The rapper born Shawn Corey Carter became known professionally as Jay-Z.
Carter was born on December 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. He adopted the stage name Jay-Z after associations with the J/Z subway lines near his neighborhood and as a possible tribute to mentor Jaz-O. The name was stylized in several ways before “Jay-Z” became standard.
He began his recording career in the 1990s and helped establish Roc-A-Fella Records. His 1996 debut album “Reasonable Doubt” was followed by a long run of commercially successful albums, including “The Blueprint” and “The Black Album.”
Jay-Z’s career also includes business ventures, sports representation, and extensive philanthropic work. His birth name is sometimes confused with names connected to collaborators or family members, but Shawn Corey Carter is the documented name of the artist known as Jay-Z.