Jay Z

Shawn Carter was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and grew up in the Marcy Houses housing project. He and his three siblings were raised by their mother, Gloria Carter, after their father left the family. Carter attended Eli Whitney High School and later George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where he was classmates with future rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. His early life experiences, including involvement in drug dealing, are often referenced in his music. His interest in music was sparked when his mother bought him a boom box, leading him to begin freestyling and writing lyrics. He became known as "Jazzy" in his neighborhood, which evolved into his stage name, Jay-Z, also serving as an homage to his mentor Jaz-O and the J/Z subway lines in Brooklyn. Jay-Z's career began with the co-founding of Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995, through which he released his debut album, "Reasonable Doubt," in 1996. He has since released numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums, earning multiple Grammy Awards and becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Beyond music, Carter has built an extensive business empire, including ventures such as the clothing line Rocawear, the 40/40 Club sports bar chain, the entertainment company Roc Nation, and the streaming service Tidal. His entrepreneurial success has contributed to his substantial net worth. In his personal life, Jay-Z married American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles in April 2008, after collaborating on music such as the 2002 song "'03 Bonnie & Clyde." The couple welcomed their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, in January 2012.