The Mic Tour'
kicking off in Connecticut.
 Jay-Z topped the Billboard Hot
100 Singles chart for 8 weeks, the Hot 100
Airplay chart for 8 weeks, the Top 40 Tracks
chart, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles &
Tracks chart for 3 weeks, the Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart for 4 weeks,
the Hot Digital Tracks chart for 6 weeks, and
the UK singles chart for 3 weeks helping out Beyoncé
Knowles on "Crazy In Love."
Jay-Z could be heard on the Bad
Boys 2 soundtrack with the
track "La, La, La."
Jay-Z hit #1 for 7 weeks helping
out Beyoncé
Knowles on "Crazy In Love."
 Jay-Z topped the Billboard
Rhythmic Top 40 chart and Mainstream Top 40
chart with Beyoncé
Knowles on "Crazy In Love."
Jay-Z's video for "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was nominated
for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Hip-Hop Video. His contribution to Beyoncé
Knowles' "Crazy In Love" won for Best Female Video, Best Choreography (Frank Gatson, Jr.),
and Best R&B Video, and was nominated for
Viewer's Choice. Jay-Z also performed
at the ceremony.
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart
for 6 weeks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
chart for 5 weeks helping out Pharrell
on "Frontin'" from The
Neptunes Presents... The Clones compilation.
Jay-Z could be
heard on Mary J. Blige's LP, Love
& Life, on the track "Love &
Life."
 Jay-Z hit the Top 40 helping out
Pharrell on "Frontin'."
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Hot
Dance Music / Club Play chart helping out Beyoncé
Knowles on "Crazy In Love."
Jay-Z released The
Black Album.
 Jay-Z topped the Billboard 200
LP chart for 2 weeks and Top R&B/Hip-Hop
Album chart for 3 weeks with The
Black Album. The LP sold over 463,000
copies in the US during its first shortened
week of release.
Jay-Z was honored at the Vibe
Awards with the TuBig Award. Jay-Z also won
an award for Coolest Collabo along with Beyoncé
Knowles for "Crazy In Love."
Jay-Z could heard on Missy Elliott's LP This
Is Not A Test on the track "Wake
Up."
Jay-Z hit the
Top 40 with "Change Clothes."
 Jay-Z topped the ARC Top Songs of 2003 along with Beyoncé
Knowles with "Crazy In Love."
Rolling Stone:
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: # 248:
Reasonable
Doubt, # 464: The
Blueprint.
 # 16
Singles Artist of the Year
 The
Black Album was certified 2x platinum.
Jay-Z won 2 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song
(awarded to the songwriter) ("Crazy In Love" with Rich
Harrison, Beyoncé
Knowles and Eugene
Record) and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
("Crazy In Love" with Beyoncé
Knowles), and was also nominated for Record of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
("Frontin'" with The
Neptunes and Pharrell),
Best Rap Album (The
Blueprint 2: The Gift And The Curse), and Best
Rap Song (songwriter) ("Excuse Me Miss" with Chad Hugo
and Pharrell Williams).
 Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "Dirt Off Your Shoulder."
Jay-Z released The
Black Album: Acappella (Billboard peak: 106).
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "99 Problems."
Jay-Z won 2 BET Awards for Best
Male Hip-Hop Artist and Best Collaboration
("Crazy In Love").
The video for "99 Problems" won 4 MTV Video Music
Awards for Best Rap Video, Best Direction (Mark Romanek), Best Cinematography (Joaquin Baca-Asay),
and Best Editing, and was also
nominated for Video of the Year, and Best Male Video.
 Jay-Z won a Source Award for
Lyricist of the Year.
Jay-Z released The
Best Of Both Worlds: Unfinished Business with R.
Kelly.
Jay-Z's fall tour with R.
Kelly was cancelled
one night after Kelly was allegedly pepper
sprayed by a member of Jay-Z's entourage at a
show in New York which resulted in Kelly
leaving his set complaining of security
concerns. Jay-Z ended up performing longer
for the show with special guests.
The single "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" was certified
gold.
 Jay-Z announced he would finish
tour dates without R.
Kelly and instead have special guests
at the remaining dates.
Jay-Z topped the Billboard 200
LP chart with The
Best Of Both Worlds: Unfinished Business with R.
Kelly selling over 215,000 copies in
the US its first week of release.
Jay-Z won an American Music
Award for Favorite Rap Male Artist and was nominated for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album.
Jay-Z collaborated with Linkin Park on MTV
Ultimate Mash-Ups Presents Jay-Z / Linkin
Park: Collision Course with the track "Numb/Encore."
Jay-Z and Linkin Park topped the Billboard
Hot Digital Tracks chart with "Numb/Encore."
 MTV
Ultimate Mash-Ups Presents Jay-Z / Linkin
Park: Collision Course topped the Billboard
200 LP chart for a week and Top
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for a week
selling over 368,000 copies its first week of
release.
Jay-Z was named president and
CEO of Def Jam Records.
The
Best Of Both Worlds: Unfinished Business was certified
platinum.
Jay-Z's "99 Problems" was chosen by Rolling
Stone magazine's critics as the best
single of the year.
# 92 on the Top Pop Artists
of the Past 25 Years chart.
 # 96
Singles Artist of the Year
 Jay-Z won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance ("99 Problems") and was
nominated for Best Rap Album (The
Black Album), and Best
Rap Song (awarded to the songwriter) ("99 Problems").
Jay-Z won a
Soul Train Music Award for R&B/Soul or
Rap Music Video ("99 Problems").
The single "Numb/Encore" was certified
gold.
Jay-Z could be
heard on Memphis Bleek's 534 with "Dear
Summer."
 On July 2nd, Jay-Z performed in
Philadelphia as part of the worldwide Live
8 concerts. The mission of the
concerts was to raise awareness of the
on-going poverty in Africa and to pressure
the G8 leaders to take action by doubling
aid, canceling debt, and delivering trade
justice for Africa.
MTV
Ultimate Mash-Ups Presents Jay-Z / Linkin
Park: Collision Course was certified
platinum.
The
Black Album was certified 3x platinum.
Jay-Z appeared on the cover of Rolling
Stone.
Jay-Z could be heard on Mary J. Blige's LP The
Breakthrough with "Can't Hide From
Luv."
Jay-Z could be heard on The Notorious
B.I.G. posthumous creation - Duets:
The Final Chapter.
 # 61
Singles Artist of the Year
Jay-Z won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Numb/Encore" with Linkin Park). Jay-Z also performed
at the ceremony.
 Jay-Z hit the Top 40 helping out
Beyoncé
Knowles on "Deja Vu" from her LP B'Day.
Jay-Z hit the Top 10 helping out Beyoncé
Knowles on "Deja Vu."
Jay-Z topped the UK singles
chart helping out Beyoncé
Knowles on "Deja Vu."
 Jay-Z topped the Billboard Hot
R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Hot Singles
Sales chart and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles
Sales chart with Beyoncé
Knowles with "Deja Vu."
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Hot
Dance Club Play chart with Beyoncé
Knowles with "Deja Vu."
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with "Show Me What You Got."
 Jay-Z ended his retirement with
the release of Kingdom
Come.
Jay-Z performed at the American Music
Awards.
Jay-Z topped the Billboard 200
LP chart, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,
Top Digital Albums chart, and the Top Rap
Albums chart with Kingdom
Come - the LP sold over 680,000
copies its first week of release in the US.
Kingdom
Come was certified 2x platinum.
 # 65
Singles Artist of the Year
 Jay-Z was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song (with Rodney 'Darkchild'
Jerkins, Beyoncé, Makeba, Keli Nicole
Price and Delisha Thomas)
(awarded to the songwriter) and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with 'Darkchild'
Jerkins, Beyoncé) ("Deja Vu").
 Jay-Z won a Soul Train Music
Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music
Video ("Show Me What You Got").
Jay-Z hit the Top 40 helping out
Rihanna with
"Umbrella" from her LP Good
Girl Gone Bad.
 Jay-Z could be heard on Ne-Yo's LP Because
Of You on the track "Crazy."
Jay-Z topped the UK and Canada
singles chart helping out Rihanna with
"Umbrella."
Jay-Z hit the Top 10 and #1 for
3 weeks
helping out Rihanna with
"Umbrella."
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Hot
100 chart, Hot Digital Songs chart, Hot
Digital Tracks chart, Hot Dance Airplay
chart, and Pop 100 chart helping out Rihanna with
"Umbrella."
Jay-Z could be heard on Fabolous' LP From
Nothin' To Somethin' on the track
"Brooklyn."
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Hot
100 Airplay chart and Hot Dance Club Play
chart helping out Rihanna with
"Umbrella."
Jay-Z could be heard on T.I.'s LP T.I.
Vs. Tip with "Watch What You Say
To Me."
Jay-Z won 2 MTV Video Music
Awards for Monster
Single of the Year and Video of the Year ("Umbrella" with Rihanna), and was nominated
for Best Direction ( Chris Applebaum)
("Umbrella" with Rihanna) and Quadruple Threat
of the Year.
 The single "Umbrella" was certified 2x
platinum.
Jay-Z released American
Gangster. The LP was Jay-Z's first
concept LP and associated with the film of
the same name (although not its soundtrack).
Jay-Z topped the Billboard 200
LP chart, Top Rap Albums chart, and Top
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with American
Gangster. The LP sold over 425,000
copies its first week of release in the US.
Jay-Z appeared on the cover of Rolling
Stone.
It was announced that Jay-Z
would be stepping down as the president of
Def Jam Records.
Jay-Z topped the Billboard
Year-End Charts as the Top
R&B/Hip-Hop Album Artist, Top
R&B/Hip-Hop Album Artist - Male, and with
the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album (Kingdom
Come) and Top Hot Dance Airplay
Track ("Umbrella" with Rihanna).
American
Gangster was certified platinum.
VH1: 100
Greatest Songs of the 90's included "Can
I Get A..." at # 57.
Jay-Z won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Umbrella" with Rihanna), and was nominated
for Record of the Year ("Umbrella" with Rihanna), Song of the Year
(awarded to the songwriter) ("Umbrella" with Kuk
Harrell, Terius 'Dream' Nash and Christopher
Stewart), Best Rap Solo Performance ("Show Me What You Got"), and Best Rap Album (Kingdom
Come).
Jay-Z began a co-headlining tour
with Mary J. Blige called
the 'Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z: Heart of the
City' tour.
Jay-Z married Beyoncé
Knowles.
Jay-Z could be heard on the Usher LP Here
I Stand on the track "Best
Thing."
Jay-Z could be heard on the Lil Wayne LP Tha
Carter III on the track "Mr.
Carter."
Entertainment Weekly:
100 Best Albums of the Last 25 Years included The
Blueprint at # 7.
 Jay-Z hit the Top 40 with T.I., Kanye West and Lil Wayne with "Swagga Like Us" (available at iTunes).
Jay-Z could be heard on the Coldplay EP Prospekt's
March on the track
"Lost+."
Jay-Z could be heard on the Ludacris LP Theater
Of The Mind on the track "I Do It For
Hip Hop."
Jay-Z was nominated for an American Music
Awards for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album.
 Jay-Z won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or
Group
("Swagga Like Us" with T.I., Kanye West, and Lil Wayne), and was nominated
for Best Rap Solo
Performance ("Roc Boys (And The Winner
Is...)"), Best Rap Performance by a Duo or
Group
("Mr. Carter" with Lil Wayne), Best Rap Song
("Swagga Like Us" with T.I., Kanye West, and Lil Wayne ), and Best Rap Album (American
Gangster). Jay-Z performed at the
ceremony.
Jay-Z is expected to release Blueprint
3 in September.
 |
Reasonable Doubt
Released: June, 1996
US: Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 23
Entertainment
Weekly: A-
Tracks: "Can't Knock
The Hustle" - "Politics As
Usual" - "Brooklyn's
Finest" - "Dead Presidents
II" - "Feelin' It" -
"D'Evils" - "22
Two's" - "Can I Live" -
"Ain't No..." - "Friend Or
Foe" - "Coming Of Age" -
"Cashmere Thoughts" -
"Bring It On" -
"Regrets" - "Can I Live
II" |
|
Volume 1... In My
Lifetime
Released: November, 1997
US: Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 3
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "A Million
And One Questions / Rhyme No More" -
"The City Is Mine" - "I
Know What Girls Like" -
"Imaginary Player" -
"Streets Is Watching" -
"Friend Or Foe 98" -
"Lucky Me" - "(Always Be
My) Sunshine" - "Who You Wit
II" - "Face Off" -
"Real...." - "Rap Game /
Crack Game" - "Where I'm
From" - "You Must Love Me"
|
|
Volume 2... Hard Knock
Life
Released: September, 1998
US: 5x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 5 weeks)
Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "Hand It
Down" - "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto
Anthem)" - "If I Should
Die" - "Ride Or Die" -
"Jigga What, Jigga Who" -
"Money, Cash" - "A Week
Ago" - "Coming Of Age" -
"Can I Get A..." -
"Paper Chase" - "Reservoir
Dogs" - "It's Like That" -
"It's Alright" - "Money
Ain't A Thang" |
|
Volume 3... The Life
& Times Of Shawn Carter
Released: December, 1999
US: 3x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (1 week)
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: A-
Tracks: "Hova
Song" - "So Ghetto" -
"Do It Again (Put Ya Hand Up)"
- "Dope Man" - "Things
That U Do" - "It's Hot (Some
Like It Hot)" - "Snoopy
Track" - "S. Carter" -
"Pop 4 Roc" - "Watch
Me" - "Big Pimpin'" -
"There's Been A Murder" -
"Come And Get Me" -
"Nymp" |
|
The Dynasty Rock La
Familia 2000
Released: October, 2000
US: 2x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (1 week)
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B-
Tracks: "Change The
Game" - "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It
To Me)" - "Streets Is
Talking" - "This Can't Be
Life" - "Get Your Mind Right
Mami" - "Stick 2 The
Script" - "You, Me, Him And
Her" - "Guilty Until Proven
Innocent" - "Parking Lot
Pimpin'" - "Holla" -
"1-900-Hustler" - "The
R.O.C." - "Soon You'll
Understand" - "Squeeze
1st" - "Where Have You
Been" |
 |
The Blueprint
Released: September, 2001
US: 2x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 3 weeks)
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: B-
Tracks: "The Ruler's
Back" - "Takeover" -
"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" -
"Girls, Girls, Girls" -
"Jigga That..." - "U Don't
Know" - "Hola' Hovito" -
"Heart Of The City (Ain't No
Love)" - "Never Change" -
"Song Cry" - "All I
Need" - "Renegade" -
"Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)" |
|
Unplugged
Released: December, 2001
Billboard
peak:
# 31
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: A
Live Tracks: "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" -
"Takeover" - "Girls,
Girls, Girls" - "Jigga What,
Jigga Who" - "Big Pimpin'"
- "Heart Of The City (Ain't No
Love)" - "Can I Get A..." - "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto
Anthem)" - "Ain't
No..." - "Can't Knock The
Hustle / Family Affair" - "Song
Cry" - "I Just Wanna Love U
(Give It 2 Me)" - "Jigga
That..." |
|
The Best Of Both Worlds (with R.
Kelly)
Released: March, 2002
US: Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 2
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: C+
Tracks: "The Best Of
Both Worlds" - "Take You Home
With Me A.K.A. Body" - "Break
Up To Make Up" - "It Ain't
Personal" - "The Streets"
- "Green Light" -
"Naked" - "Shake Ya
Body" - "Somebody's Girl"
- "Get This Money" -
"Shorty" - "Honey" -
"P___y" |
|
The Blueprint 2: The
Gift And The Curse
Released: November, 2002
US: 3x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 1 week)
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B-
Tracks: "A
Dream" (with Faith Evans and The
Notorious B.I.G.) - "Hovi Baby"
- "The Watcher 2" (with Dr.
Dre, Rakim and Truth Hurts) - "'03 Bonnie &
Clyde" (with Beyoncé
Knowles) - "Excuse Me Miss" - "What
They Gonna Do (with Sean Paul) -
"All Around The World" (with
LaToiya Williams) - "Poppin'
Tags" (with Big Boi, Killer Mike and
Twista) - "All Nite" -
"The Bounce" (with Kanye West) - "I Did It
My Way" - "Diamonds Is
Forever" - "Guns &
Roses" (with Lenny Kravitz) -
"U Don't Know" (Remix) (with
M.O.P.) - "Meet The Parents" -
"Some How Some Way" (with
Beanie Sigel and Scarface) - "Some
People Hate" - "Blueprint
2" - "N Please" (with
Young Chris) - "2 Many Hoes" -
"As One" (with Memphis Bleek,
Freeway, Young Guns, Peedi Crakk, Sparks
and Rell) - "A Ballad For The Fallen
Soldier" - "Show You How"
- "Bitches & Sisters" -
"What They Gonna Do Part II" |
|
Blueprint 2.1: Gift
& Curse
Released: April , 2003
Billboard
peak:
# 17
Rolling Stone: 
Tracks: "A
Dream" - "Hovi Baby" -
"Excuse Me Miss" - "'03 Bonnie &
Clyde" (with Beyoncé
Knowles) - "Guns & Roses" -
"The Watcher 2" - "All
Around The World" - "Some How,
Some Way" - "Meet The
Parents" - "N**** Please"
- "Poppin' Tags" - "The
Bounce" - "2 Many Hoes" -
"What They Gonna Do Part II" |
|
The Black Album
Released: November , 2003
US: 3x
Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 2 weeks)
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks:
"Interlude" - "December
4th" - "What More Can I
Say" - "Encore" - "Change Clothes" - "Dirt Off Your
Shoulder" - "Threat"
- "Moment Of Clarity" - "99 Problems" -
"Public Service Announcement
(Interlude)" - "Justify My
Thug" - "Lucifer" -
"Allure" - "My 1st
Song" |
|
The Best Of Both Worlds:
Unfinished Business (with R.
Kelly)
Released: October, 2004
US:
Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 1 week)
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: C
Tracks:
"Return" - "Big
Chips" - "We Got Em Goin'"
- "She's Coming Home With Me" -
"Feelin' You In Stereo" -
"Stop" - "Mo' Money"
- "Pretty Girls" - "Break
Up (That's All We Do)" - "Don't
Let Me Die" - "Return"
(Remix) |
|
MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups
Presents Jay-Z / Linkin Park: Collision
Course (with Linkin Park)
Released: November, 2004
US:
Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 1 week)
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: C
Tracks: "Dirty Off
Your Shoulder/Lying From You" -
"Big Pimpin'/Papercut" -
"Jigga WhatFaint" - "Numb/Encore" -
"Izzo/In The End" -
"Points Of Authority/99 Problems/One
Step Closer" |
|
Kingdom Come
Released: November, 2006
US: 2x
Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B
Tracks: "The
Prelude" - "Oh My God" -
"Kingdom Come" - "Show Me
What You Got" - "Lost One"
- "Do U Wanna Ride" (with John
Legend) - "30 Something" -
"I Made It" -
"Anything" (with Usher &
Pharrell) - "Hollywood" (with
Beyoncé) - "Trouble" -
"Dig A Hole" - "Minority
Report" (with Ne-Yo) - "Beach
Chair" (with Chris Martin) -
"Politics As Usual" -
"Can't Knock The Hustle" -
"Can I Live" |
|
American Gangster
Released: November, 2007
US:
Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "Intro"
- "Pray" (featurng Beyoncé) -
"American Dreamin'" -
"Hello Brooklyn 2.0" (featuring
Lil Wayne) - "No Hook" -
"Roc Boys (And The Winner
Is...)" (featuring Kanye West) -
"Sweet" - "I Know"
(featuring Pharrell Williams) -
"Party Life" - "Ignorant
Sh**" (featuring Beanie Sigel) -
"Say Hello" -
"Success" (featuring Nas) -
"Fallin'" (featuring Bilal) -
"Blue Magic" (featuring
Pharrell Williams) - "American
Gangster" |
| 1 |
Crazy In
Love
[Beyoncé Knowles featuring
Jay-Z]
from the Beyoncé Knowles LP
Dangerously In Love
ARC Chart Run: 30 - 20 - 16 - 10 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 9 - 17 - 22 - 31 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 1
RIAA Certification: Gold
Grammy Winner: Best R&B Song, Best
Rap/Sung Collaboration
Grammy Nominee: Record of the Year
MTV VMA Winner: Best Female Video, Best Choreography, Best R&B Video
MTV VMA Nominee: Viewer's Choice |
1(7) |
22 |
2003 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 2 |
Umbrella
[Rihanna featuring Jay-Z]
from the Rihanna LP Good Girl Gone Bad
ARC Chart Run: 39 - 29 - 25 - 24 - 21 - 18 - 15 - 10 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 6 - 6 - 8 - 11 - 16 - 18 - 22 - 28 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 9
RIAA Certification: 2x
Platinum
Grammy Winner: Best Rap/Sung
Collaboration
Grammy Nominee: Record of the Year, Song of the Year
MTV VMA Winner: Video of the Year, Monster Single of
the Year
MTV VMA Nominee: Best Direction |
1(3) |
25 |
2007 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 3 |
Heartbreaker
[Mariah Carey featuring
Jay-Z]
from the Mariah Carey LP
Rainbow
ARC Chart Run: 34 - 25 - 19 - 17 - 13 - 12 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 9 - 23 - 32 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 25
RIAA Certification: Gold |
1(1) |
18 |
1999 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 4 |
'03 Bonnie
& Clyde
[Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé
Knowles]
from the LP The Blueprint 2: The
Gift And The Curse
ARC Chart Run: 40 - 34 - 30 - 27 - 24 - 19 - 17 - 15 - 13 - 12 - 9 - 5 - 4 - 7 - 10 - 14 - 18 - 23 - 36 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 41
MTV VMA Nominee: Best Hip-Hop Video |
4 |
19 |
2003 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 5 |
Can I Get A...
from the LP Volume 2... Hard Knock
Life
ARC Chart Run: 40 - 39 - 36 - 35 - off - 34 - 27 - 22 - 17 - 12 - 10 - 16 - 27 - 30 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 62
MTV VMA Winner: Best Rap Video
MTV VMA Nominee: Best Video from a Film, Viewer's Choice
VH1: '100 Greatest Songs of the
90's': # 57 |
10 |
13 |
1999 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 6 |
Numb/Encore
[Jay-Z & Linkin Park]
from the LP MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups
Presents Jay-Z / Linkin Park: Collision
Course
ARC Chart Run: 38 - 35 - 31 - 28 - 25 - 20 - 17 - 13 - 11 - 11 - 10 - 17 - 26 - 33 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 68
RIAA Certification: Gold
Grammy Winner: Best Rap/Sung
Collaboration |
10 |
14 |
2005 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 7 |
Izzo
(H.O.V.A.)
from the LP The Blueprint
ARC Chart Run: 39 - 34 - 31 - 29 - 27 - 24 - 21 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 15 - 17 - 27 - 34 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 84
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap Solo
Performance |
15 |
14 |
2001 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 8 |
Dirt Off
Your Shoulder
from the LP The Black Album
ARC Chart Run: 40 - 37 - 32 - 29 - 26 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 19 - 16 - 15 - 14 - 20 - 40 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 72
RIAA Certification: Gold
|
14 |
14 |
2004 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 9 |
Deja Vu
[Beyoncé Knowles featuring
Jay-Z]
from the Beyoncé LP B'Day
ARC Chart Run: 32 - 23 - 18 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 9 - 17 - 26 - 33 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 76
Grammy Nominee: Best R&B Song, Best Rap/Sung
Collaboration |
9 |
10 |
2006 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 10 |
Change
Clothes
from the LP The Black Album
ARC Chart Run: 40 - 36 - 32 - 29 - 26 - 23 - 20 - 20 - 17 - 24 - 35 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 82 |
17 |
11 |
2004 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 11 |
Girls,
Girls, Girls
from the LP The Blueprint
ARC Chart Run: 39 - 36 - 33 - 29 - 25 - 21 - 19 - 17 - 22 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 106 |
17 |
9 |
2002 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 12 |
Frontin'
[Pharrell featuring Jay-Z]
from The Neptunes Presents...
The Clones compilation
ARC Chart Run: 38 - 34 - 30 - 26 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 30 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 118
Grammy Nominee: Best
Rap/Sung Collaboration |
22 |
8 |
2003 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 13 |
Big Pimpin'
from the LP Volume 3... The Life
& Times Of Shawn Carter
ARC Chart Run: 37 - 33 - 31 - 28 - 26 - 24 - 21 - 29 - 32 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 125
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group
MTV VMA Nominee: Best Rap Video |
21 |
9 |
2000 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 14 |
I Just Wanna Love U
(Give It To Me)
from the LP The Dynasty Rock La
Familia 2000
ARC Chart Run: 35 - 31 - 27 - 24 - 21 - 33 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 134
MTV VMA Nominee: Best Rap Video |
21 |
6 |
2000 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 15 |
Hard Knock Life
(Ghetto Anthem)
from the LP Volume 2... Hard Knock
Life
ARC Chart Run: 40 - 35 - 32 - 30 - 27 - 23 - 31 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 130
RIAA Certification: Gold
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap Solo
Performance |
23 |
7 |
1998 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 16 |
99 Problems
from the LP The Black Album
ARC Chart Run: 38 - 34 - 33 - 31 - 26 - 24 - 30 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 127
Grammy Winner: Best Rap Solo
Performance
MTV VMA Winner: Best Rap Video, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography
MTV VMA Nominee: Video of the Year, Best Male Video |
24 |
7 |
2004 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 17 |
Excuse Me
Miss
from the LP The Blueprint 2: The
Gift And The Curse
ARC Chart Run: 38 - 34 - 30 - 29 - 28 - 26 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 145
Grammy Nominee: Best
Rap Song |
26 |
6 |
2003 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 18 |
Show Me
What You Got
from the LP Kingdom Come
ARC Chart Run: 40 - 37 - off - 36 - 31 - 27 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 128
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap Solo
Performance |
27 |
5 |
2006 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS]
|
| 19 |
Fiesta
[R. Kelly featuring Jay-Z]
from the R. Kelly LP TP-2.com
ARC Chart Run: 38 - 37 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 161 |
37 |
2 |
2001 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| 20 |
Swagga Like
This
[Jay-Z & T.I. featuring Kanye West
& Lil Wayne]
from the LP The Blueprint 3
ARC Chart Run: 39 - 38 - off
Year-End Chart Position:
# 162
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap
Song |
38 |
2 |
2008 |
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
| |
 Ain't No...
[Jay-Z featuring Foxy Brown]
from the LP Reasonable Doubt |
** |
** |
1996 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
 Can't Knock
The Hustle
from the LP Reasonable Doubt |
** |
** |
1996 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
 Feelin' It
from the LP Reasonable Doubt |
** |
** |
1997 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
 Who You Wit
from the LP Volume 1... In My
Lifetime |
** |
** |
1997 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
 Sunshine
[Jay-Z
featuring Babyface & Foxy Brown]
from the LP Volume 1... In My
Lifetime |
** |
** |
1997 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
 The City Is
Mine
[Jay-Z featuring
Blackstreet]
from the LP Volume 1... In My
Lifetime |
** |
** |
1998 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Money Ain't A Thang
[Jermaine Dupri featuring
Jay-Z]
from the LP Volume 2... Hard Knock
Life
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group |
** |
** |
1998 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
 Love For
Free
[Rell featuring Jay-Z]
from the Streets Is Watching soundtrack |
** |
** |
1998 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
It's Alright
[Memphis
Bleek & Jay-Z]
from the LP Volume 2... Hard Knock
Life |
** |
** |
1998 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Jigga My...
from the LP Volume 3... The Life
& Times Of Shawn Carter (bonus) |
** |
** |
1999 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Girls' Best Friend
from the Blue Streak soundtrack |
** |
** |
1999 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ] |
| |
 Lobster
& Scrimp
[ Timbaland featuring Jay-Z ]
from the LP Tim's Bio: Life From Da
Basement |
** |
** |
1999 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ] |
| |
Do It Again
(Put Ya Hands Up)
from the LP Volume 3... The Life
& Times Of Shawn Carter |
** |
** |
2000 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Anything
from the LP Volume 3... The Life
& Times Of Shawn Carter (bonus) |
** |
** |
2000 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Hey Papi
from the Nutty Professor II: The
Klumps soundtrack |
** |
** |
2000 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ] |
| |
Change The Game
[Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel &
Memphis Bleek]
from the LP The Dynasty Rock La
Familia 2000
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group |
** |
** |
2001 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Guilty
Until Proven Innocent
from the LP The Dynasty Rock La
Familia 2000 |
** |
** |
2001 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Jigga
from the LP The Blueprint |
** |
** |
2002 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Take You Home With
Me a.k.a. Body
[R. Kelly & Jay-Z]
from the LP The Best Of Both Worlds |
** |
** |
2002 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ LYRICS ]
|
| |
Beware Of
The Boys (Mundian To Back)
[Panjabi MC featuring Jay-Z]
from the cd single |
** |
** |
2003 |
[ LISTEN /
BUY ]
[ | | 
