Changes to the musical production of hip-hop, along with growing stylistic diversity and advances in technology, led to the community-imposed concept of an old and new school. The “Old School” is associated with the period from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s. Rap gained commercial viability in 1979 with The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” and later with artists like Kurtis Blow. “New School” rap was coined by the 2nd generation artist (1984) to distinguish the pop sensibilities of the first commercial generation of rap artists and ranged from the pop-oriented humorous style of the Fat Boys, for example, to the rock-oriented sounds of say, Run-D.M.C. Women rappers like Queen Latifah introduced Black women’s point of view to rap fans and proved that they were as skilled and commercially successful as the men.The chaotic sounds of Public Enemy and N.W.A became known as hardcore. The harsh lyrical content mirrored the deteriorating conditions of the inner-cities and pushed the boundaries of lyrical complexity and social commentary. also known as “conscious” rap and a sub-genre “gangsta” rap characterized by its lyrical focus on the often-violent realities of inner-city life, including crime, gang activity, and drug dealing. In the 2000s, hip-hop music was mainstream.Kanye West’s production and lyricism redirected attention away from gangsta rap and explored a range of topics including his middle-class upbringing, anti-Black racism, corporatism, and his faith presented in full ‘boasting’ style. Additionally, Eminem will become a most revered lyricist, by rap artists and rap fans alike. Encouraging white artists to Foster relationships with people of colour and follow their lead in dismantling oppressive systems. a legacy of Vanilla Ice  the first solo white rapper to achieve commercial success in 1990. Musically, music-making turned away from the East Coast and the West coast and found a new home in the South. Several epicentres develop influential styles: Miami (Miami bass), New Orleans (bounce), Houston (screwed), and Atlanta (crunk and trap). By the 2010s, socially conscious rap will cross over into the mainstream as R&B and rap artists respond to tension borne from increased police and vigilante shootings of unarmed Black men, women, and children, and from advances in technology for self-production and instant sharing through social media. Key artists include Kendrick Lamar. In the 2010s we witness the rise of female MCs as producers of critically acclaimed albums. Women leading the trend include Nicky Minaj and Cardi B. By the 21st century, Rap had become a global phenomenon, influencing music, fashion, and culture worldwide. Fame in rap often comes with mainstream success and cultural impact, and few have shaped culture like Jay-Z. From his fluid rhymes about hustle and heartache to becoming a mogul in music and business, his influence spans beyond music charts to fashion and social activism.

Jay-Z was born as Shawn Corey Carter in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. After their father Adnis Reeves abandoned the family, Jay-Z and his three siblings were raised by their mother, Gloria Carter. Jay-Z claims in his lyrics that in 1982, at age 12, he shot his older brother in the shoulder for stealing his jewellery. According to his interviews and lyrics, he sold crack cocaine and was shot at three times during his youth. Jay-Z can be briefly heard on several of the rapper and producer Jaz-O’s early recordings in the late 1980s and early 1990s.He made several other appearances on other artist’s recordings before his first official rap single “In My Lifetime”, which was released with an accompanying music video in 1995. Jay-Z released his 1996 debut album Reasonable Doubt with beats from acclaimed producers such as DJ Premier and Super DJ Clark Kent and an appearance by The Notorious B.I.G. The album reached number 23 on the Billboard 200 and went gold that year. After reaching a new label distribution deal with Def Jam in 1997, the release of a follow-up album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. Featuring production by Sean Combs, DJ Premier, and Ski, it earned platinum status in the United States. In 1998, Jay-Z released Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life which would eventually become his most commercially successful album and went on to win a Grammy Award. In 1999 he released Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter. The album proved successful and sold over 3 million copies. In 2000, Jay-Z released The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, which was originally intended to become a compilation album for Roc-A-Fella artists but Def Jam turned it into a Jay-Z album. This is also the first album where Jay-Z utilizes a more soulful sound than his previous albums.

The twelfth studio album, Magna Carta… Holy Grail, was released on July 4, 2013. and  met with mixed reviews from music critics. Some complimented the album’s production and composition, while others were disappointed with its overall theme and found many songs repetitive. In 2017, Jay-Z released his 13th solo studio album, 4:44 The entire 10-track album was produced by the veteran Chicago beat-maker No I.D., creating a cohesive, soulful, sample-based sound that avoids contemporary trends and focuses on the lyrics. Jay-Z is married to singer Beyoncé They have three children: daughter Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir Carter. although known as a rapper, producer, entrepreneur, and perhaps most famously, as Beyoncé’s husband, he has a multi-billion-dollar fortune which gives him the distinction of being the world’s richest musician.