In 2003, Jay-Z stopped rapping, because he found that there were not enough good rappers to compete with him. He was now considered as one of the biggest in the game. It was claimed by critics to be one of the albums of the decade. From 1998 to 2003, Jay-Z produced a lot of good songs and albums, but his most famous album was The Blueprint. His career took a step higher, in 1998, when he won his first Grammy with his song Hard-Knock-Life. Jay-Z had a good start, but he wasnвЂ™t mainstream enough to be a famous star of hip-hop, so he decided to create his own label record with two of his friends called the Roc-A-Fella Records. He chose Jay Z, to thank his mentor Jaz-O, but also at his high school he used to be called вЂњJazzyвЂќ. After this show he needed to find a stage name. This song gave them the opportunity to go on the MTV raps show and this was the first step to glory for him. He recorded a song with him called вЂњThe OriginatorвЂќ. At the age of 20, Shawn met Jaz-O, who was an old performer. He thought it was a way to escape from violence, drugs and poverty. Jay-Z started to rap at a very young age. Jay-Z went to Eli Whitney High School, in Brooklyn, where he met the well-known The Notorious B.I.G. Like he said in a lot of his autobiographical songs, Jay-Z was involved with a lot of drug deals and gun violence.

At the age of 11 his father left the family, so he was raised by his mother, Gloria Carter.

In June 2019, it was reported that Jay-Z had become the first billionaire rapper. Jay-Z has several nicknames, 'Jigga', 'Hova', 'Young Hov', and 'The Greatest Rapper Alive'. He is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and businessmen in America. Jay-Z co-owns The 40/40 Club and the Brooklyn Nets NBA team. He is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z (stylized as JAY-Z), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, investor, businessman, and record executive.

Jay z 444 album of the year