"If I shoot you, I'm brainless/But if you shoot me, you're famous/What's a n*gga to do?" - "Streets Is Watchin'"

These are the type of street truths that has garnered Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam's Jay-Z the multitudes of devout fans that he has. They're strong, they're hard hitting, and they're real.

As Hip-Hop enters yet another era of dimension, Jay-Z is emerging as the leading "Don" of the Rap game. He modestly explains his lyrical motivation as something that just comes to him. "It's just there," he says. "I don't write songs, they just form. I could be riding around, I'll think of a particular topic, rehearse it and immediately come up with the song." His penchant for knockin' out flavorful joints first became apparent when he burst onto the scene on "The Originators" with his man, The Jaz, in 1990. Possessing a rapid-fire delivery combined with relevant and intriguing lyrics, his buzz soon spread when he went on to collaborate with Original Flavor on the notable cut "Can I Get Open?" 

Reflecting on those days of scrambling and actively seeking a deal, Jay-Z has this to offer --

"My man Jaz introduced me to this whole thing as a business. And through seeing all the things that happened to him, I learned a lot." He continues "after going to a couple of A&Rs, I soon realized they couldn't understand where I was coming from. But I knew there was an audience of people who understood and really felt what I was going through, 'cause it was real!"

With the release of his stellar 1996 Gold debut "Reasonable Doubt," Jay-Z was soon to become a household name driven by the smash singles "Can't Knock The Hustle," "Feelin' It" and the Gold single "Ain't No N*gga" (featuring Foxy Brown). Although "Reasonable Doubt" has been heralded as a certified classic by fans and critics alike, the humble Brooklyn MC is very quick to place his successful debut in its proper perspective. "I view the first album as like an introduction," he explains. "Not to take away from it in any way, but it wasn't too detailed. Whereas, with 'In My Lifetime Vol. 1,' I really took it there."

Notable songs include --

• Big Pimpin'
• Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
• Can I Get A...
• Can't Knock the Hustle
• Streets Is Watching 
• Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)
• Money Ain't a Thang
• Money, Cash, Hoes
• It's Alright
• Dead Presidents II

Years active: 
   ..90s, ..00s

Born:
   Dec 4, 1969
      ..in New York
         ..in New York City
            ..in Brooklyn