JayZ's Kevo

Rap artist Jay-Z has closed out the century by earning the title of Best Rap Artist of the Year. A relative unknown in the mainstream music industry until 1996, Jay-Z made a name for himself by collaborating with other rap artists in the early 1990s. Since co-founding Roc-A-Fella records, his music, lyrics and fame have become increasingly popular amongst mainstream audiences.

Born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn, New York, Jay-Z lived the life on the streets that he now raps about. Although he did well enough in school, diminished prospects led him to dealing drugs to earn money. His silence and low profile kept him from ever doing time for his dealing and it wasn't until 1992 that he gave up his life of crime. By then, Jay-Z had been working with The Jaz and had appeared on several underground tapes. His efforts to launch a solo career didn't amount to anything until his friend Damon Dash approached him about started their own record label. In 1996, Roc-A-Fella Records was founded, releasing Jay Z's first single. "In My Lifetime" became a hit that was followed up with Jay-Z's debut album Reasonable Doubt.

Jay-Z's lyrics and portrayal as a thug rapper earned him the attention of big name rappers like Notorious B.I.G. (a former classmate) and made his album a hit. He followed up his first album with 1997’s In My Lifetime, Vol 1, which went platinum and featured collaborations with Babyface and Foxy Brown. After a short lived spot on Puff Daddy's 1997 tour, Jay-Z tried his hand at filmmaking with "Streets Is Watching", a semi-autobiographic work that went straight to video. Despite its limited success, the film served as a publicity vehicle for other Roc-A-Fella artists.

1998 saw Jay-Z cutting hit after hit and landing a single on the Rush Hour soundtrack. His third album, Vol II...Hard Knock Life (a parody from the play Annie) stayed on the top of the Billboard charts for five weeks. In 1999, along with with DMX, Redman, DJ Clue and Method Man, Jay-Z launched the Hard Knock Life tour, which has been touted as one of the most successful rap tours ever. To end the century on a good note, Jay-Z walked away with the Grammy for Best Rap Album of the Year and the Billboard Music Award for Rap Artist of the Year in 1999.

Despite his success, the rapper has at times fallen back to his ways of the past. In December 1999, Jay-Z was charged with stabbing record producer Lance "Un" Rivera, president of Untertainment Records at a party at New York’s Kit Kat Club. The police followed this up with two other assault charges from November of 1999 and April of 1998. Jay-Z's lawyers maintain his innocence, but rumors continue to circulate that the artist was angry about bootleg copies of his album Vol 3. The Life and Times of Shawn Carter being released to the underground before the official late December release date.
Climb to Fame
Grammy-winning rapper and co-founder of Roc-A-Fella records
Work History
(1999) Launched his own line of clothes, Rocawear

(1999) Joined DMX, Method Man, Redman and DJ Clue for the "Hard Knock Life" tour

(1998) Released album Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life

(1998) Released album Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life (Edited Version)

(1998) Released album In My Lifetime Vol. 1

(1996- present) CEO, Roc-A-Fella records

(1996) Debut solo album Reasonable Doubt released

(1995) Debut single, "In My Lifetime"

(1990) Began rapping with partner The Jaz

(1988) Wrote, starred and directed a short autobiographical movie, Streets is Watching

(1988) Founded Roc-A-Fella records with Damon Dash and Kareem Burke

(1980s-1992) drug dealer
Awards
JayZ has also won numerous Awards