JAY-Z Shawn Carter

Shawn “JAY-Z’ Carter is a world-renowned artist, global icon, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is Chairman and Founder of Roc Nation, a globally dominant full-service entertainment organization formed in 2008 that has redefined the industry and launched the careers of music sensations, producers, and athletes. A Brooklyn, NY native, JAY-Z is a prolific hip-hop artist and visionary businessman, lauded for innovative ventures and historic contributions to the music industry and American culture. In 1994, JAY-Z created his first music label, Roc-A-Fella, through which he released his inaugural album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996. Following the global success of his first two albums, he established a clothing brand, Rocawear, and became President of Def Jam Records from 2004 to 2007. Over the next decade, as he expanded his portfolio of business ventures, in 2014, JAY-Z founded the clothing company Paper Planes and acquired the luxury spirit brand, Armand De Brignac, which he currently co-owns. Working alongside respected experts and leaders across multiple industries as he continued his pursuit of supporting startups and establishing businesses, JAY-Z co-founded The 40/40 Club, an upscale lounge and sports bar, and became co-owner of TIDAL, an entertainment and streaming service, in 2015. He founded the venture capital firm Marcy Venture Partners in 2018 to advance game-changing businesses and emerging brands, emphasizing sustainability, inclusivity, and empowerment. JAY-Z founded Roc Nation alongside the organization’s Chief Executive Officer, Desiree Perez. Since its inception, Roc Nation has grown into the world’s most prominent entertainment company — representing some of the biggest names in music and sports, such as Megan Thee Stallion, Alicia Keys, Rhianna, Lil Uzi Vert, Vini Jr., Robinson Canó, Skylar Diggins, Mark Vientos, Kevin De Bruyne, LaMelo Ball, and Dez Bryant. JAY-Z’s love of sports and drive to advocate for the career longevity of athletes, as Roc Nation does for artists, led to the creation of Roc Nation Sports in 2013. Emphasizing his dedication to ensuring the success of fellow artists, JAY-Z is devoted to improving the lives of others and championing for positive societal impact. Through Roc Nation’s philanthropic division, Team Roc, he uses his platform to raise awareness of and make meaningful advancements to charitable causes. Steadfast in his efforts to give back to communities most impacted by inequity, JAY-Z continues to aid initiatives around improving social justice and access to education. He is a United Justice Coalition Advisory Board member and founding partner of REFORM Alliance, both of which tackle issues with the American justice system. In 2002, JAY-Z established the Shawn Carter Foundation alongside his mother, Dr. Gloria Carter, to address the opportunity gap in education. The foundation provides resources and scholarship programs for disadvantaged individuals pursuing higher education. Over the course of his prolific career, JAY-Z has become one of the biggest-selling recording artists of all time, earning 25 GRAMMY awards and two Emmy wins — one of which was for Outstanding Director For A Variety Special, awarded to JAY-Z for directing the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show. In 2012, he organized the Made In America festival, the first of its kind, which saw more than 80,000 attendees and brought in $10 million in economic impact for the city of Philadelphia the first year it was held. In 2017, he became the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and soon thereafter claimed the title of first solo hip-hop artist inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. At the 2024 GRAMMY Awards show, JAY-Z received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his incomparable contributions to hip-hop music and culture. The following year, Reasonable Doubt was inducted into the GRAMMYs Hall of Fame.