Jay-Z

Jay Z is one of the most successful hip hop artists, record producers and entrepreneurs in the world, having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and won 14 Grammy Awards. He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all-time and two of his albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996) and The Blueprint (2001) are considered landmarks in the genre with both of them being ranked in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.Author Mark Beaumont met and interviewed Jay Z in 2009 and many quotes from that interview feature in this biography- Includes interviews with Kanye West, Chris Martin, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Damon Dash, Dr Dre, Rick Rubin and many others. - Details his early life, his father abandoning him, the accidental shooting of his brother, his foray into cocaine dealing and his alleged involvement in the stabbing of record executive Lance Riviera, the trial and his three year probation sentence. - The launch of his Roc-A-Fella record label and his subsequent album releases including the platinum selling In My Life and Hard Knock Life and his instatement as CEO of Def Jam Recordings (one of his first signings was Rihanna).- His relationship and marriage to Beyonce Knowles. - His entrepreneurial skills from launching his own Rocawear clothing and accessories line, his New York club 40/40 and his rumoured investments in real estate and football clubs.- Brings the story right up to date to include his performance at Glastonbury in 2008, the Haiti aid single Stranded, his concerts with Eminem, his Watch The Throne EP release with Kanye West and his supporting U2 on their World Tour.