The Jay Z Encyclopedia

Image via Yulia Nidbalskaya/Complex Original

A

Adnis Reeves:

"My pops got a liver disorder/My whole living's disordered/And I just got his living room ordered" - "If I Can't (Freestyle)" 

Adnis Reeves (or, as it's confusingly spelled in Decoded, "Abnis Reid"), known as AJ, was Jay's father—the missing presence in contrast to his beloved, doting mother Gloria. Adnis abandoned the family when young Shawn Carter was only 11. Adnis' brother, Jay's Uncle Ray, was murdered. As Jay explained in his memoir, "My dad swore revenge and became obsessed with hunting down Uncle Ray's killer. The tragedy—compounded by the injustice—drove him crazy, sent him to the bottle, and ultimately became a factor in the unraveling of my parents' marriage."

Father and son would reconnect in 2003. By that time, years of alcohol abuse had taken their toll, and Reeves would survive only a few more months before dying of a bad liver. But Jay at least got to purchase an apartment for his no-longer-estranged father, and the rap star seemed a different person afterwards—more trusting and less guarded. It's not a coincidence that Hov's relationship with Beyoncé grew more serious after Reeves passed away. So perhaps Reeves managed to teach his precocious son a little something after all.

Tidal released a brief snippet of a song called “Adnis” in the run-up to 4:44, which feature the line “letter to my dad, that I never wrote.” But the track didn’t make the final, released album. Maybe we can hope for a Jay Z Lost Tapes?

Amil:

"Jigga man, huh/Siegel Siegel, y'all/Memph Bleek, what/Amil-lion, GONE!" - "You, Me, Him, Her" (live version) 

Amil Kahala Whitehead, former "Diana Ross of the Roc," first came into Jay Z's orbit as a member of Major Coins, who were supposed to contribute to Vol. 2. But Hov heard Amil rhyme and, after Major Coins broke up, brought her on as the First Lady of Roc-a-fella. She appeared on a gang of songs on Hov's following two albums as well, and released her solo record All Money Is Legal in September 2000. (The album, incidentally, contains an absolute gem of a Jay Z performance on "4 da Fam.") But soon enough, trouble started brewing. Jay has never spoken publicly about what caused the split, but there were rumors that Amil was getting into fights and (gasp!) gaining weight. The rapper, for her part, just doesn't seem like she enjoyed the spotlight very much. Between that and dealing with an asthmatic child, she says she just asked to leave. But as of just a few years ago, she was still making music.

Armand de Brignac

Jay's fancy beverage of choice in the early aughts was Cristal, but all of that changed in 2006, when Frederic Rouzaud, managing director of Cristal makers Louis Roederer, gave an interview with the Economist where he badmouthed rappers buying his product. "[W]hat can we do? We can’t forbid people from buying it," he said. "I’m sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business." 

Jay, incensed, announced a boycott of Cristal. Not long afterwards, he announced his own $300-a-bottle champagne, Armand de Brignac. It became known as "Ace of Spades" because of the logo on the bottle. Jay name-dropped it on a few songs, and the brand was off to the races. Interestingly, the company that makes the beverage, Cattier, lied through its teeth initially about their relationship with Jay and their own origin story in order to disguise the fact of Hov's direct business involvement from the beginning of the brand. Instead, they initially offered a BS story about how Jay had discovered the product in a "New York wine shop," loved it, and then decided to team up. The dissembling helped to disguise the fact that the company was selling a discontinued product at a 500% markup—Armand de Brignac is basically the same as the $60-a-bottle Antique Gold, a brand discontinued in 2006 by, you guessed it, Cattier.

B

Blue Ivy

The firstborn offspring of Jay Z and Beyoncé. Known for fierce side-eyes, impeccable fashion sense, and having more money than you and everyone you’ve ever known. 

Bricks, 92

Allegedly lost. Possibly apocryphal. Either way, a great part of the hustling legend. ano

Brooklyn

The former hometown of Jay Z and current hometown of a crappy basketball team he once owed a millionth of a percentage of. A borough of New York City that Jay Z insists goes hard—although nowadays, it's mainly for matcha lattes and artisanal pizza. 

Button Ups

A type of open-front shirt identified by a fold down collar and a row of vertical buttons used to keep it closed. Also used to replace throwback jerseys as the top of choice for mature men of a certain age. 

C

“Can I Get Open”

A 1993 underground classic by the now-defunct rap group Original Flavor that featured a rapid-fire, song-stealing verse from Jay Z and played a key role in his early come-up. It marked the beginning of fruitful partnerships with two of Jay's most important collaborators: Dame Dash, who managed Original Flavor, and Ski, the group's producer and lead MC who would go on to produce the bulk of Jay's debut album Reasonable Doubt.

Carmen Bryan

The mother of Nas’ daughter, Destiny, who also had a brief romantic relationship with Jay Z, which fueled a rift between the rival MCs that culminated with the release of Jay’s “The Takeover” and Nas’ “Ether” in 2001. In response, Hov dropped “Super Ugly,” which was critically panned for its low blows aimed directly at Bryan and her then adolescent daughter. Jay later apologized.

Chancletas

Spanish slang for open-toe flip-flops, as seen on Jay Z's feet in the south of France in 2005—prompting Cam'ron and half the internet (including us) to clown his burgeoning dad style.

Chris Martin

Lead singer from the group Coldplay, one of Jay's good friends, and further proof that rappers have horrible taste in rock music. Also provided us with the greatest GIF of Jay to date. 

Clark Kent

DJ Rodolfo "Clark Kent" Franklin has pretty much done it all when it comes to hip-hop. He DJ'd for Dana Dane; started arguably the first great DJ crew with the Supermen; ran the New Music Seminar's prestigious Battle for World Supremacy; and produced songs and remixes for the likes of Lil' Kim, Troop, Levert, Junior M.A.F.I.A., The Fugees, and more. But it's his dual roles with Jay Z and Biggie that may prove to be his most lasting legacy. He introduced the titans to each other, sparking a close friendship (and giving us the duet "Brooklyn's Finest," which Kent produced). 

Kent first met Hov when the rapper was just a teenager, through Jay's friend and mentor Jaz-O. "He might have been 15, maybe 16," Kent remembered. "They started rhyming together and he was insane. And I just kept saying, 'This is the best rapper I’ve ever heard.'"

Kent ended up with three tracks on Reasonable Doubt—"Brooklyn's Finest," "Coming of Age," and "Cashmere Thoughts." Jay would again acknowledge Kent's help at the end of his career's first stage, on "My 1st Song." "Clark Kent, that was good looking out," he exclaimed.

The Commission

The proposed supergroup consisting of many of New York hip-hop's most notable figures. The group's members were listed in The Notorious B.I.G.'s song "What's Beef": Lil Cease, Charlie Baltimore, Biggie, Puff Daddy, and, of course, Jay Z. Also included was record exec Lance "Un" Rivera—whom Jay Z later stabbed for allegedly bootlegging his music. Unfortunately the rap collective was never realized due to Biggie's untimely death 1997.

Damon Dash

Co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, along with Jay Z and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Dash went broke after he and Jay split ways, but don't disrespect his legend: His old rants at rivals record execs are must-watch theater, he turned dice-rolling into a dance, he poured champagne better than anyone, and at his peak he never wore a pair of white Air Forces more than once.

D

Decoded

A hybrid tome of memoir and literary criticism, with the text in question being Hov’s own lyrics. Published in Nov. 2010 and co-written with Jay’s long-time collaborator Dream Hampton, Decoded offered unprecedented access to the MC’s life and artistic process. For someone who is so guarded and calculating, it offered rare moments of reflection on one of the most storied careers in American letters.

Def Jam

Storied hip-hop record label that released the majority of Jigga's albums in partnership with Roc-A-Fella. In 2004 Jay was appointed President and CEO of Def Jam. During his tenure he helped launched the careers of the likes of Rihanna, Ne-Yo, and Young Jeezy among others. He stepped down from the role in 2007 to found Roc Nation.

Diamond

Jay Z has always had a penchant for iconography, but nothing has been as indelible as his signature hand sign. Bringing two hands together to make a diamond shape—a reference to the Roc, the house that Jay built—it’s been a unifying staple for Hov acolytes ever since. 

Dice

The game that, let some tell it, Jay Z is diabolically gifted at.

DJ Premier

Legendary producer behind some of Jay Z's deepest cuts, from "Bring It On" to "So Ghetto." The guy Jay would call to provide some street-grit balance to some of his cheesier shiny-suit-era songs.

Dream Hampton

Veteran hip-hop journalist and filmmaker from Detroit who ghostwrote Jay's 2010 memoir Decoded.

D’Usse

Cynics scoffed when Jay started shoehorning his cognac into every verse possible in 2013 (after endorsing it just a year prior), but fast forward to the present and it's in bars—both musical ones and drinking establishments—everywhere. Puffy's got vodka; Hova's got our dark liquor interests covered. Black Branding Excellence.

E

Elevator

A platform with hoisting machinery used for conveying people or things to different levels of a building. Also a bad place to get caught with your angry, high-heel-wearing sister-in-law.

Emory Jones

One of Jay Z’s closest friends and associates, Emory “Vegas” Jones is most known for doing a 12-year prison bid on a drug trafficking charge. Jay would dedicate his 2006 song “Do U Wanna Ride” to Jones (“Up in the fed, and still holdin’ his head/So when he hits the streets he gon' eat through this bread”). Nowadays, Jones works as a lifestyle specialist for Roc Nation.

Eric Carter

The elder brother Jay shot—like, with a real gun—during a dispute when he was just 12 years old. But time heals all wounds: Jay was recently seen cheering on Nahziah, Eric's son and a high school basketball player making headlines of his own. —Frazier Tharpe

“Ether”

The only legitimate argument against Jay Z's GOAT status. Jay clashed in a battle with another GOAT candidate, and he got, well, ethered.

F

Fade to Black

"If you can't respect that, your whole perspective is wack/Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black" - "December 4th"

Jay decided to announce his retirement from rap in suitably big and Jay Z-like fashion. So for his final concert ever—until he un-retired about two years later—he performed on November 25, 2003 at Madison Square Garden with pretty much everyone in the universe as special guests. Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Twista, Foxy Brown, Pharrell, R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige—they all showed up to celebrate and show love. The concert (you know, the one Kanye had to buy his own tickets to) was filmed, and the attendant concert movie, released the following year, was Fade to Black, the first film for co-director Michael John Warren. In addition to concert footage, the movie traced the making of the Black Album. It showed Jay hearing beats for the first time that would later become songs like "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," "Allure," and "99 Problems." It also showed Timbaland aggressively eating a banana. And if that wasn't enough, it's also the film that birthed a million jokes about Memphis Bleek getting some Outback.

Four (4)

Jay's birthday (in December), his wife's birthday (in September), their wedding anniversary (in April); subsequently the inspiration for his only tattoo (IV), one of his most fire freestyles ("44 Four's") and newest album (4:44). 

Foxy Brown

Brooklyn-based rapper known for having an ill na na, being 730, and collaborating with Jay Z—most notably on the song “Ain’t No Ni**a,” which spoke to the sexual prowess of a non-committal man who may be unfaithful but showers his lady with lavish gifts. Boosted by her fiery cameo, the track was Jay Z's breakthrough hit.

Frank Lucas

The legendary Harlem drug dealer who took over the city’s trafficking in the ‘60s and ‘70s served as the inspiration for a Denzel Washington movie, and, through a transitive property, one of Jay’s best later-career albums, American Gangster, a stunning 2007 return to form. 

G

George Westinghouse High School

The downtown Brooklyn vocational high school where Jay Z, Biggie, and Busta Rhymes all attended. All together. Yes, really. And yes, your high school is lame as fuck. 

Gloria Carter

The mother of Jay Z, the co-founder/CEO of the Shawn Carter Foundation, and one of the best rapper-mom guest features of all time, as the narrator on Hov's "December 4th." She also takes center stage, on 4:44’s “Smile,” when Jay addresses her struggles as gay woman:

“Mama had four kids, but she's a lesbian/Had to pretend so long that she's a thespian/Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate/Society shame and the pain was too much to take/Cried tears of joy when you fell in love/Don't matter to me if it's a him or her.”

Grizzly Bear

A Brooklyn indie rock band, part of the last wave of Pitchfork’s heyday. Jay and Bey made headlines by attending one of the band’s shows at the Williamsburg Waterfront in Aug. 2009. Jay dug “Ready, Able,” which is, indeed, a slapper. It was a moment for hipster publications to gawk at black people having taste in rock music. (See also: xx, the.) 

H

“Hawaiian Sophie”

Want to see an awkward, high-topped Jay rocking a Hawaiian shirt, above-the-knee shorts and a flower necklace? Look no further than this 1989 single from fellow Marcy native/Jay Z mentor Jaz-O, which featured Hov as hypeman in one of his first appearances on record. 

Hillary Clinton

Jay in 1999: "Who gon stop him? Not Rudy Giulani, not Hillary Rodham." Jay in 2013: "Sittin next to Hillary, smellin like dank." Jay in 2016: performing with Beyoncé at Clinton’s campaign rally, to little effect in the end. 

Hov

Arguably Jay Z's most popular nickname. "Hov" is the shortened version of "Hova", which is the shortened version of "Jay-Hova", which is a play on Jehovah—a form of the Hebrew name of God used in some translations of the Bible. This nickname first started to make its way into Jay's raps during The Blueprint era on tracks like "Izzo" and "Takeover." Jay Z explained its origin in a conversation with NPR. Also with MTV News.

I

“In My Lifetime”

Released in 1993 and sold out of the trunk of Jay and Damon Dash's cars, this is the first song where we hear the Jay Z we know and love. He abandoned the fast, somewhat gimmicky rapping of his past and embraced a more understandable flow heavy on deeper lyrics. And it went on to inspire the titles of his second, third and fourth albums. 

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"

Back in 1981, Frankie Smith released a single called "Double Dutch Bus." On it, he took some strange slang that he probably heard from kids (some reports have it dating back to playground games in the 1970s). On a different song called "Slang Thang (Slizang Thizang)," Smith laid out its rules:

“Now take the first letter of every word/Put an “iz” behind it (Insert an “iz” behind it)/Then say the rest like it was ‘posed to be heard.” 

That "izzle language," as it came to be called, was of course popularized by Snoop D-O-double Gizzle. But it was avid Snoop fan Jay Z who really brought it to the masses with his 2001 hit "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" "H to the Izzo, V to the Izzay," went the hook, using izzle language to spell out his nickname Hova. 

The song was the first release off of The Blueprint, and set the tone for that album, both conceptually and commercially. It was also a career-making hit for its producer, some cocky young guy from Chicago with a funny name (Kayne, I think? something like that)—so much so that he got a tattoo of the song’s title.

"Izzo" was Hov's first song to crack the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it showed nearly every facet of his personality. There was the kid who loved MJ (the song's sample of "I Want You Back"), the reluctant wordsmith ("Can't leave rap alone, the game needs me"), the rap historian (peep the Cold Crush namedrop), the businessman whose success is really for all of us ("I do this for my culture"), the hustler ("Crack's in my palm, watching the long arm of the law"), and more. By the end of the song, Jay Z seems for once to have run out of things to say. "What else can I say about dude?" he asks. "I get busy."

J

Jaz-O

Also known as the Originator, Jaz-O is a Brooklyn rapper/producer who mentored a young Jay Z early in his career. Hov was famously featured in the video for Jaz’s 1989 single “Hawaiian Sophie.” The pair collaborated on a handful of tracks in the late 90s before parting ways on less than amicable terms. Jay went on to fly private jets while Jaz was last seen riding the train.

Jigga

You know you're getting Street Jay when you hear this nickname, his best hands down. 

Just Blaze

Justin "Just Blaze" Smith landed a job as Roc-A-Fella's go-to producer after only a few years in the business. Starting in 2000, he helmed absolute fire tracks with pretty much everyone the label put out, while still finding time for outside work with folks like Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss. Just appeared on every Jay solo project from Dynasty: Roc La Familia through American Gangster, producing classics like "Intro," "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)," "Hovi Baby," "Ignorant Shit," "Song Cry," and "December 4th." Along with Kanye, he was key in taking Hov’s music from the jiggy sounds of the late ’90s shiny-suit era to the gritty soul samples that helped make The Blueprint and The Black Album the classics they are.

K

Kalief Browder

Hailed by Jay as a "modern-day prophet," Kalief was arrested at 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack. Unable to afford bail, he would spend over 1,000 days in Rikers Island, mostly in solitary confinement, and would kill himself shortly after release. In partnership with the Weinstein Company, Jay Z produced a six-part documentary series in 2017 called Time: The Kalief Browder Story, which explored the failures of the criminal justice system. 

Kanye West

Jay Z’s greatest protege, collaborator, and sometime antagonistic foil, Kanye West has been an inextricable part of Jay’s career for close to a decade and a half. First discovered as a beatmaker in Chicago, then enlisted to help shape Jay’s sound, their relationship since then has been painstakingly and emotionally detailed, almost always by West himself. The two became equal-footing collaborators on 2011’s Watch The Throne—a brash near-classic of an album—providing a sort of capstone to their relationship, which had been partly characterized by West’s constant striving for Jay’s full-throated approval. In the last year, though, the relationship has soured, culminating in an unexpected (and surprisingly personal) attack from West at one of his Saint Pablo shows, which warranted an on-record response from Jay on 4:44. 

Kareem “Biggs” Burke

The silent third of Roc-A-Fella's founding triumvirate, along with Jay Z and Damon Dash. For years, many would alternately speculate that he was the label's money guy or "street connection," without proof. Until 2010, years after he had cut public ties with Jay, when Biggs was charged with marijuana trafficking after a sting that arrested 42 other people, part of a drug ring the feds claimed controlled New York City's weed market for decades.

Kingdom Come

Jay Z ended his short-lived retirement from music in 2006 with the release of Kingdom Come. While a commercial success—it sold 680,000 copies in its first week and debuted at No. 1—the project is widely considered his worst project, and Hov agreed when he ranked his own catalog.

L

Lance "Un" Rivera:

On November 30, 1999, Jay was attending a release party for Q-Tip's solo debut, Amplified. But Hov was agitated because his own album, Vol. 3… Life And Times Of S. Carter, scheduled for release about a month later, was already in the hands of bootleggers. Also at the party at the Kit Kat Club was Jay’s friend exec Lance "Un" Rivera, who rumors placed as the one responsible for the bootlegging. There was a confrontation, some yelling, and Un ended up stabbed. Jay denied being involved, but turned himself in and initially faced up to 15 years in jail. It took several years' worth of legal back-and-forth, but in December 2001 he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation. Jay told his side of the story on his 2002 track "My Way," with a verse that implied maybe he wasn't exactly so "not guilty, y'all got to feel me" as he had previously implied: 

“So imagine how disturbed I was/When I seen how big they made my fight scene at the club/Let me explain exactly how this shit was/This nigga Un, yo, I scratched him, he went home without an aspirin/But it’s cool cause we back friends.”

Lemonade

Beyoncé’s highly acclaimed project as well as 2016’s most popular drink, Lemonade is a visual album that tells the story of betrayal and the road to redemption. It’s widely accepted that the album details the tumultuous experiences that Bey and Jay suffered through during their marriage — and the eventual happy ending.

‘96 Lexus

Before Maybachs, this all-white whip was Umlaut-Jay's symbol of wealth, luxury, and ambitions achieved. 

Linkin Park

Jay Z retired in 2003. However, just one year later, there was another Jay Z CD on store shelves, though it wasn’t the kind of record anyone was expecting. In an EP fronted by MTV, Jay Z collaborated with nu-metal act Linkin Park to make a mashup album reportedly inspired by Danger Mouse’s Jay Z/Beatles bedroom classic The Grey Album. The results were, in hindsight, largely a mistake, except for one: “Numb/Encore,” still surprising and funny and affecting, 13 years later. 

Live Nation

In 2008, Jay Z signed a 360 deal worth $150 million with Live Nation—it covered touring, albums, and led to the launch of Roc Nation, a joint venture. It was a high point for the business acumen of Jay, an unheard-of amount of money for a forward-thinking strategy. This year, nearly a decade after the initial deal was penned, Live Nation re-upped the contract for another ten years. This time, though, Jay got $200 million. 

Lucali

Jay and Bey's favorite pizzeria, in the Carroll Gardens area of Brooklyn. "It’s the best pizza I ever had in my entire life. Brick oven. Thin crust," he once said. No wonder they skipped the Grammys for it. 

M

Made In America

It only made sense that Jay Z would eventually get his own music festival. And, in true Jay fashion, it was spawned with a corporation—in this case, Budweiser. Launched in 2012 and held in Philadelphia the festival is still going strong; this year’s headliners include J. Cole, Solange, The Chainsmokers, and, of course, Jay himself. 

Marcy Houses

This is where it all began. The Marcy public housing in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, was Jay Z’s childhood home, his stomping ground, and the setting for his vivid early storytelling, and where he’s returned to countless times on-record since. 

Memphis Bleek

While making Reasonable Doubt, Jay had an idea for a song about an older hustler discovering a young protege. When his original choice, Wu-Tang affiliate Shyheim the Rugged Child didn't pan out, Jay found a kid in his native Marcy projects, Malik Cox, who could rhyme and was ambitious. From there, the relationship blossomed. Cox, who rhymed under the name "Memphis Bleek" (the "Memphis" part was an acronym for "Making Easy Money, Pimping Hoes In Style"), played his role, acting as hypeman on stage and adding key supporting moments on record— even taking an entire album intro for himself on Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life. But Bleek never lived up to his mentor's expectations as a solo artist, something even Jay seemed to recognize. "Your time is coming—you're one hit away," Jay rapped in 2001. That one hit never came, although Bleek's second album The Understanding did go gold.

Michael Jackson

The King of Pop. End of story. Oh, but there was that one time back in 2001 when Jay Z brought Jackson out on stage during Hot 97’s Summer Jam, which made for the stunt move of all stunt moves at the annual concert event. 

Murder, Inc.

No, not the label—the New York supergroup trio that almost-sort-of-kind-of-was, comprised of Jay Z, DMX, and Ja Rule. Imagine how different rap history would've been if this trio, which only released a handful of tracks together ("Murdergram," "It's Murda"), had really been a thing? Would Ja have ever started singing cornily? Would DMX have kept it straight edge? Would Irv Gotti ever have made his awful-looking new BET series Tales? We'll never know. 

N

Nas

A legendary lyricist hailing from the Queensbridge section of Queens, NY. Also the central target of Jay Z’s lyrical attack on 2001’s “The Takeover” and “Super Ugly.” 

No I.D.

The Chicago producer, another of Kanye’s mentors, and label exec behind Jay Z’s 4:44. He’s been involved in enough classic records that, when it was announced that he’d be behind the boards for Jay’s 13th, rap heads breathed a collective sigh of relief—No I.D. meant that Jay was in good hands. True to form, the album’s received rave reviews in the twelve or so hours since its release, and No I.D.’s production tends to get better with time. 

Notorious B.I.G.

Jay Z's high school classmate, fellow Bed-Stuy product, and, arguably, his biggest influence as a rapper. Biggie pioneered walking the fine line between street-savvy rap and the mainstream, and his death left a huge void that Jay was perfectly poised to fill. Jay has acknowledged this in both interviews and his own songs, which he's peppered with Biggie lyrics, shout-outs and interpolations for 20 years now. 

O

Obama

The 44th president of the United States of America and one half of the most iconic bromance in modern history. In addition to Jay Z being Barack Obama’s favorite rapper, Hov actually went out and hit the campaign trail in 2008 to tell the world that, “Obama's running so we all can fly." The two gave each other nods all throughout his presidency, from Obama telling BBC that he bumps The Blueprint in the White House to Jay being invited to the President’s top secret 55th birthday party in 2016. We’re looking forward to many more of these legendary moments. 

On The Run (Tour)

Jay Z and Beyoncé’s first co-headlining tour together, On The Run was marked more by controversy than anything their six-year marriage had publicly endured before then. Launched in the summer of 2014, the infamous elevator fight footage hit the internet just one week after On The Run was announced. From there, things only got more complicated, as rumors trickled out throughout the summer that the couple’s relationship was on the rocks and a divorce was imminent following the end of the tour. In retrospect, the drama was likely a precursor to Beyoncé’s landmark Lemonade. 

P

Pain in da Ass

Roc-A-Fella intern and annoying human being whose primary claim to fame is a handful of album skits on which he pretty hilariously imitates various Al Pacino movies.  

Puff Daddy

B.I.G.'s death could've created a rivalry between Puff and Hov—instead these two '90s veterans ran New York, the rap game, and the Forbes list from twin thrones in peaceful co-existence coasting on Black Excellence. Puff produced what many hail Jay's best album post-retirement, American Gangster.

Pudding, Banana

Jay boasted of his grandmother's recipe in 2001 on his seminal album-closer "Blueprint" and 10 years later on "Made in America" (see M). The recipe must be amazing to resonate from childhood to his 30s and 40s.

Q

Q-Tip

Legendary rapper/beatmaker, formerly of A Tribe Called Quest, who produced Jay and Kanye's "That's My Bitch," guested on Hov's classic "Girls, Girls, Girls" and reportedly cried when Jay Z ruined his 1999 record release party by stabbing Lance "Un" Rivera. But most of all, a person whose name starts with Q.

R

R. Kelly

Jay teamed up with Kelz for what was supposed to be one of the greatest cross-genre projects of all-time. Instead, we got two mediocre albums and a wild R. Kelly conspiracy theory. While performing during their show at Madison Square Garden in 2004, Kelly abruptly left his set because two people in the crowd allegedly flashed guns at him. Jay and the R. went to the media and told very different stories, ending their once promising relationship on a sour note.

Reasonable Doubt

Jay Z’s first album was supposed to be his only album. Boasting quite possibly the greatest album title in rap history, Reasonable Doubt featured a 26-year-old Jay—improbably old for a debut rap album in the ‘90s (or today, for that matter)—in what is now a foundational text for the rapper’s career. Even now, 20 years later, it ranks among his, and hip-hop’s true classics, and kicked off the career for the Jay Z we know today.

Retirement

For most people this is the act of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work. In the case of Jay Z, it’s saying you’re going to leave your job and cease working but wind up releasing several more albums because you can’t leave rap alone, the game needs you. 

Rihanna

One of Jay Z’s shrewdest signees in his career as a label exec, Rihanna was an unknown singer from Barbados when she was first discovered shopping around her first single, “Pon De Replay.” Jay, then the head of Def Jam, initially thought the song was too big for an unproved name, but was convinced to let Rihanna keep the song. Now, she’s one of the most bankable pop stars in the world and, quite likely, the last true living rockstar. 

Roc-A-Fella

In terms of the legendary artists (Jay Z, Kanye West, Dipset, Beanie Sigel) it released great records from and its longevity, the House Jay (and Dame and Biggs) Built has to be in the discussion for best rap label of all time, and certainly the best one ever owned by a rapper. 

Roc Nation

Founded by Jay Z in 2008 as a subsidiary of Live Nation, Roc Nation is Jay’s answer to the rapper-led record label imprint: a full-service entertainment company including a record label, management company, talent agency, with touring, production, publishing, and video arms. It’s an amorphous, wide-ranging company, indicative of Jay’s range of vision when it comes to the entertainment business after over a decade in the game. Its clients, in various capacities, include Rihanna, J. Cole, DJ Khaled, and Grimes. 

Rocawear

Back in the late ’90s, when it came to fashion, Jay Z was all about the Italian company Iceberg. The brand, with its large print cartoon characters, inspired both a nickname ("Iceberg Slim") and a song title ("Snoopy Bounce," after the brand's favorite character). So after Jay mentioned them a few times and sales went through the roof, he tried to get an endorsement deal. He got turned down, but — much like how record label rejection led to Roc-A-Fella — the experience inspired Jay and his team to create their own clothing line, Rocawear. The brand, started in 1999, proved to be a success, eventually building to annual sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2007, Iconix bought Rocawear for $204 million in cash. Jay remains in charge of product development, marketing, and licensing. 

S

S. Carter

Jay Z's signature sneaker line with Reebok, launched in 2004 in a groundbreaking partnership. Inspired by the 1984 Gucci tennis low-tops—an NYC street-hustler classic—the shoe initially flew off shelves, selling 10,000 its first week, then a record for Reebok. Demand stalled, however, even after the brand expanded into basketball and tennis collections; in 2007, Jay and Reebok deaded the partnership. 

Samsung

In one of Jay’s classic business deals that doubles as both a flex and a shameless corporatization of his art, Jay struck up a $5 million dollar deal with the smartphone (and other electronics) company to release Magna Carta... Holy Grail. The album was co-branded, and came freely loaded on 1 million Samsung phones, netting Jay a tidy sum and guaranteeing his album immediately went platinum. 

Ski

Ski, also known as Ski Beatz, was a longtime associate of Roc-A-Fella co-founder Dame Dash, producing some of Jay’s earliest hits, including “Dead Presidents” and “Feelin’ It.” He also produced the bulk of Camp Lo’s album Uptown Saturday Night, which included the undeniable hip-hop classic “Luchini (AKA This Is It)” (what?).

Sprint

Jay Z’s latest corporate sponsor. In January of 2017, telecommunications giant Sprint invested $200 million for a 33% stake in Tidal, bolstering Jay’s reportedly flailing streaming investment and potentially precluding a bigger deal in the near future. For 4:44, Jay paid it back with his art. In an unprecedented windowing deal, the album would not only be exclusive to Tidal. If you weren’t already a subscriber to Tidal before the release, it would only be available to Sprint customers.

State Property

Philadelphia-based rap group featuring Beanie Sigel (who is now known to millennials for saying “facts” a lot), Freeway (whose beard is apparently always sticking out), Peedi Peedi (aka Peedi Crakk), the Young Gunz, Oscino, and Omillio Sparks. Also the name of a notorious hood movie that might be playing on BET right now.

State Street

The downtown Brooklyn street that was the reported location of Jay Z's old "stash spot" (at No. 560 to be exact), as revealed on "Empire State of Mind," thus answering a long-time mystery the trapper-turned-rapper first posed on 1997's "A Million and One Questions."

“Super Ugly”

This 2001 “freestyle” was recorded as a response to Nas’ scathing diss track “Ether,” which in itself was a response to “Takeover,” which found Jay Z mocking Nas and Mobb Deep (rest in peace, Prodigy) over a sample by The Doors. “Super Ugly” was so vile (sample lyric: "I came in your Bentley backseat/Skeeted in your Jeep/Left condoms in your baby seat”) that Jay Z’s mother made him publicly apologize to Nas. 

T

Tidal

Tidal is Jay Z’s music streaming service that was acquired in a $56 million deal for Swedish-based tech company Aspiro in March 2015. He relaunched Tidal the same month and got several artist owners on board to promote it, including Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Rihanna. Those three have also released albums exclusively through the service. Add Jay to that list with 4:44. 

Timbaland

Virginia-based producer who was seen eating a banana and drinking an entire jug of juice in the 2004 documentary Fade to Black. Was behind some of Jay’s biggest records, including “Big Pimpin’,” although he’s landed Hov in hot water due to accusations of plagiarism on a few of those tracks (“Versus” and the aforementioned “Big Pimpin”).

Ty Ty

Roc Nation co-founder and Jay's long-time best buddy/business partner, born Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith. He may be the most shouted-out person on Hov's entire discography, whether it's his love for Mai Tais ("Dead Presidents II," "Empire State of Mind") or alleged back-in-the-day trips to trap with Jay in Virginia ("Blueprint [Momma Loves Me]"). But he's no weed carrier: He helped launch Rihanna's career when he was an exec at Def Jam during Jay's tenure as the label’s president. Equally as impressive when it comes to wing-man exploits: He maced R. Kelly during the Best Both of Worlds Tour in 2004. Did your BFF ever do that for you? 

U

UGK

Port Arthur, Texas rap duo UGK (short for Underground Kingz) had already been together for over a decade by the time Roc-a-Fella Head of A&R Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua suggested to Hov in 1999 that they would be perfect for a new song he was working on with Timbaland. The group was split on whether to appear on this song, the one we all know today as "Big Pimpin'." Bun B was down, but Pimp C hated everything about it. According to Jay, Pimp thought the track was "too fruity." But after being convinced that the song would be a hit, he agreed to rap on it—for a measly eight bars and not a second more, full of the "most countriest shit" that he made up on the spot. Pimp also refused to show up for the video shoot, forcing them to film him in a second location. But Jay was right: "Big Pimpin'" became a massive hit, and Pimp's throwaway countriest shit would have a far longer life than he could have anticipated—sadly, longer than Pimp himself, who died in 2007.

Umlaut

A mark used over a vowel to indicate a different vowel sound—or in this case, to signify the most superior Jay Z name styling. Sorry, hyphen. 

V

In My Life, Vol. 1

Jigga's follow-up to Reasonable Doubt, Vol. 1 took some flack for "I Know What Girls Like" and "(Always Be My) Sunshine" sullying what could've been an otherwise flawless album. In My Lifetime has been able to overcome those two stains, though, and is considered a classic by Jay Z aficionados. 

Vol 2...Hard Knock Life

"Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense/But I did five mill'—I ain't been rhyming like Common since." He was referring to Vol. 2, the album that shot him into superstardom when he rapped those bars on The Black Album's "Moment of Clarity." "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" and "Can I Get A...)" were his biggest hits at the time in the days when people bought whole albums because of the singles. He hasn't looked back.

Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter

The ending to one of the best trilogies in rap, Vol. 3 was Jay reminding us that, despite the success, he was still that ghetto kid from the Marcy projects. What was supposed to be a victory lap after the massive success of Vol. 2 was spoiled by bootleggers, which lead to Jay stabbing former friend Lance "Un" Rivera at a Q-Tip album release party, adding to the album's mystique prior to its release. By pleading guilty, Hov only had to do probation for three years and landed on a genius marketing plan in the long run. 

W

Watch The Throne

A treatise on being black and ultra-rich in America, a joint album with Kanye West (see K) that more than lived up to the expectations of its billing. 

Weinstein Company

Film studio helping Jay expand his media empire. Hov signed an exclusive first-look deal with TWC in 2016 to generate movies and television projects, including docuseries on Kalief Browder and Trayvon Martin. 

X

xx, The

Jay and Bey saw their hushed, super exclusive show at the Armory, in New York, in 2014, scoring further indie cool points for the GOAT’s brand. (See also: Grizzly Bear.) 

Y

Yankees Cap

Blue, fitted headwear that Jay Z actually, really invented. Babe who? 

Young Guns

Roc-A-Fella rap duo Young Chris and Neef Buck, who had the summer of 2003 on lock with their debut single "Can't Stop, Won't Stop." Before they fell off, they also starred in the film State Property. 

Young Guru:

Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton is Jay Z's go-to engineer. Yes, other people have engineered Jay's sessions, but no one else is worthy of the "Guru, let's go get 'em again." And certainly, no other engineer makes it to TMZ. Young Guru's first credit on a Jay album is "Streets is Talking" from 2000's The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. He would go on to play a key role in pretty much every Jay project afterwards. Outside of the studio, Guru has made big inroads into the education world, lecturing at MIT and elsewhere, and advertising, and is also one hell of a photographer.

Z

Zaytoven

Atlanta producer who’s been on a hot streak for the past few years, and was in the studio with Jay Z. The rumors of the two working together sparked some concern, as trend-hopping Jay seemed like a recipe for disaster. His eventual collaboration with No I.D. was a welcome pivot back to his pocket, and an example of how Jay albums are always works in progress, often taking new shapes up to the 11th hour.