Jay Z is best known as an American rapper, born on 4 December 1969 in Brooklyn.
The name is also commonly spelled Jay Zage.
As of 2026, he is 56 years old, and his birth date places him under the Sagittarius sign.
He has 58 credited works on public record and has been recognised with Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance and Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
The sections that follow break down Jay Z's biography into quick facts, early life, career history, personal life and a year-by-year timeline.
Jay Z — Early Life, Family and Education
Jay Z was born on 4 December 1969 in Brooklyn, and holds American nationality. He was given the name Shawn Corey Carter at birth and is publicly known as Jay Z.
Public records name his father, Adnes Reeves and his mother, Gloria Carter.
He studied at George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School and Trenton Central High School.
He is recorded as speaking English.
Jay Z — Career and Professional Work
Jay Z works primarily as a rapper, songwriter, record producer, music executive, businessperson and media proprietor, with Louis Vuitton listed among his employers.
Jay Z — Songs and Music Credits
Public databases list 58 screen credits for Jay Z, spanning 2011 to 2023. That breaks down as 35 as performer, 13 as composer and 5 as producer.
The most recent on record are The Book of Clarence (2023), Neck & Wrist (2022), Ik kom weer thuis (2022) and The Harder They Fall (2021).
The 45 most recent are listed below, newest first.
| Year | Title | Credited as |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Book of Clarence | producer |
| 2022 | Neck & Wrist | performer |
| 2022 | Ik kom weer thuis | composer |
| 2021 | The Harder They Fall | composer |
| 2020 | Entrepreneur | performer |
| 2020 | Black Parade | lyricist |
| 2019 | Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé | cast member |
| 2019 | Brown Skin Girl | composer |
| 2018 | Family Feud | performer |
| 2018 | Top Off | performer |
| 2018 | Everything Is Love | producer |
| 2018 | Apeshit | composer |
| 2018 | The Games We Play | composer |
| 2018 | Talk Up | composer |
| 2017 | 4:44 | producer |
| 2017 | The Story of O.J. | performer |
| 2017 | Bam | performer |
| 2016 | Pop Style | performer |
| 2016 | I Got the Keys | performer |
| 2016 | All the Way Up | performer |
| 2016 | Saint Pablo | composer |
| 2015 | Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives | cast member |
| 2015 | Amy | cast member |
| 2014 | Annie | producer |
| 2014 | Part II | composer |
| 2013 | Made in America | cast member |
| 2013 | Tom Ford | composer |
| 2013 | Know Bout Me | composer |
| 2013 | Suit & Tie | performer |
| 2013 | Magna Carta Holy Grail | performer |
| 2013 | Holy Grail | performer |
| 2013 | Drunk in Love | performer |
| 2013 | FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt | performer |
| 2013 | Heaven | performer |
| 2013 | Oceans | performer |
| 2013 | Numbers on the Boards | composer |
| 2013 | Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2 | composer |
| 2012 | Talk That Talk | performer |
| 2012 | Clique | performer |
| 2012 | No Church in the Wild | performer |
| 2012 | NBA 2K13 | producer |
| 2012 | Glory | performer |
| 2012 | I Do | performer |
| 2012 | Live In Brooklyn | performer |
| 2011 | Who Gon Stop Me | composer |
Jay Z — Awards and Recognition
He has received 6 documented honours between 2010 and 2021.
They include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2021), the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance (2015), the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (2015) and the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance (2012), alongside 2 others.
| Award / Honour | Year |
|---|---|
| Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance | 2015 |
| Grammy Award for Best R&B Song | 2015 |
| Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance | 2010 |
| Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance | 2012 |
| GLAAD Vanguard Award | — |
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | 2021 |
Jay Z — Family, Marriage and Personal Life
He is married to Beyoncé (married 2008).
He is a parent to Blue Ivy Carter, Sir Carter and Rumi Carter.
He is associated with Bel Air as a place of residence.
Jay Z — Net Worth: What Is Actually Verifiable
No audited net-worth figure for Jay Z is on public record, so none is stated here.
His documented income sources are professional work as a rapper, songwriter, record producer, music executive, businessperson and media proprietor, employment with Louis Vuitton, brand partnerships and sponsored social content.
Why no number? Net-worth totals for public figures are almost never audited. BioStar publishes a figure only when a verifiable source exists, so this page describes income sources instead of guessing a total.
Jay Z — Career Timeline
- 1969Born in Brooklyn.
- 2008Married Beyoncé.
- 2010Received the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
- 201114 credited releases including Who Gon Stop Me and H•A•M.
- 20127 credited releases including Talk That Talk and Clique.
- 2012Received the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.
- 201312 credited releases including Made in America and Tom Ford.
- 2015Received the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance.
- 2015Received the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
- 2021Received the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jay Z — Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Jay Z?
What is Jay Z's date of birth?
What is Jay Z's real name?
Where is Jay Z from?
Who is Jay Z's wife?
Does Jay Z have children?
What does Jay Z do for a living?
Which awards has Jay Z won?
What is Jay Z's net worth?
How many films or works is Jay Z credited in?
Where can I follow Jay Z online?
Sources and Corrections
Every dated fact on this page comes from structured public records rather than from unsourced reporting. Primary reference: Wikidata Q62766 and the English Wikipedia entry. Records change; if you spot something out of date, please send a correction and we will review it.
