2008 has been a great year for JAY-Z, even though he left Def Jam in January 2008, many great things happened afterwards — marriage with Beyonce in April 2008. In the same month as well, he was awarded the most expensive contracts ever to a musician with his partnership with Live Nation for $150 million. He also successfully headlined many summer festivals in 2008 in Europe.

Wish them best of luck!

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, NYC) better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper and current president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. In addition, he co-owns The 40/40 Club, and is co-owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team. He is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs in America.

JAY-Z Creates Original Material to be Released in Conjunction With Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment’s American Gangster

(New York, NY; Thursday, September 20, 2007): On November 6, Roc-A-Fella Records and JAY-Z will release the new album AMERICAN GANGSTER. Separate from the official motion picture soundtrack, this collection of all-new original material is a musical journey and lyrical interpretation of snapshots from the upcoming motion picture American Gangster, which pairs Oscar® winners Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Based on the true story of criminal mastermind Frank Lucas, who came up from the streets of New York in the ’70s, the film is produced by Academy Award®-winning producer Brian Grazer and directed and produced by Ridley Scott. It opens on November 2.

The conceptual, full body of work from the new album balances the line between pure entertainment and real life. JAY-Z draws upon past experiences, speaking to the harsh reality of the drug trade still taking place in our nation’s cities. While not glorifying the Frank Lucas story, JAY-Z articulates the lure of a gangster’s life and stands as an example of one who chose to leave those streets behind to go on and become one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time.

Throughout AMERICAN GANGSTER, JAY-Z brings the audience into a world rich in familial relationships, hustling and the lasting effects of drugs on a community. Through its musical tone, the album complements the story as told in the major motion.

“HANGAR TOUR” HITS 7 CITIES IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS

PERFORMANCE ON THE 2006 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS (ABC)

JOINS EXCLUSIVE LIST OF GQ’S “MEN OF THE YEAR”

The countdown has begun to Tuesday, November 21st and the release of JAY-Z’s 2-disc deluxe set, KINGDOM COME, his first solo studio album since his retirement in 2003.

On Saturday, November 18th, in celebration of the release, JAY-Z will touch down and perform 30 minute shows in seven cities within 24 hours. As part of a very unique promotion 2 lucky winners in each city will get a chance to join the entourage and continue the “Hangar Tour” journey on JAY-Z’s private jet.

JAY-Z’s “Hangar Tour,” presented by Cingular, will kick off in Atlanta at 6am for the 1st of seven shows in less than 24 hours. Touching down in Atlanta, Philadelphia, DC, New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles and ending in Las Vegas, JAY-Z will perform 30 minute sets and take 2 lucky winners from each show on the G3 to continue the nationwide trip. MTV will have exclusive coverage of shows in DC, New Jersey and Chicago and MTV correspondent, Sway, will bring “behind the scenes” highlights from the plane, backstage and everything in between. Fans will be able to get updates all day on MTV and online at MTV.com and, additionally, MTV will air a half-hour special highlighting the tour at 4:00pm EST on Sunday, November 19th.

On release date of KINGDOM COME, Tuesday, November 21st, JAY-Z will make his debut primetime performance of the smash single, “SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT” on the 2006 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS broadcast (ABC).

JAY-Z has also just joined the exclusive list of GQ Magazine’s “Men Of The Year.” Shot by Terry Richardson, the December cover will hit stands on JAY-Z’s release date, Tuesday, November 21st.

The release of KINGDOM COME is hot on the heels of JAY-Z’s Global Express Tour. The tour hit over 20 countries on 4 continents. While on tour, JAY-Z participated in the Water For Life campaign in conjunction with the UN and MTV with the mission to raise awareness on the world’s water crisis. His trip was documented by MTV News and the program, Diary of JAY-Z: Water for Life will air on Friday, November 24th on MTV. In Tanzania and Nigeria, JAY-Z christened 2 of the first of 10 pumps he is sponsoring in the region.

(Via Rocafella.com)

Thanks for comin’ out tonight. You coulda been anywhere in the world wide web, but you’re here with me.

I appreciate that…uuunnnh…