Jay Z's Billion Dollar Blueprint Becomes Reality

Shawn Carter Uses Hip Hop To Make One Billion Dollars

When most people think of Hip Hop, they think of half naked women, $300,000 cars, and iced out jewelry. While Shawn "Jay Z" Carter has been known to be flashy in his past, these days he's much more focused on business than bling. Its hard to believe that in less than twenty years, this music mogul has accumulated close to $1 billion in assets by using Hip Hop as a launching pad.

In 1996, Jay Z released his first solo album, Reasonable Doubt, which only reached #23 on the Billboard charts. Although he did not have a Top 10 album, his persistence and consistence paid off. Since 1996, Jay Z has released an album every year, except for his brief two year retirement from rap.

By the time his second album was released in 1997, Roc-A-Fella Records had become a household name to Hip Hop fans all around the world. Sticking with his brand, Shawn Carter and fellow investors created Roc-A-Wear Clothing, which grossed annual sales of over $700 million per year (Source).

Mr. Carter is also co-owner of the 40/40 Club and a Scottish vodka company called Armadale. Although these are not two of his top performing assets, both are very well known brands around Hip Hop communities, world wide. A fall out with Cristal champagne, over a few racist remarks by Frederick Rouzaud, left Jay Z promoting a lesser known, high-end champagne, Armand de Brignac, also known as "Ace Of Spades." Unfortunately, the brand has not't yet taken off among Hip Hop enthusiasts.

The mainstream public started to take notice of Jay Z when his commercials and music videos started to air on prime time television, during major events. Hewlett Packard debuted his HP commercial during the 2006 NBA Playoffs, which shocked fans and non fans alike. His music video "Show Me What You Got" debut during Monday Night football and fans went crazy.

The Rap Mogul's biggest buzz came when the media started reporting that he officially owned part of the New Jersey Nets. Although fans would like to believe that he owns a big portion of the team, in reality, he owns less than 1% of the franchise (Source). Continuing with the buzz of team ownership, the latest rumor puts Mr. Carter in the buyer's seat once again. There has been a lot of talk of Jay Z's interest in the Yankees, but nothing has been confirmed or denied. If this deal does go through, Jay Z will become the first rap artist to own a team in two different major league sports.

In 2008, Jay Z was listed as #7 in Forbes Celebrity 100, with an estimated earning of $82 million in annual income (Source). It seems as though Jay Z prophesied his Forbes inclusion in 1996, on his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The rapper says, "fortune top five in the Forbes, you'll see, as you thumb through the Source or read the Rob Report." In April, 2008, rumors started to swarm that Jay Z was selling himself. As the days went on, it became clear that concert promoter Live Nation had taken an interest Jay Z. The deal between Live Nation and Shawn Carter was for $150 million. In return for the large sum of money, Live Nation would acquire an interest in any recording, touring, or merchandising that involved Jay Z (Source).

Shortly after his signing with Live Nation, Jay Z married his long time girlfriend Beyonce' Knowles, a superstar R&B singer. With this final merger, Jay Z's net worth, sky rocketed. Jay Z's former net worth was estimated to be $500 million, and wife Beyonce' Knowles was estimated to be $350 million. The deal with Live Nation gave Shawn Carter the extra $150 million boost that he needed to hit the $1 billion mark ( Source).

Jay Z has shown that given enough time, he can turn adversity into triumph, and a simple rap career into a $1billion lifestyle. In the Hip Hop world, making $500 million is an almost impossible task, but Jay Z "did the impossible, then did it twice" as he quotes on The Blueprint. Finally it only seems appropriate to let Jay Z have the last word. "Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week, I do this in my sleep." Jay Z (Diamonds Are Forever Remix)