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Jay-Z is the world’s first hip-hop billionaire

Is hip-hop the most exciting style of music? Rap legend Jay-Z has been named the world’s first hip-hop billionaire. He started life in one of New York’s roughest neighbourhoods…
What’s happening
Jay-Z once rapped, “I’m not a businessman — I’m a business, man!” It turns out he was right.
He is already known for being one of the world’s best rappers. Now, he will go down in history as hip-hop’s first billionaire.
Find out more
According to the magazine Forbes, Jay-Z has made around $75 million from his music. This includes 14 number-one albums.
The rest of his money comes from the businesses he owns. These include the streaming company Tidal, gold bottles of champagne, and a stake in the taxi service Uber.
Jay-Z’s success is amazing considering where he came from.
He grew up in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in New York City. Before he was a rapper, he sold drugs and got into fights.
Now, he is a billionaire. Is hip-hop the most exciting music?
Some say…
No. It is loud, angry and not very easy to listen to. Jay-Z’s lyrics mostly involve boasting about how rich he is. He may be right — but that does not make it good music.
Others think…
This misses the point. Unlike most “easy” pop songs, hip-hop is all about the lyrics. The best rappers fill their songs with complex rhymes and double-meanings. It is musical poetry.
You Decide
- What is your favourite style of music and why?
Activities
- In groups, write your own rap song inspired by Jay-Z’s story.
Some People Say...
“Hip-hop has done more than any leader, politician — or anyone — to improve race relations.”
Jay-ZWhat do you think?
Word Watch
- Hip-hop
- Also known as rap music. It was created by African-Americans in New York in the 1970s.
- Billionaire
- Someone with a billion dollars, euros or pounds. In this case, it is dollars.
- Streaming
- Playing music online.
- Champagne
- Fizzy, white wine made from grapes which are grown in Champagne, a part of France.
- Stake
- Owning part of a business.
- Neighbourhoods
- Communities within towns or cities.
- Boasting
- Showing off.
- Lyrics
- The words to a song.