Music: Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Mary J. Blige & JAY-Z Announce Heart of the City Tour

For Jay-Z, Inspiration Arrives in a Movie: American Gangster CD

Jay-Z Looking to Net an Intern for the Summer

The Island Def Jam Music Group Appoints Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter to President & CEO, Def Jam Recordings

The Island Def Jam Music Group, a division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, today announced Grammy Award-winning superstar Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter to President & CEO of Def Jam Recordings. The announcement was made by Antonio "LA" Reid, Chairman of The Island Def Jam Music Group, to whom Jay-Z reports. In addition Jay-Z will continue to run Roc-A-Fella, which was recently purchased by IDJ. The appointment is effective January 3, 2005 and Jay-Z will be based at IDJ's New York headquarters.

"After ten years of successfully running Roc-A-Fella," said Mr. Reid, "Shawn has proven himself to be an astute businessman, in addition to the brilliant artistic talent that the world sees and hears. We are fortunate that he has agreed to take over as president & CEO of Def Jam Recordings. I can think of no one more relevant and credible in the hip-hop community to build upon Def Jam's fantastic legacy and move the company into its next groundbreaking era."

"I have inherited two of the most important brands in hip-hop, Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella, said Mr. Carter. LA Reid and the Universal Music Group have given me the opportunity to manage the companies I have contributed to my whole career. I feel this is a giant step for me and the entire artist community."

Since 1995, Jay-Z and his Roc-A-Fella artists have dominated the rap industry and set the trends for a generation. Not just with an extensive catalog and talented artists and producers, but with a profitable brand that spawned a clothing line (Rocawear), films (Fade to Black, Backstage, Streets Is Watching, State Property), a nightclub (40/40 Club) and a successful sneaker line (Reebok's S. Carter shoe collection). Moreover, Jay-Z has founded three philanthropic organizations, including The Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund, Team Roc, and the annual Jay-Z Santa Claus Toy Drive. With a string of multi-platinum albums, SRO concerts and more than 30 million albums sold worldwide on his Roc-A-Fella label, there are no thresholds that Shawn Carter has not crossed. That is what made his Grammy-nominated, The Black Album such a phenomenon -- a groundbreaking autobiographical statement that was not only one of the most important records of 2003/2004, but perhaps the most important record of Jay-Z's legendary career.

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2005 /PRNewswire/ --

The Island Def Jam Music Group Acquires Remaining 50% of Landmark Urban Label Roc-A-Fella Records

Wholly-Owned Powerhouse Boasts Such Chart-Toppers as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Cam'ron, Memphis Bleek, Among Others

NEW YORK, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Island Def Jam Music Group, a division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, has acquired the remaining fifty percent of Roc-A-Fella Records, it was jointly announced today by Antonio "L.A." Reid, Chairman of The Island Def Jam Music Group, and the three principals of Roc-A-Fella Records, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter; Damon Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Def Jam had first entered into a joint venture with Roc-A-Fella in 1997.

World-renowned Roc-A-Fella Records has been home to many of rap and hip-hop's chart-topping voices, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Cam'ron, Memphis Bleek, Juelz Santana, and others.

"This is truly historic and cause for celebration," said Mr. Reid. "The artists and staff of Roc-A-Fella have worked diligently for a decade to establish the label as the premier voice in hip-hop, from both a cultural and commercial point-of-view. Today, Roc-A-Fella boasts one of the most important and listened-to artist rosters on the planet, and is blessed with a deep catalog whose message has never gone out of style. We look forward to growing the Roc-A-Fella brand and expanding the roster in the years ahead."

Music Entertainment Magazine

American Gangster (Clean) Jay-Z (Artist) Separate from the official motion picture soundtrack, this collection of all-new original material is a musical journey and lyrical interpretation of snapshots from the upcoming motion picture American Gangster. The conceptual, full body of genius work from the new album balances the line between pure entertainment and real life. JAY-Z draws upon past experiences, speaking to the harsh reality of the drug trade still taking place in our nation's cities. While not glorifying the Frank Lucas story, JAY-Z articulates the lure of a gangster's life and stands as an example of one who chose to leave those streets behind to go on and become one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. • Audio CD (November 6, 2007) • Format: Clean • Label: Roc-a-Fella American Gangster [EXPLICIT] Version American Gangster (Clean) Version

Jay Z Fade to Black DVD

Collision Course CD (with DVD)