Shawn Carter
10.00 (Hustle Quotient)
- Overview |
- Deals |
- Endorsements |
- Achievements |
- Quotes |
- Links |
- Videos
“I'M NOT A businessman; I’m a business, man,” Jay-Z rapped on the remix to Kanye West’s “Diamonds From Sierra Leone.” Born and raised in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects, Jay-Z has been handling his business from a young age. Back in 1996, when Jay-Z dropped his classic debut album, Reasonable Doubt, he was clearly a force to be reckoned with in hip-hop.
But there was little indication that Shawn Carter would one day be rubbing shoulders with Bill Gates and helping elect America’s first black president. From fashion to nightclubs to landmark tours and business deals, Carter has built an empire through relentless focus and refusal to compromise, and he shows no signs of stopping. The scariest thing of all might be that at age 40, his rap game is tighter than ever. But he never gets so excited that he takes his eyes off his paper. As he never tires of pointing out: "Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.”
Hustle Quotient:
10.00
Born:
December 4, 1969, Brooklyn, New York
Education:
George Westinghouse High School, Brooklyn, New York
Category:
Self-Branded Conglomerate
Shawn Carter Featured Content
in Deals
ROC APPAREL GROUP
Founded Scion LLC. Purchased brand management, licensing and high-end fashion line with Iconix Brand Group, which now includes Artful Dodger.
in Endorsements
ELIZABETH ARDEN CELEBRITY FRAGRANCE
In 2007, Rocawear and its parent company, Iconix Brand Group, inked a licensing agreement with Elizabeth Arden to produce and distribute a line of men's and women's fragrances, cosmetics and skin-care products, all creatively overseen by Jay-Z himself. Who else you gonna buy lotion and cologne from?
in Achievements
Was invited to speak at the United Nations; pledged to raise awareness of the world's water crisis.
in Quotes
AMBITIONS
"We're chasing history. You do things to prove your situation. After a minute, it's not about the money anymore — after you've been in the game for so long and money is not a problem. It's about, you do one of two things: You give up and go retire on an island somewhere, or you chase history. Set your sights so high. And leave a legacy. To do it better than anyone has ever done it. To push the envelope. To do new and exciting things. To come up with things that nobody's ever heard of and to have everybody emulate what you're doing so that it becomes a trend."
